Sean Bonniwell - The Music Machine

Talk Talk - Music Machine

I think it has only just been announced, but Sean Bonniwell of The Music Machine died on 20th December, aged 71.

Music Machine brought out one of the all-time great garage/rock songs Talk Talk in 1966. I was 12 years old and living in Germany at the time and it was an instant hit for me, and of course all over the world: the growling vocal, the simple but pulsating rhythm, and the equally simple but at that time distinctive guitar lead that builds to the amazing, closing four driving beats to the song's sudden end. This was the beginning too of a new kind of music and this song is hugely, unforgettably influential.

The lyrics were also new and enticing because of their mystery

Talk Talk
MUSIC MACHINE
(Sean Bonniwell)

I got me a complication
And it's an only child
Concernin' my reputation
As something more than wild
I know it serves me right
But I can't sleep at night
Have to hide my face
Or go some other play-ay-ay-ay-ay-ace

I won't cry out for justice
Admit that I was wrong
I'll stay in hibernation
'Til the talk subsides to gone
My social life's a dud
My name is really mud
I'm up to here in lies
Guess I'm down to size
To size

Can't seem to talk about
The things that bother me
Seems to be
What everybody has
Against me
Oh, oh, all right

Here's the situation
And how it really stands
I'm out of circulation
I've all but washed my hands
My social life's a dud
My name is really mud
I'm up to here in lies
Guess I'm down to size
To size

Talk talk Talk talk Talk talk Talk talk