For anyone out there who is a fellow Fangirl for The Secret Machines, you have probably been willing to sell a kidney on the black market in order to see “Marfa’s Mystery Lights: A Concert For the UFO’s.” Well, if you were unaware, the DVD has been released by Les Presses Du Reel, a French website that has limited its release to only five-hundred copies. Round up those Euros you have lying around and order it directly from France. Even if you don’t know The Secret Machines’ music, it’s worth the sixty-four some-odd U.S. Dollars you will spend on it. Director Charles de Meaux has also created an excellent fusion of documentary and experimental film that anyone can enjoy.
Going into this film, I assumed that the audience would be shown the famously unexplained lights that appear in the sky over Marfa, Texas. Playing a clever game, the title leaves Marfa’s “mystery” intact. No extraterrestrial lights are shown in this film. Instead, the townspeople become the stars -.they recant several odd experiences, which will leave one believing that ET truly exists.
Along with their investigation, The Secret Machines are working on some new material. De Meaux films the practice session performance of a song which finally comes to fruition in the end of the film.
This is a film of exploration. It is the attempt of two different artists to understand each other’s medium. During a random moment between Ben (guitar, vocals) and Brandon (bass, lead vocals, keys), they discuss how difficult this film is. Towards the end of the conversation they ask each other, “Why are we even filming this?”
De Meaux films the band interviewing Josh (drums). “Beatkeeper,” as he is called, says a very profound statement on music that I’m sure any artist has experienced. He simply states, “The more you try to define it, the more it escapes.” Truer words were never spoken.
Musicians will especially relate to the tension we see The Machines going through. The practice sphere is a band’s holy land. It is very personal. De Meaux should be thankful to the band for allowing him to enter. From the outset we see Ben is most nervous, and most disapproving of this invasion. He stares straight into the camera lens, for which he shows much apprehension, and shakes his head.
Unfortunately, the UFO’s only got to see two songs performed. Their hit, “Daddy’s In the Doldrums,” entered from nowhere and shocked the hell out of me since I was playing it loud, as per the bands request, in the beginning. The solitary track that the audience views the making of is triumphantly performed. The movie humbly ends with the band simply exiting and rolling credits. Do not be alarmed - Josh did not forget his bottle of tequila that was resting beside him during the performance.
To conclude this rant I think a quote from Charles De Meaux from the beginning of the movie is most appropriate. After The Secret Machines propose their idea to the director he answers, “It’s romantic, let’s meet in Marfa!”
Notes
Leave a note