Machine Translations

Seven Seven

In 2024 Machine Translations re-release 2007’s album Seven Seven in a deluxe expanded version, available as both a limited edition double vinyl and on digital platforms. The deluxe version features all the original album tracks plus a bunch of previously unreleased material from the same era.

Seven Seven is available now through Half A Cow in Australia and Happiness in the US.

Videos by the late, great and deeply missed Jonathan Nix

Machine Translations

Starting off as a bunch of lo-fi recording and songwriting experiments on a cassette tape, Machine Translations has evolved through numerous incarnations and 9 album releases into one of Australia’s most inventive and hard-to-categorise musical acts. MT’s musical mastermind J. Walker takes elements as diverse as ethnic folk, electronica, rock ‘n roll and contemporary classical and weaves them into something that is both distinctive and compelling.

Walker’s dedication to the songwriter’s art and his willingness to explore and create new sounds makes for a rich and multi-layered listening experience that rewards repeated listening. The Machine Translations band also features Robin Waters (keys and guitars), Ralf Rehak (drums), Al Barden (drums) and Zac Barter (bass).

Critical reaction to Machine Translation’s albums:

‘Seven Seven has been out of print for a while, but you can’t keep a good record down (a reissue on Happiness appears to be in the works). Walker keeps his work in flux, with each album a surprise, but his craft comes through in any iteration. Seven Seven offers a mix of accessibility, eccentricity and hidden rewards, worth spin after spin, without changing anything.’

– Spectrum Culture

‘J. Walker does something that doesn’t really make sense. He is both pastoral and claustrophobic, comforting and disturbing….another winning album.’

Bernard Zuel, Sydney Morning Herald

‘Oh is an endlessly fascinating album, still built on multi-layered creativity but also presented in concise and vibrant form.’ – The Music
‘Big, glorious, deep, contemplative…Walker just keeps getting better.’

Kate Hennessy – Mess and Noise

‘The Bright Door is a wonderfully rich and immersive album and a reminder that out past the trends and popularity contests there are still songwriters like J Walker trawling the deep waters of creativity.’

Chris Familton – Faster Louder

‘The album as a whole is hauntingly beautiful. The Bright Door gives long term fans a chance to re-acquaint themselves with Machine Translations and rediscover what a gem this band is, whilst serving up a new generation of fans something fresh and relevant.’

Jaime Macmillan – Happy