LA synthpop duo A Million Machines Preview Stellar Debut Album - A Million Machines Review by SongBlog

LA-based synth pop outfit A Million Machines have announced they will release their first full-length self-titled record in November 2017, preceded by the single ‘Come Tonight’. Featuring 11 tracks, this album is a synth pop kaleidoscope, densely layered in clean, modular synthesizers and a heavy melodic aesthetic between light and darkness. ‘Come Tonight’ is a pulsating electronic burner that echoes Depeche Mode in its technical attack of modular synths, coupled with passionate male vocals. "This song encourages an awakening to the state of the world. An awakening to prejudice, corruption and human rights. An awakening to a revolution," says vocalist Fate Fatal. The entire debut album is, in essence, a blast of heart-thumping beats, stomping propulsion and intoxicating melodies. Fatal injects his gloomy obsessions with an ultra melodic harmony, abetted by MIG, a conscientious technician with an understanding of the inner workings of modular technology and exploring the abyss of self-made modular circuitry.

Recording at their own studio in Los Angeles, A Million Machines use modular synths to make some of the most human sounds around. Based in Silver Lake, California, A Million Machines is a duo comprised of producer/multi-instrumentalist MIG (The New Room) and vocalist Fate Fatal (, Kittens for Christians). They formed in 2014 when MIG and Fate were separately called into an audition with an upcoming LA underground band and, while waiting, dived into discussion about their passion for electronic music.

The result is output that is rooted in raw analog synths and punchy vocals, using low-res electronic noise and pop hooks. After being showcased on local college radio stations, including LA’s KXLU, A Million Machines’ sound quickly progressed to incorporate various areas of electronic music; electroclash, electropunk and electropop. Fatal's twenty years as vocalist on the Los Angeles music scene with bands Kittens for Christian (Sony) and The Deep Eynde (Bomp! /Cargo Records) brings vocal leanings towards Dave Gahan and Trent Reznor. Fate Fatal is native to Los Angeles and part American Indian with tradition rooted in expression and storytelling, this translating into years of gigs with dramatic theatrical performances. Fatal has written and recorded with William Faith (Faith and The Muse/ Christian Death/ Bellweather Syndicate) and producer Chad Blinman (Face to Face/Jarboe), and Gitane Demone (Christian Death), and also performed with Siouxsie Sioux and The Creatures in Los Angeles.

Through ten years with alternative band The New Room, MIG is greatly influenced by post punk, minimalism and dark wave, in particular, by Wire, Kraftwerk, The Editors, Throbbing Gristle and Killing Joke. Madrid-born and Miami-raised MIG’s musical focus reoriented from guitar to synthesizers after falling in love with the idea of meshing post punk with early industrial electronic music, inspired by Martin Gore and Depeche Mode, Front 242, and John Foxx.

In departing from the traditional sense of a full piece band, he found the reward of having more control over all the sonic aspects of creating new material. "I find writing/creating using synths and modular systems like a breath of fresh air,” says MIG. “It's removing some of the more technical stale aspects of modern computers and reintroducing pure energy with the use of control voltage. It makes for writing and recording to be more of a live performance. Sometimes, strange mistakes happen to make it more memorable and far more rewarding."

Earlier this year, A Million Machines sold out of their first 7” vinyl EP, which included singles Undivided and the shout-along anthem Tech Support. They have since been garnering attention at home and abroad, including notable American college radio airplay on KALX in Berkeley and KXLU in Los Angeles.

A Million Machines debut self-titled album will be released on November 24, but is already available for pre-order via the band's own Bandcamp. They are currently working on their next album which will be out September 2018 and scheduled for a European tour in November.

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