23. June 2025
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Will Varley – Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Will Varley - Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me

Will Varley - Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me
4.7

Rating

 4.7/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Great storytelling and songwriting
  • Catching Voice

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Just three new songs

Will Varley already had some quite remarkable highlights of his career. For example he multiple times played at the Glastonbury Festival and opened for The Proclaimers. on 30th May 2025, he released his seventh album Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me. Here is my review.

 

Will Varley – About The Artist

Will Varley is a British alt-country and folk singer-songwriter from London. Born on 7th March 1987, he released his debut album Advert Soundtracks in June 2011. His sixth and most recent album The Hole Around My Head is as of October 2021. Varley is also a founding member of the arts collective Smugglers Records.

 

Will Varley – Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me – Track by Track

The ten song album lasts 40 minutes

1. Long Way Back To Now

The album promo came with quite a nice press kit. I felt it is worth to quote what it says on the opening track. [It] steadily builds on ripples of tender acoustic guitar-picking, Varley’s voice falling and rising like the tide until he reaches a magnificent cri de coeur. I am not the biggest fan of these press kits, but apart from being a bit of pathetic, I would agree to these words. The five minute Long Way Back To Now is indeed a beautiful listen with a steadily increasing intensity. A promising one right at the beginning of the album with the long title.

2. Different Man

The more rhythmic style of Different Man compared to the opener makes the song feel more rocking, more intense. The chorus has nice sing-a-long qualities as well. I really welcome this one.

3. Home Before The World Ends (feat. Bastille)

For the third track, Will Varley teamed up with Bastille. The song is a rather slow and dreaming one. However, it creates a really nice and catching atmosphere. The additional backing vocals increase the presence of the song significantly, so that I absolutely enjoy this one.

4. Never Get Tired Of Loving You

The press kit does not state a word about Never Get Tired Of Loving You. That’s really a shame, as Will Varley recorded a lovely and very touching ballad in here. Who would not love to hear that I never get tired of loving you? Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me is not only about mistakes, indeed – it has some really lovely moments as well.

5. End Times

End Times closes the set of four songs which have been released before. End times, end times, do you ever feel like we’re the last ones alive? The song comes with a beatutiful personal setting, which does not need need much more than strumming guitars and some harmonica chords on the instrumental side. A lovely 4:45 minute listen.

6. Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me

With less than three minutes, the title track of the album is a rather short listen. The song has a nice folk song character. Again, the song is concentrating on Varley telling his story, while the instruments just do the basic necessities. A good song neither has to be loud nor long to be impressing.

7. Only Louise

And I though I saw the devil in my dreams last night – the seventh song is another really deep song, which sucks you into its 3:35 minute story. The song combines folk and progressive rock ideas into a really memorable experience. Love it.

8. Venus Returns

There are not too many new tracks on the album, unfortunately. Venue Returns is one of them. The song is a rather straight folk song with strong singer-songwriter attitude. That kind of song, which works in a small venue and can catch and fascinate major crowds as well. A key driver of that is the amazing voice of the British artist, which reminds me of Lukas Nelson in this song.

9. Everything Has A Heartbeat

After the intense Venus Returns, Everything Has A Heartbeat creates presence from the very beginning with its nice melody and the present beat. The song has a nice indie-folk flavor. Even though Varley is using very different methods, these two songs feel like the heartbeat of the album.

10. Whatever’s Left

And then, Machines Will Never Learn TO Make Mistakes Like Me is already over. Whatever’s Left is the closing track of the album. The strumming guitars spread country-alike vibes. Varley presents new themes and ideas throughout his album. I like it.

 

Will Varley – Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Will Varley – Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me – My View

Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me is based on excellent songwriting. Will Varley’s voice is very versatile and he is a great storyteller. Thus, you simply have to listen to his musical messages. I appreciate that very much. The very good album comes with the only pain point that it in fact only includes three new songs.

Favorite Song: Venus Returns

 

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