By Violet Vivid
Darkness, the kind of inky blackness where anything can happen, where your senses other than sight are enhanced for the slightest stimulus.
At first, nothing to see, and the only sound was a quiet drip of oil on to cold, hard concrete.
Then came the unmistakable noise of cogs and tumblers turning in a heavy padlock, followed by the rasp of a bolt being slid in its rusty grooves.
A rectangle of light punctuated the darkness, outlining a human silhouette, unmistakably female, topped with a stovepipe hat such as that worn by (The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing – Brunel)
With the gratifying thunk of a switch being thrown, came the crackle of (OMD - Electricity), rushing through wires, causing the filaments in the bulbs to glow into light.
As the light grew, and with it, the unmistakable clack-clack of heeled boots, then appeared the woman, tall, thin, but with a bosom held firm in a stiffly-boned leather corset over a scandalously short dress that would suit one (Abney Park - Herr Drosselmeyer's Doll). Her long legs were wrapped in supple leather trousers and ended in heeled knee-high chunky boots. Then she put on heavy (TMTWNBBFN - Goggles) over her sparkling hazel eyes and heavy purple make-up.
As she climbed into the cab of The Machine, her corset creaking slightly in time with the metal of the machine, a breathless whisper came from her mouth: "(Funker Vogt - Maschine Zeit)".
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her trusted Zippo, igniting the oily rag to light the fire, kindling under the lovingly placed lumps of coal. As the fire caught and the heat increased, she lightly caressed the controls, a smile of anticipation on her lips as her thoughts turned to memories, of times (Anna Tivel - Before Machines). In the past the attentions of male suitors lined up by her father had turned her stomach. Only her girlfriends in school had even come close to giving her satisfaction, but when she discovered the machine's effect on her, her world had exploded into previously missing throes of joy and rapture.
"I found the same (Madness - Driving In My Car), but this, this is so much more intense!" she thought to herself, her smile broadening.
The fire got the water boiling nicely and the pressure rose to optimal. Her face slightly sooty, she sensually licked her lips as she gripped the main control lever tightly and thrust it to the first position, a moan of pleasure sighing from her lips, only to rise sharply at the sound of (Garbage – Hammering in my Head) as her beloved machine rose into its blissful (Luna Sea - Mechanical Dance).
As the Machine’s big pistons began to sridge, slow at first, but building into the rhythm of (Giuseppe Verdi - Il Trovatore - Anvil Chorus), the sweat started to glisten under the brow of her stovepipe, and her breathing causing her bust to heave within its corset. The machine built to its crescendo her cries rose to the climax, her moans and sighs began to (Nitzer Ebb - Join in the Chant) the wail of the machine, the crash of its parts, the hiss of steam, all adding to her arousal, the vibrations and shakes countered by her own writhing on the solid wooden operators seat, until the shrill prolonged cry of a steam whistle signified the Machine had completed its task, as her cries and spasms showed she too had achieved hers.
In the afterglow of the event, as she relaxed and her darling machine eased down with the sounds of cooling metal, she thought of her father, how despite his (Sonic Boom Six - The Road to Hell is paved with Good intentions) he'd never understand her Industrial Love.
Primed and pumping A-list playlist:
The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing - Brunel
MD - Electricity (or Apoptygma Berzerk's cover)
Abney Park - Herr Drosselmeyer's Doll
TMTWNBBFN - Goggles
Funker Vogt - Maschine Zeit
Anna Tivel - Before Machines
Madness - Driving in my Car
Garbage – Hammering In My head
Luna Sea - Mechanical Dance
Giuseppe Verdi - Il Trovatore - Anvil Chorus
Nitzer Ebb - Join in the Chant
Sonic Boom Six - The Road to Hell is Paved with Good intentions
Steamed up and boiling over B-list playlist:
New Model Army - White Coats
The Drowning Season - Drum Machines & Amphetamines
Primus - Jerry was a Racecar driver
TMTWNBBFN - MrStev(ph)enson
Horrible Histories - Georgean Luddites
Sisters of Mercy - Lucretia my Reflection
Wurzels - Combine Harvester (2001 Remix)
Velvet Acid Christ - Ghost in the Circuit
Tom Waits - Underground
Die Krupps – Metal Machine Music
Nizlopi – JCB Song
Siouxsie & the Banshees – Mechanical Eyes
Guru's pick:
In Strict Confidence - Industrial Love (VNV Nation Remix)
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Moving parts: songs inspired by machinery, industry and technology. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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Fancy a turn behind the pumps at The Song Bar? Care to choose a playlist from songs nominated and write something about it? Then feel free to contact The Song Bar here, or try the usual email address.