Need Machine

Andrew Faulkner’s debut collection of poetry, “Need Machine” is as sharp as a broken pane of glass about a subject that normally breeds nothing but slow mundane boredom: monotony, disappointment and disdain. Instead of the watery, grey and unlimited language that these emotions often encourage, Faulkner attacks them with each measure of biting, snarling satire he can summon. “Young Liberals” is a scathing offering to political non-involvement and the luxury of representing without danger or actual support,  “not when campaign buttons/ come so cheap.” Between the hangovers and youthful mayhems. However, between the fierce eye and cutting banter there are also times of lucidity and with them, total despair. As engaging and beguiling as the language can be, "Need Machine" can also be frightening in its pitch-perfect capturing of the swamp of dissatisfaction, and so becomes something to escape from.