Machines Dream

Machines Dream
Machines Dream in 2014
from left to right: Coulter, Rendell, Coleman, West, Holmes
Background information
Origin Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Genres Progressive rock, neo-progressive rock, cross-over prog
Years active 2010–present
Labels Progressive Gears
Website www.machinesdream.com
Members
  • Craig West
  • Rob Coleman
  • Ken Coulter
  • Jacob Rendell
  • Brian Holmes
  • Eugene Rogers (Progressive Gears Management)
Past members
  • Shayne Wigglesworth
  • Marco Pierucci
  • Keith Conway

Machines Dream is a Canadian atmospheric progressive rock band from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The group was founded in 2008 by Craig West, Brian Holmes and Ken Coulter. The band was formed after a series of "just for fun" rehearsal sessions succeeded in creating a large catalogue of original music. Machines Dream blends 70s Progressive Rock elements with modern atmospheric themes dashed with heavy symphonic crescendos. The band's membership consists of Craig West (Guitar/Vocals/Bass), Brian Holmes (Keyboards/Bass), Ken Coulter (Drums), Rob Coleman (Lead Guitar) and Jake Rendell (Bass/Backing Vocals). Currently the band has released two full-length albums and one digital EP. The group are defined by their accessible progressive rock sound, and recognition through the Internet. The band have functioned internationally despite their geographic distance from their audience, being signed to the Progressive Gears record label, based out of Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, managed by Progressive Gears Management.

Biography

Machines Dream was formed in late 2008 by Craig West (lead vocals, bass guitar), Brian Holmes (keyboards), Ken Coulter (drums), and Shayne Wigglesworth (guitar). The group began as an experiment in collective improvisation following a late 2008 performance to fulfill a contractual obligation of West's. In 2009 they added Marco Pierucci (bass guitar) allowing West to play second guitar, and recorded demos that would be the basis of their first album. In 2010 Pierucci left the band, prompting West to return to the role of bassist/vocalist. Machines Dream would stay as a quartet until 2014. The appointment of a manager in July 2014 saw the development of plans to promote the music to as many people as possible – in as many ways as possible – working with the new social media tools – collaborating with other individual artists and musicians – with the end goal of making Machines Dream a viable recording and live proposition. The early results are very encouraging with increasing plays on specialist Internet radio stations that meet the huge demand for Progressive Rock bringing world-wide interest in – and a growing audience for – Machines Dream. Post Immunity, Machines Dream added two more members to the group, Rob Coleman (Lead Guitar) and Jacob Rendell (Acoustics, other instrumentation). The now five piece began practicing heavily shortly after the Immunity release, it was clear that the group had found its voice. Writing songs organically has always been Machines Dream's strongest quality, and with the current lineup this method of song writing has flourished. The band announced the release of their third album on April 22nd, entitled Black Science. The band claims that the current line up is 'extremely strong' and that the new album will feature 'some of our most inspired work to date.' Black Science is slated for release in late spring early summer of 2016.

Machines Dream (self titled debut album) 2012

Their first album, self-titled Machines Dream, was recorded by Craig West at his home studio, Bear Dog Digital, beginning in late 2010 and was released on March 15, 2012. During the recording process, Wigglesworth left the band and was replaced by guitarist Keith Conway. The quartet of West, Holmes, Coulter and Conway played regularly in their hometown throughout 2012 and 2013.

Immunity (Machines Dream second album) 2014

Machines Dream completed recording their second album, entitled Immunity by summer 2014, with mixing and mastering continuing throughout the autumn. The album's mastering and duplication process were crowd-funded using the Fundervine platform. Immunity features a 26 minute title track, separated into two sections and three shorter songs. While not a concept album, Immunity is thematically driven centering on the effects of mediatization. The band were featured several times on Stafford Radio's The Prog Mill,[1] a weekly radio show that showcases progressive rock, hosted by Shaun Geraghty. As a result of the radio play, the band became acquainted with Eugene Rogers and Progressive Gears Management, who officially became the band's manager in September, 2014. Machines Dream played Indie Week[2][3] in Toronto, on October 16 and 17, 2014 becoming semi-finalists. Also in October, Coleman and Rendell were offered, and accepted, full-time membership in the band, officially making the group a quintet for the first time since 2008. Immunity was released on December 2, 2014 through Sonic Vista. Machines Dream recorded a five song EP, 100 Afternoons in September 2014 as a bonus incentive to those who pre-ordered Immunity through Fundervine, which was also released in December 2014.

Black Science (Machines Dream third album) 2016

On April 22nd 2016 Machines Dream announced the title of their upcoming third album, Black Science. The global release of their first single from this album, Heavy Water, was played on a popular Progressive Rock internet radio station hosted by Guy Bellamy in the U.K. The song has met with critical success in the underground U.K. Progressive Rock scene. Black Science is slated as a full length album with thematic overtones, although front man Craig West was very clear that the album was not a typical concept album, rather thematic in the songs and music. Black Science is slated for a late spring early summer 2016 release. The band is currently procuring assets to do a full concert release of the album which will include professional video production.

Internet Growth, Sonic Vista, Third Lineup Change, Progressive Gears Records

The band chose to release their first album through Aurovine, an artist-centric distribution service that allowed the band to release the album using a "pay what you want" model. Machines Dream has consistently been among the most downloaded artists on Aurovine,[4] including holding the Number One spot in the Aurovine download chart for over one year. To capitalize on this online breakthrough the band began investing time in social media, using Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to communicate directly with their growing fan base, largely located in the United Kingdom and United States. Following the band's appearance at their community's Second Stage original music festival in August 2012, Keith Conway left the band. West, Holmes, and Coulter began working on the band's second album throughout the remainder of 2012 into 2013, writing and recording new material as a trio. West played guitar, bass guitar and provided lead vocals, Holmes played keyboards and bass guitar, and Coulter played the drums. In the fall of 2013, the band's sophomore album was developed in the studio by the trio along with two session players, Robert Coleman on lead guitar and Jacob Rendell on backing vocals (who incidentally had recorded the backing vocals for the first album also as a session player). Live performances in 2013 included the two session musicians, with the band performing as a quintet with West playing guitar and singing, while Rendell served as the band's live bass player and backing vocalist. Shortly after the release of Immunity, Coleman and Rendell were added as full time members of the band, filling in their respective live responsibilities in studio and writing credit. For their upcoming release, Black Science, Machines Dream decided to move away from Sonic Vista and join a label more in-line with their future goals, Progressive Gears Records a subsidiary of Progressive Gears Management was founded in Northern Ireland and has since began signing several up and coming Progressive Rock groups.

Machines Dream continues to write music and play live as opportunities arise.

Discography

Machines Dream (2012)

  1. Boundaries (West)
  2. Toronto Skyline (West)
  3. London By Night (West)
  4. Unarmed at Sea (Coulter, Holmes, Pierucci, West, Wigglesworth, lyrics: Chris Belsito)
  5. Mad For All Seasons (Coulter, Holmes, Pierucci, West, Wigglesworth)
  6. Stop Waiting for Miracles (West)
  7. Locusts (West)
  8. Colder Rain (Coulter, Holmes, Pierucci, West, Wigglesworth, lyrics: West, Belsito)
  9. Everyone Says Goodbye (West, Conway)
  10. The Session (West, Wigglesworth, Conway, lyrics: West, Belsito)

Additional Musicians:

Immunity (2014)

  1. Immunity Part 1 (Holmes, West, lyrics: West, Belsito)
  2. Battersea Transcendental (West)
  3. Broken Door (Coulter, Holmes, Pierucci, West, Wigglesworth)
  4. My Ocean is Electric (Coulter, Holmes, Pierucci, West, Wigglesworth)
  5. Immunity Part 2 (Holmes, West, Coulter, lyrics: West, Belsito)

Additional Musicians:

100 Afternoons Bonus EP (2014)
100 Afternoons is a Bonus EP digital download for members who purchased the digital deluxe package during the crowd funding campaign for Immunity

  1. A Poor Turn for the Soul (West)
  2. A Stone's Throw (West)
  3. Jupiter (West)
  4. Keep Your Head Down (Coulter, Holmes, Pierucci, West, Wigglesworth)
  5. Trading Stars for Solitude (Coulter, Holmes, Pierucci, West, Wigglesworth)

References

  1. ↑ http://www.staffordradio.com/presenters/shaungeraghty.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.local2.ca/ssm/viewarticle.php?id=16252
  3. ↑ http://forthemusicinside.com/2014/10/21/machines-dream-at-indie-week-photo-gallery/
  4. ↑ http://www.aurovine.com/charts

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, April 26, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.