The Secret Machines

The Secret Machines
The Secret Machines, performing at Metro in Chicago, on October 24, 2008. Left to right: Josh Garza, Phil Karnats, Brandon Curtis.
Background information
Origin	Dallas, Texas, United States
Genre(s)	Alternative rock, Space rock, New Prog
Years active	2000–present
Label(s)	Reprise
Associated acts	Tripping Daisy, School of Seven Bells
Website	http://www.thesecretmachines.com/
Members
Brandon Curtis Josh Garza Phil Karnats
Former members
Benjamin Curtis

The Secret Machines are a three-piece American alternative rock band. Originally from Dallas, Texas before moving to New York City, they describe their band as space rock. The original lineup consisted of two brothers, Brandon and Benjamin Curtis, and Josh Garza. In March 2007, Benjamin left the band, and was replaced by Phil Karnats.

History

Early years

Before forming The Secret Machines the members played in various Dallas bands such as: UFOFU, Captain Audio, Comet and When Babies Eat Pennies, but perhaps the most significant was Tripping Daisy. Captain Audio was formed by Garza and vocalist/guitarist/chief songwriter Regina 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 outfit The 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".

September 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 on 7 June 2005. The song "Nowhere Again", from the their debut album, was used in promotional spots for American during its launch, and appeared in the 2006 videogame Driver: Parallel Lines. [1]

"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.

In 2006, the band did a headlining In-the-Round tour.

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.[2]

Third album

After Ben's departure from the band, Secret Machines 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 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. Since these shows, Karnats has become the official guitarist of the band, replacing Ben.

The band finished recording quickly during May 2007 and released a new, self-titled album in the United States of America on October 14, 2008.^[1]. The online release notice features a free download of a non-album B-side 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 ^[2]

Style

"They take Pink Floyd psychedelia, Led Zeppelin stomp, and The Who-inspired choruses and charge them full of big-rock beats, atmospheric keyboards and all kinds of electronic whooshes." — Rolling Stone

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, bass (two shows in 2007)

Discography

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 & TSM Recordings U.S. #12 Heatseekers

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)

Singles

• "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

Soundtracks

The Secret Machines have three tracks on the soundtrack for the 2007 film "Across the Universe" which highlights the music of the Beatles, set to the story of a handful of characters living out the songs. They perform "I Am the Walrus" with Bono singing; an instrumental, "Flying" and "Blue Jay Way" in their notable style.

External links

• The Secret Machines
• The Secret Machines social network
• Official The Secret Machines MySpace Page
• The Secret Machines - Self Titled Review
• Secret Machines @ Webster Hall, NYC: 10-18-08 (PopWreckoning live show review)

Interviews

• Interview with Brandon Curtis at Aural States (01.10.2008)
• The Secret Machines talk about Ten Silver Drops
• Interview by Alexander Laurence (The Portable Infinite) © 2006

References