- The Secret Machines
Infobox musical artist
Name = The Secret Machines
Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Dallas,Texas ,United States
Genre =Psychedelic rock ,new prog ,space rock
Years_active =2000 –present
Label = Reprise
URL = http://www.thesecretmachines.com/
Current_members =Brandon Curtis Josh Garza Phil Karnats
Past_members = Benjamin CurtisThe Secret Machines are a three-piece American rock band. Originally from
Dallas, Texas before moving toNew York City , they describe their band asspace rock . The original lineup consisted of two brothers, Brandon and Benjamin Curtis, andJosh Garza . In March 2007, Benjamin left the band, and was replaced by Phil Karnats.Early years
Before forming The Secret Machines the members played in various Dallas bands such as:
UFOFU ,Captain Audio ,Comet andWhen Babies Eat Pennies , but perhaps the most significant wasTripping Daisy . Captain Audio was formed by Garza and vocalist/guitarist/chief songwriterRegina Chellew in the late 90s as a two-piece noise duo. Brandon and occasionally, Ben Curtis joined shortly thereafter as the original duo began to head toward a more standard rock sound. In a few months the band was getting regular local press and within a little over a year they had recorded and released the EP "My Ears Are Ringing But My Heart's OK" (1999) and the full-length "LUXURY" or "Whether It Is Better To Be Loved than Feared" (2000) to positive reviews. Shortly after the release of LUXURY the band went on an extended hiatus and eventually disbanded when the boys headed for New York, leaving Chellew behind in Dallas to form the band Chao and later joining indie pop outfitThe Happy Bullets .Captain Audio is essentially the same band as the Secret Machines, with the exception of Chellew. Sonically the groups are very similar, much more so than any of the members' other former bands. Although Captain Audio is a bit more prone to experimentation and sound collage and the Secret Machines are much more a standard
indie rock band, the Captain Audio records form the template that the Curtis brothers built upon when they headed for New York. In the liner notes for Captain Audio's LUXURY, all of the additional musicians who played on the album are credited simply as "Secret Machines".eptember 000 and Now Here Is Nowhere
The band went to
Chicago first, where they recorded their EP, "September 000", six weeks after forming, before continuing to New York. The EP didn't sell well, but remained a hit on indie radio while "Marconi's Radio" and "Breathe" are fan favourites.In 2004, The Secret Machines released their first full length CD - "
Now Here Is Nowhere ". Their second EP, "The Road Leads Where It's Led", was released on7 June 2005 .The song "Nowhere Again", from the their debut album, was used in promotional spots for American during its launch, and appeared in the2006 videogame . [http://music.ign.com/articles/689/689128p1.html]"Nowhere Again" is the band's biggest hit to date, being played at nearly every show since its conception.
Ten Silver Drops and Ben's Departure
"
Ten Silver Drops ", their second album, leaked onto file sharing websites following the release of their lead single "Alone, Jealous and Stoned" in the UK.The album once again did not sell well but garnered favorable reviews.
During this time, the band toured with
Kings of Leon .Benjamin Curtis left the band on March 3, 2007 to focus full time on his new band,
School of Seven Bells . The news was posted by Brandon Curtis on the Secret Machines' messageboard. [http://thesecretmachines.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/580005655/m/1621021234]Third album
Since Ben left the band, the band played two shows in New York, one at the Annex, and the other at the newly opened Highline Ballroom. At these shows, the band played mostly new material, presumably to be put on their next album. They included two new members: Blasco (Interpol's touring keyboardist) on guitar, keyboards, and bass, and
Phil E. Karnats on guitar. It is unknown whether they will be on the new album, and to what extent.Josh Garza has said that the guitar slot will be more of a rotating cast of friends than a replacement for Ben. Phil Karnats, for example, played with Garza in many bands before Josh joined Secret Machines.
At the Highline Festival the band covered "Up the Hill Backwards," a
David Bowie song fromScary Monsters . This was likely a thank you, as he chose the band to close the first-annual Highline Festival, which Bowie curated and attended.Fan reception to the new songs and band has been mixed, with some missing Ben, and others enjoying the return to the heavier sound found on the debut LP "Now Here Is Nowhere."
The band finished recording quickly during May 2007 and plan to release a new, self-titled album in the United States of America on October 14, 2008. [ [http://www.nme.com/news/the-secret-machines/38646 NME news story about future album] ] . The [http://worlds-fair.net/news/2008/08/14/the-secret-machines-release-exclusive-new-non-album-track/ online release notice] features a free download of a non-album track titled "Dreaming of Dreaming." Phil E. Karnats announced on his
myspace blog that he recorded guitar parts for the album and will continue to play live with the band. The album has received a perfect 5-star review on venuszine.com [ [https://venuszine.com/articles/music/4451/The_Secret_Machines venuszine.com review of The Secret Machines] ]tyle
Their music could be best described as
progressive rock with somekrautrock influences mixed in. They describe themselves asspace rock . Many have also cited the Secret Machines as a style ofshoegaze , as a lot of their songs on "Now Here Is Nowhere " have samples that mimic that of shoegaze bands likeMy Bloody Valentine and Ride. Listeners can also hear hints ofLed Zeppelin ,Procol Harum ,The Who ,U2 , andThe Flaming Lips ."They take
Pink Floyd psychedelia,Led Zeppelin stomp, andThe Who -inspired choruses and charge them full of big-rock beats, atmospheric keyboards and all kinds of electronic whooshes." — "Rolling Stone "They have toured with
Foo Fighters ,Spiritualized , Oasis, Interpol, M83, and theKings of Leon . They also supported the British rock trio Muse at Londons Earl's Court, December 2004. They appeared atLollapalooza 2006 inChicago and the Carling Leeds and Reading Festivals inEngland in the same year, as well as theAustin City Limits Music Festival inAustin, TX .Crossing paths with U2
* In February 2006 they were the opening act for U2's Vertigo Tour in
Mexico .* In an interview for the Uncut magazine (August 2007 issue),
The Edge of U2 said that "Now Here is Nowhere" is "the last record he fell in love with".* In a September 2007 release, the band performs with
Bono on the "Across the Universe" soundtrack on track 7, "I Am the Walrus ". Both Curtis brothers and Garza receive mention in the "featured musicians" credits as members of the "NY Band". The Secret Machines also perform 2 tracks on the deluxe edition soundtrack, "Flying" and "Blue Jay Way ".Members
*Brandon Curtis: vocals, bass, keyboard
*Josh Garza: drums
*Phil Karnats:guitar (2007-present)Former members
*Benjamin Curtis:
guitar , backing vocals (2000-2007)
*Frederick Blasco:guitar , keyboard, bassDiscography
Albums
*"
Now Here Is Nowhere " (May 18 ,2004 ) Reprise
*"Ten Silver Drops " (April 25 ,2006 ) Reprise #43 UK, #159 US
*"Secret Machines" (October 14 ,2008 )World's Fair Label Group EPs
*"
September 000 " (2002 )
*"The Road Leads Where It's Led " (2005 )
*"Live At Austin City Limits Music Fesival 2006 (iTunes Exclusive EP) " (2006 )
*"Morning Becomes Eclectic (Live At KCRW) " (2006 )ingles
*"What Used To Be French (Revisit) (7" Vinyl only)" (
2003 ) UK
*"Nowhere Again" (2004 ) UK #49
*"Sad And Lonely" (2004 ) UK #38
*"The Road Leads Where It's Led" (2005 ) UK #56
*"Alone, Jealous & Stoned (12" Vinyl only)" (2006 ) #93
*"Lightning Blue Eyes" (2006 ) UK #57
*"All At Once (It's Not Important)" (2006 ) UK #76
*"Dreaming of Dreaming" (2008)DVD
*"Marfa Mystery Lights – The Secret Machines – A Concert for the UFO's (A performance conceived and filmed by Charles de Meaux) (
2007 ), Les presses du réel"External links
* [http://www.thesecretmachines.com/ The Secret Machines]
* [http://www.thesecretmachines.ning.com The Secret Machines social network]
* [http://www.myspace.com/secretmachines Official The Secret Machines MySpace Page]
* [http://www.comfortcomes.com/2008/10/06/secret-machines-secret-machines/ The Secret Machines - Self Titled Review]Interviews
* [http://auralstates.com/2008/10/the-secret-machines-w-brandon-curtis.html Interview with Brandon Curtis] at Aural States (01.10.2008)
* [http://www.klangschau.com/content/view/214/137 The Secret Machines talk about the new album]
* [http://portable-infinite.blogspot.com/2005/02/secret-machines.html Interview by Alexander Laurence (The Portable Infinite) © 2006]References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.