Motion of Love (July 24, 2007) is Machan’s second CD, following her eponymous debut of a few years back (released on A440 Records 2004.) Machan says that the new CD is evidence of a new confidence and maturity. “I think my first record was a great introduction to my abilities, but with Motion of Love, I really tried to be thoughtful about including songs with different grooves and diverse subject matter to give my audience a broader sense of what I’m about, both musically and personally.” Machan wrote all but one of the ten songs on Motion of Love. Drawing from her own experiences and emotions, Machan tackles both the personal and the universal in her songwriting, although as she says, “It all feels personal for me, even if I’m writing from a fictional framework.” The CD kicks off with its title track, a lyrical, smooth adventure that highlights the simple purity of Machan’s voice. The smooth vibe continues with the full-bodied and tasty love song, “More,” which features John Medeski on Fender Rhodes. The light hearted Reggae-influenced lilt of “Everyday” belies the pointed social commentary of its lyrics. “As I’ve gotten older, I find I can’t ignore what’s happening in the world or the way I feel about it,” explains Machan. “In order to develop as a songwriter, I want to be a person that speaks her truth.” The CD’s only cover is Machan’s version of Government Mule’s “Beautifully Broken,” but with significant changes that make it very much her own. “I even changed the chords to suit my arrangement, which is completely different from Government Mule’s. I also really wanted to cover a song from another idiom, from the other end of the musical spectrum, and make it work for me” Machan explains. “Of course ‘Beautifully Broken’ has a great lyric, and that’s what really turned me on.” Contributing to the song’s impact are John Scofield on guitar and Portinho on drums. Randy Brecker’s trumpet on “A Broken Heart Like This” provides just the right mournful note to support Machan’s poignant lyrical exploration of loss and sorrow. Things take a more upbeat turn on “Extraordinary Thing,” propelled by a light, sparkling ambiance courtesy of Medeski’s Wurlitzer, and continue in a lighthearted direction with “Little Bird, “ which features a strapping alto sax solo by Aaron Heick, who’s performed with Marc Cohen, Chaka Kahn, and Grover Washington, Jr., among others. With “In Your Word” Machan explores the importance of personal responsibility in the world today, again tapping John Medeski’s keyboard contributions to provide emphasis to the song’s strong lyrical content. In fact, the song percolates with a kind of jam band feel, as a result of the musical interplay between Medeski, Danny Louis on clavinet, and guitarist John Herington (Steely Dan.) The Brazilian vibe that subtly permeates much of Machan’s work takes center stage on the romantic “Your Smile,” which fittingly pairs the vocalist with husband Danny Louis, playing both Hammond B3 and Hohner keyboards. The CD concludes with the sincere ballad, “Vulnerable, which Machan describes as “raw and real.”