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More Machine Than Man:Electrolust
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Do you like some fetish with your music? Then More Machine Than Man is
just what the doctor ordered. MMTM is Tech and Tasha and the two of them are
masters of electronic Chaos. Electrolust from beginning to end is a realm of
pure sexual intensity and utter chaos. Which is rather funny because the
first track is called Chaos and that is exactly what it is believe it.
Tasha's vocals mingle well with Tech and they all know how to orchestrate
maddening music. I've heard their shows are amazing and very visual as well
as sonically assaulting the senses. The seventeen tracks on here lure you
in. One slight problem is they are to short and this release left me hungery
for more. Highly recommended for those who like it rough and sensual. They
have played various venues and have the left the audience craving more. So
look in your underground music stores and ask for More Machine Than Man's
Electrolust and then submit to it.
<<Rev.Gira>>
Lick the whip with More Machine Than Man
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1. How did all of you meet and decide to form More Machine Than Man?
Tech: Tasha and I have been in and out of projects together since we were
teenagers. MMTM was just the natural culmination of years of collaboration
and years of being disappointed by every other musician we worked with. We
just replaced all the dead weight with machines and let our kinky show.
2. Any prior bands before MMTM?
Tech: We started off in several artsy heavy metal bands when we were kids.
Very Queensryche, with the poet shirts and dramatic themes.
3. Was there a concept for Electrolust if not how did the fashioning of
songs come about?
Tech: We write very stream of consciousness. We both develop ideas
separately and then work together to bring our ideas to fruition. We write
songs and vocal parts for the other to sing. We don't often leave material
behind. Most of the time every piece of music we develop ends up on the
release. Electrolust definitely has a darker, more menacing feel to it. It
wasn't really intentional, I guess we were pissed off at a lot people at
the time.
4. What is your stage performance like and does it vary from show to
show?
Tech: Tasha and I create Fetish.Goth.Cyber short films and animation
together. We integrate the visual work into our live show to add a whole
new level of expression to the songs.
It's very rewarding really. Even people who see us for the first time, seem to understand what we're writing about immediately. It's amazing to be able to actually reach people that quickly.
We've never gotten as strong of a response as we did on this last tour, so I think we finally really have the visuals dialed in perfectly.
When we're not touring, and we're performing closer to home, we often work
local talent into our performances. Body Modificationists, Club play,
Dancers, etc.
I realize that there are countless acts out there right now that are rock
bands with some strippers on stage. They are just ripping off the whole
'Genitorturers and Women of Sodom' act. Even when we use other performance
artists, I assure you that our show isn't that.
5. In creating Electrolust was it a different process than your previous
release?
Tech: It was pretty much the same process for us because we are constantly
writing. When we are mixing and mastering one release we continue to
develop ideas that end up as songs for the next LP. We just keep writing
and occasionally grab a years worth of writing and shape it into a LP.
We're pretty well into a new LP as we speak.
We did consciously try to improve Electrolust's production
quality. We did want the engineering to be much stronger than our earlier
work.
6. How would our readers be able to find your materials as well as find
out more about you?
Tech: Our website is the best resource for MMTM info and merchandise is
available there. www.mmtm.net
On line, our last two LPs, ELECTROLUST and ROBOT, can be purchased through
every major on-line distributor. CDbaby.com, Amazon.com, CDnow.com, BN.com,
Mp3.com, and so on.
In the U.S., ELECTROLUST and ROBOT can be ordered from most major record
stores through Orchard Distribution.
In Europe, a new version of ELECTROLUST featuring remixes by En Esch, Razed
In Black, and Girls Under Glass will be available on Black Flames Records by
the end of this year.
7. Is there a tour in the works or the near future?
Tech: We just did a tour of the Midwestern U.S. and plan to head out again
for Halloween!!! Black Flames Records will be booking us at several
festivals next year to promote the release of ELECTROLUST in Europe.
8. With the MMTM sound where do you draw your influences from in
connection with Music, Art, Books, and Movies?
Tech: I think we're both still mostly inspired by late 80's / early 90's
industrial, new-wave and darker POP. I love KMFDM [and Slick Idiot],
Ministry, Chemlab, Garbage, NIN, Meg Lee Chin, Girls Under Glass, the Police, Pitchshifter, Prince, Razed In Black, Peter Gabriel, Bjork... it's impossible to list them all.
I think my favorite books are all written by William Gibson and Stephen
King. I've always had a bent toward Science Fiction and Horror. I've
actually read a lot of 'classic literature' and enjoyed it very much. I
think I was probably odd in school because I chose a lot more literature
classes than everyone else. I was very moved by the things we were supposed
to dread reading, Dickens, Shakespeare, Williams, "The Good Earth", Twain,
"To Kill a Mocking Bird"...
Movie and Television have had an enormous influence on me. Film inspires me
so much to go out and create. There is so much incredible work being
produced. Actors, directors, the writing...I think 20 years from now, my
generation will realize that we witnessed another golden age in film. From
Star Wars, BladeRunner, Indiana Jones to Fincher, Ridley Scott, Edward
Norton, Sir Anthony Hopkins [in Titus!!!], Benecio Del Toro... Amazing.
9. What philiosophies to believe in and is that felt or noticed
throughout your music?
Tech: I would hope so. I'm actually a fairly positive and passive person.
I use the music and art we create as MMTM to vent all of the darkness and
hostility that builds up from living in such a shitty place surrounded by
such shitty people.
I believe in democracy and civil liberty. EVERYONE'S civil liberty. I
think most people are inherently pretty bad, so a system where we can't
shove too much down each other's throats makes sense. We're just meat
eating apes with tools and skewed self awareness.
I'm not so sure that our representative democracy is a perfect system,
but it does pretty well considering how large and varied this country
is.
I'm not too crazy about the United States' 'gun culture'; but it is a tough
thing to balance civil liberty with all of the guns floating around here.
10. Is there a strong undertone of religion, politics, or personal
emotion in your music besides the sexuality that pours through?
Tech: Yes, I would think so. We're not interested in preaching in our
music, but I think our ideas are there if you look. Our live show is
definitely a little more opinionated than the music itself.
We were both raised Catholic and had great exposure to other faiths. Some
how we both ended up agnostic, if not somewhat atheist by the definition of
the religious right.
I do consider myself an extreme liberal, but not at all a 'bleeding heart'
liberal.
I'm much more of a 'pessimistic' liberal: people really suck, so those of us with a conscience should do what we can to compensate for the other
assholes. And people really suck, so I want to make sure that other people
aren't allowed to screw with how I live, as long as I'm not hurting anyone
else.
11. When should we expect the next release from More Machine Than Man and
will it be as intense as Electrolust?
Tech: I hope to have it release in the U.S. and Europe by early 2003. The
songs we are currently working on are the best work we've done yet. I
really feel that this next group of songs will be the ones to really break
through for us.
12. What direction do you see industrial, Darkwave, and gothic music
heading in and is it a regression or an evolution?
Tech: Right now it is stagnating. The 'big' industrial labels are all
signing the same thing right now, and saturating a VERY small market with
one sound, VNV/APOP/FLA clones. It is a huge mistake. The industrial scene is as stale as main stream music right now, and the labels did it on purpose.
This "future pop" fad is already wearing very thin for me. There were a few
cool acts doing something good a few years ago. Then the labels all set up
mechanisms to crank out 200 acts that all sound the same, just LAMER.
It's like goth boy bands. They've stripped away any meaning and integrity
those first acts had. It's total shit now. Awful.
I was never very turned on to the whole 'be nice to one another' thing, anyway. It just doesn't ring true for me.
I actually saw a video for a 'spice girl' solo record on Mtv the other day,
it sounded like a VNV track with female vocals. Same synth sounds,
arpeggios, chord progression, fills, vocal melodies, beats...It was EXACT,
that's how you know it's OVER.
On this last tour, I couldn't believe how many people were fed up with this
trend. I thought it would only be me and I'd have another year or so
before everyone else was sick of it. But that's not the case, people are
totally burnt already. I'm sure that record sales will die very soon.
13. Has the fanbase grown since the beginning of More Machine than Man?
Tech: Yes, I'd say so. We are extremely grateful for everyone's support. The critics, fans, DJs, and promoters have been extremely supportive.
The more we tour the larger it all gets. It seems like we really connect with people in a live setting. I think it is the impact of our live presentation combined with the ability to actually meet and talk to people after the show.
The strange thing for us is that every DJ seems to choose different tracks to spin and push. I think that if we can get the whole scene behind just one track it will build up the momentum we need to break through to the next level in this scene.
We're considering releasing a single before the next LP to help create this kind of focus. In each city MMTM is kind of known for something different.
On the one hand, this is a sign that we do several things well and can appeal to people in several different ways. On the other hand, the industry mechanism isn't very well set up to promote artists that can't be nailed down.
14. What equipment was involved in the making of Electrolust?
Tech: Four Macs, one PC, two carbon based life forms, too much software, too little outboard gear, and no tape [all hard drive]. Though I might mix down to DAT next time around to save some time and hard drive space.
15.Has there ever been any bizarre events that revovled around More
Machine Than Man and if so can you list two?
Tech: MMTM is a bizarre event.
On this last tour we did a date in Pittsburgh. The event, LIPSERVICE, is held in the back room of a 'white bread' bar. Our merch table was set up close to the door between the back room and the 'yuppie-bar' up front.
One of our crew who helps keep us organized and runs our merchandise table, is a pretty unique individual. He is a huge, tatoo-ed body builder who was wearing a gladiator harness, leather two-two, fishnets and a Roman Centurian helmet, complete with the huge brush on top, and nothing else. He looked like some nightmarish, muscle-bound, S&M, Marvin the Martian satire, from a Gay bondage film. He stood almost 7' tall with the helmet.
The white bread people up front almost shit themselves when they saw him. After a few hours and a lot of Amstel Light the 'Dockers and Old Navy' crowd ventured far enough into the back room to see what the hell was up with the bondage gladiator...
It was hysterical to watch him try to explain that he HADN'T lost a bet, WASN'T a homosexual, and dressed like this to pick up CHICKS...
It all ended well enough. All of the 25-35 year old Martha Stewart clones put on some spiked collars from the table and had there pictures taken with Mr. Gladiator while in very provocative positions.
16. Any side projects or collaborations apart from MMTM that any of you
are involved with or is it strictly MMTM?
Tech: I keep encouraging Tasha to complete and release a lot of material that she has written that is a little TOO ambient, gothy for MMTM. Hopefully that will surface some day. She has some incredible stuff. If we tried to release it as MMTM, people would wonder what the hell we're doing. Our range would be way to wide, which people accuse us of already.
17. Are there any final words you'd wish to share with us?
Tech: Read, pay attention, think for yourselves.
And the next time you're doing the nasty, smack your partner around a little; they'll probably like it. ;)
I want to thank More Machine Than Man for taking the time to talk with
us. I strongly urge you readers to check out More Machine Than Man if you
haven't yet. This is the future and ask your local Dj to spin MMTM I
guarantee it will get the floor moving. I hope to keep you posted on news
dealing with More Machine Than Man I know they are in constant rotation in
my cd player......
<<Rev.Gira>>
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