Mach FoX 2008 Bio/Press release Of all the local musicians to emerge since the new millenium, no one has embraced synths, guitars and drum machines as thoroughly as Mach FoX(Mark Howard). With a forceful emphasis on image, his group is one of the finest acts to emerge from the Twin Cities electropunk scene - a cluster of musicians whose on-stage talents are on par with their computer skills. In the 90's Howard wrote and performed in Manplanet, Grand-80, Puck, Vena cava, Charlie dont surf, Silver FoX, and other bands in his hometown of Minneapolis, while absorbing the influences of electronic artists from all over the world. Though mainly a songwriter, guitarist, and singer, he wished to broaden his sound to include synthesizers, drum machines, and samples. A fan of Prince and Todd Rundgren, and eager to produce his own music, he wrote and recorded hundreds of songs with a 4-Track recorder and later a digital 8-Track, as he programmed and experimented with his newly acquired electronic instruments. Guitars, sequencers, samplers, effects, and the implementation of MIDI all play their part in the recording of a stream of distinct Mach FoX tracks at his home studio -The FoX Den. He released Mach FoX - "FuturePast" in 2005, a collection of demos from the previous five years, and began performing solo as Mach FoX, before adding Adam01 on guitar and TeA on vocals. Like David Bowie and Marc Bolan, whose glam influences had a direct effect on Mach FoX, Howards' imagery and Live shows became another layer of the music. In early 06' he had a new album, and bassist D-bot joined the line-up. The bands combination of confident image and a music which mixed Howard's goth-tinged vocals, stabbing synths, and churning guitars, with sultry female vocals, funky bass and drum machines, had defined the bands unique style on the 2006 Mach FoX self-titled release. Later that same year Martin Atkins(PiL/Pigface) and Howard discussed the possibility of reworking several tracks for release on one of his labels. No deal was struck and in May 2007 The "AXion/FriXion" E.P. was released on Italian based indie label - The Family Records. Adam01 and TeA had left the band, and it was the addition of MissK's svelte vocals which helped shape the new sound on the songs he had already been recording on and off in 07' and planning to use for the next release. With the cooperation and inspiration of MissK(Karen Meyer) and D-bot(David Erickson), Howard recorded, edited, and manipulated audio tracks, often applying remix techniques to assemble the songs on "Build it down". He also credits Depeche mode, Matthew Dear, Roxy music, Fad gadget, SchneiderTM, ambient music, and digital recording with inspiring some of the tracks. The experimental yet dancey approach of "The smile that killed", and "Like clover" (both featuring Ericksons Bootsy inspired bass lines) is offset by The almost ballad-like "B4 it's over", which along with opener "The conneXion" and "This city", were written years earlier and awaiting a voice like Meyers'. The last track on the album - "DTMG" was a collaboration between Mach FoX and French producer Francksom, who had done an outstanding remix of "Build it down" after being contacted by The Family Records(label that releases music from both artists). They both expressed interest in doing a song together, so Francksom sent the music track for "DTMG", Mach contributed the lyrics and sang it along with MissK. Francksom then remixed "DTMG" for the 2008 bonus release -"RemiX and Repeat" which has 12 Mach FoX remixes by artists from Poland, Japan, France, USA, Sweden, Canada, and the UK. Released independently in early 2008, Mach FoX - "Build it down" has 9 tracks Mixed and Produced with French musician/friend Severin24, who helped capture the emotive yet raw feel with an edgey, english style mix on the tracks "Build it down", "Teena tonite" and the Ray Davies/Kinks penned "Allday and all of the nite", which finds Mach twisting the song into a stalkers dark confession. Pushed along by a Technicolor array of sequenced drum and synth tracks "Build it down" still possesses a powerful organic presence with intoxicating sound-scenery. PRESS Though he used to be a member of the consciously kitschy space-age electro-pop band Manplanet, local electronica ace Mach Fox has taken a darker turn on his latest set of synth-heavy electro-punk. His new self-titled CD embraces the goth-industrial ethic of Ministry and a boatload of '80s-era groups like Killing Joke and Bauhaus. - the Onion (mpls.) - Volume 42 Issue 14 / April 6-12 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Mach FoX - dancy, trancy electronica with a great 80s vibe. (Think Blondie, Yaz, Prince, or DAF.) There's something here for everyone to love, and this disc should keep you dancing. As Mach Fox is doing most everything right -- not the least of which is creating a niche as a showman who looks more like a life-size space movie action figure than a rock star -- it's a wonder he's not better known outside the electronic music scene. Mach (or Mark, as he's known to his friends) would also be a hit with fans on the indie rock scene. His female vocalist's voice at times recalls Annie Lenox at times, also not a bad thing. David deYoung @ howwastheshow.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mach FoX 2oo6 self-titled - "Mach FoX is a guy who has an idea, a style, a strong personality. So many artists are more interested by fashion or becoming popular, They appear on the scéne and they disappear, who remember them. Mach is not a new born and he will be there for a long time with his own and original material. I bet one day it will be his hour. Sure you can recognize and critizice the strong 80's influence on his music. So what? no one critizice all these fake punk bands which are on the top of thecharts, or what to think about last Madonna's album?The Strokes? Mach lives on an other planet, he's got his own universe, deeply and with passion. Glitter, Sci Fi, Poppy, crunchy, this new album is mature. He has done the choice to work with other musicians to create a band atmosphere, which made the music more rich and various, without losing his own signature. I have to admit that my ear was grabbed at first by strong melodies like on Fast, Fallaway, thee electric way. More punk and crunchy than in the past, I have appreciated AXion FriXion, Run 4 the prize. As Mach does no compromise, he took the risk to deliver also experimental sounds, really interesting and cinematic tracks like on qlitch. Mach drive this new record like a fast car, with cohesion, honesty,efficiency and without compromise...so,try it, take it or leave it... I have tried, and this album will stay in my fav I-pod folder for a while." T.H. Agoon agoon Mag(France)march 2006 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mach FoX - self-titled This is the second release for Mach Fox, again released independently (in early 2006) and this time featuring a enhanced lineup, with new members TeA (Vox), Adam01 (Guitar/Vox), and Dave (Bass) joining Mach Fox. "Futurepast", the previous release, was a compilation of "home recordings and demos", while this is intended to be the band's official debut album. 8 tracks and two remixes make up this journey into the land of electropunk, with a generous splash of New Wave influences to speed the album along it's way. Jangly guitars and quirky attitude drive several of these quite catchy tracks, such as "Run 4 The Prize" and "Axion Friction". Both these tracks tap into the offbeat and strangely compelling nature of early New Wave, with strangely warbling vocals and arrhythmic percussion. "Fast, Fallaway" follows the same formula, but best achieves a balance between the pop catchiness and quirky oddness Jason Baker @ synthpop.net --------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to New York, 1986. Or maybe it's Berlin, 1946. No matter the time period, the combination of the low-ceilinged Club Underground and the industrial sounds of Mach Fox challenge the ear's sense of place. Lead singer Mach Fox (dressed in robotic-blue shoulder pads) and his crew of gothy superstars debuted their self-titled release to a crowd of dancing fools. HowWasTheShow Assistant Editor Andrea Myers commented that Mach Fox looked like a Transformer, ready to morph into a car at any moment. Given the night, which included a pretty guitarist in a pleather skirt throwing plastic apes at the crowd, an aerobic electronic Frenchman and an impromptu co-ed How Was the Show meeting in the ladies' bathroom, I wouldn't have been surprised. [Text by Zosia Blue] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The evening was closed out by Mach FoX, a show-stopping performer whose stage presence and demeanor are so confidently punk, so powerfully fun that I felt a little cooler just for standing there and watching him. From his bio, it is said that Mach FoX is the quintessential Electro-Rocker, a glam punk who digs the roots, a true believer in the machine backbeat. I don't think I could agree more. As soon as Mach FoX and his tribe of back-up musicians (Adam Powell and Dave Erickson of Thosquanta, along with the gorgeous TeA) took the stage, the entire room was bathed in smoke and neon lights. Dressed like a cross between a robot soldier and a Transformer, Mach FoX controlled the atmosphere of the room with his blinding Electropunk, welcoming outsiders everywhere into his world and holding the entire room in his grasp. -Andrea Myers / howwastheshow.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mach FoX - selftitled He wears masks on his shoulders and big, black goggles on his face – the better to electrify you with. He comes at you like Abobo with a drum machine. Mach FoX is on the frontlines as man and machine sonically duke it out, but which side is he on? The electro-rocker has brought his electronic mash-ups into 2006 with a new band and a new record, a self-titled collection of goth-tinged synthpop sounds that will have you dancing jerkily about in no time. The CD kicks off with "Run 4 the Prize," a fuzzy-beat and new wave guitar-driven number slathered with the 'VoX' stylings of Mach, guitarist Adam01 and TeA, whose icy pipes declare "a little strange will do you good." Mach's robotic vocal effects are only natural on the follow-up track, "AXion FriXion," which fondly recalls Thomas Dolby. Things get a little darker farther into the disc. Samples and mechanical voices churn in the rapid, angry swirl of "Upsidedown." An industrial edge comes in with "The Subversives" and "Favourite Photo," which begins with the sound of what seems to be an orgasmic slot machine and evolves in a Gary Numan-inspired clash of guitar and drumbeats. French artist and former tour mate Severin24 puts a dreamy twist on a remix of the album's "Fast, Fallaway." Camp and novelty are inevitable anytime humans put on the robot suit, but those things are fun and different and that's always a good thing. Jenny Newgard RIFT magazine Issue #14 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Mach FoX 2oo6 UPDATE -------------------- Mach FoX - Guitar/VoX/Synth TeA - VoX Adam01 - Guitar/VoX Dbot - Bass OFFICIAL Mach FoX BIO: Among the lifetime residents of Abyssville are those rock and rollers whose faith in the liberating rebellion of Electropunk music gets crossed up into a personal need to defy convention and authority - all authority. Clinging to icons whose cools convey a fearless sense of adventure, they are buffeted by the rigors of a lifestyle that would embalm a vampire and propelled by audience expectations of superhuman hedonism and indulgence. Mach FoX is the quintessential Electro-Rocker, a glam punk who digs the roots, a true believer in the machine backbeat. A man who lives the music as if it means something, and gives himself over to it in a near fatal rock ritual. An Electropunk who dresses in his habit defiantly, disgustedly- like a close-fitting tattered mesh shirt, Mach and machines have become as inseperable as Mach and his old hat and goggles. Time and again, he hauls himself through the fire to prove that he is no myth- but a keeper of the flame ignited and relighted by Johnny Thunders, Prince, and Al Jourgensen. Mach understands himself even if his fans don't. Not only did he erect the post- 90's statue of the supreme guitar/synth hero- touring with the bands Puck, Vena Cava, Silver FoX, and Manplanet. He is a mess who can play from his soul, not his fingers- and provides countless musicians with compelling inspiration. If Marc Bolan was the godfather of glam then Mach FoX will most certainly sire the child of Mpls. Electropunk. In early 2oo5 Mach FoX released a solo album- "FUTUREPAST". A compilation of demos and home recordings made over a 5 year span, where he explored many genres including electropunk, synthpop, industrial, new wave and sample based electronic rock music. Always a performer at heart- Mach brought his "lites, Attitude, Action" show to live audiences with as many as 35 gigs in 2oo5- including a midwest tour in July with French artist Severin24. With a new release in the works, Mach put together a band in late o5, to bring his sound and vision to life. 2oo6 brings a new record, a new band, and a whole new Mach FoX experience. As word of mouth spreads their mission, Mach FoX have quickly been attracting a devoted cult following around which an entire local electro-glam club scene can arise, much like Chicago, NY, and Berlin. Playing only to a handful of audiences so far, Mach FoX is becoming a self-created phenomenon in a business accustomed to calling the shots. The seeds of Mpls. electropunk have been sown- without so much as a record contract being drawn. According to Mach, the record industry "thinks we are sleazy drug addicted perverts." Mach FoX will be releasing their self titled debut in April 2oo6. A dangerous slab of dark, dancey electro. The songs are a focused and deliberate attempt to draw you to the dance floor, while the live show brings the aesthetics of a low budget Sci-Fi film and more fog and lights than a Sisters of Mercy concert. PRESS Mach FoX - FUTUREPAST self-released 2oo5 Like a DeLorean time machine, Mach FoX's sleek, sci-fi pop exists simultaneously in the electropunk future and the retro-synthpop past. Twitchy computer beats, jittery synthesizers, and ethereal, Cure-inspired guitars interweave in Mach Fox's hall of mirrors, with Mach's soaring, mournful vocals serving as a guide through the labyrinth. While plenty of current bands cop the flash and glitter of 80s electronic pop, Mach FoX is one of the few to capture a bit of its soul. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "I started listening to Mach Fox a few months back, and was glad to see this project on the comp. The track "Reward Le Fin" opens with with flowing emotion invoking synth lines and vocals that say get ready for an older Depeche Mode sound...One of those songs you put on a mix tape for your ex, you know what I mean. If you are into more serious take on electropop you'll love Mach Fox." - from Electrocore.com review of TCElectropunk Vol.II ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mach Fox @ The Kitty Cat Klub "Presenting ambient electro-pop explorations from the heart of Minnesota, Mach Fox is celebrating the release of his debut solo CD, FuturePast, recorded with Brian Herb. Former member of such diverse outfits as Manplanet, Vena Cava and Silver Fox, Mach Fox doesn’t really sound like any of those groups. Those ready to take a doped-up trip through vaguely ’80s soundscapes and mechanical rhythms should get ready to recline in a futuristic leather couch and let the blue tones (and strangely Midnight Oil-styled vocals) of Mach Fox wash over them. " Nathan Dean - Pulse of the Twin Cities- Hot Tickets for January 26 - February 1, 2005 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mach Fox has put together a stunning showcase of his distinct style, one that no electronica fan should be without..." - From Distortion.us online music magazine ----------------------------------------------------------------------- You needn’t look any further than the DeLorean on the album cover to find evidence of Mach FoX’s ‘80s obsessions, but beneath the kitschy surface there’s some decent music to be found. True, some of the songs here are a little too self-consciously retro – “Liquid Rhythm” is electroclash at its worst, and the instrumental “Deadly Curse” may as well be a Gary Numan B-side – but there are plenty of intriguing takes on New Wave and synthpop as well. “77 Hands” is just plain weird, a surrealistic science fiction piece with a touch of early EBM, while “Anyday” fills out the analog bleeping with a hint of ragged punk power chords. It’s the more goth-inspired melodic pieces, though, that best show off Mach FoX’s talents. “Reward Le Fin” is prettily morbid, while “House Divided” has the rakish decadence of Bauhaus. “Resolution White” takes a more poppy angle, with gently processed vocals swimming amidst a wash of guitar effects reminiscent of the Cure at their delicately doleful best. Get past the more obvious ‘80s camp moments, and this turns out to be a pretty worthwhile album even if you’re not sporting a Flock Of Seagulls haircut. Matthew Johnson - @ GraveConcernsEZine.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "His debut CD, Futurepast, which gets its release show tonight, is a sample-rich concoction full of kitschy references to alien monsters and robot girlfriends." the ONION -26 January 2005 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Another of the surprising number of quality electronic projects coming out of the Twin Cities area, my first introduction to the band was on the Twin Cities Electropunk compilation. The track that was featured there, "House Divided", is included on this album, along with 11 other original songs. Several of the songs are very sample heavy, with 50's & 60's horror films and Sc-Fi films popping into "Omni", "77 Hands", and several of the other tracks. The musical style varies from synth punk to new wave-esque rock and just about everywhere in between. With a album that is so varied and diverse, it's hard to describe to accurately, but the previous sentence does as good a job as I can manage. It's a album that will stretch your musical tastes at times, but rewardingly so. " -Jason Baker @ Synthpop.net ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Mach FoX - FUTUREPAST The album begins with the emotional "Omni". It has a great chorus with minimum instrumentation. I felt the song wanted to blow up many times but Mach left it in a tense calm. "A.M." is more obscure in every way, especially the vocals. The synths play a comfortable bed of soft sounds while the bass is more restless. The vocoder plays a nice counterpoint with the real vocals at the end. "77 Hands" has an insistent base reminiscent of Kraftwerk, with processed vocals that give more depth to the song in an industrial enviroment. "Anyday" is an example of what´s electropunk all about: sounds of heavy guitars, fast tempo and punk feeling. MachFox almost screams the lyrics on the chorus. On "We R The Engineers" the bass (i love it!), guitars and drums work in harmony to be a great base for Mach´s best vocal effort. Somehow everything works well to make this song one of the highest points of the album. "Deadly Course" is mainly instrumental with the add of a few recorded voices and a lot rhythm changes. "Reward le Fin" is again emotional but very rhythmic, with a great melody. You can even find some guitars in reggae tempo. Another high point of the album. "Class 7" starts like a late 70´s funk tune and suddenly it shakes hands with early 80´s Gary Numan. It ends abruptly leaving you the feeling that you heard that melody somewhere else. "House Divided" is the hardest song of the album with strong drums, bass and guitars. Is dark and addictive, like a good old Joy Division tune. A guitar arpeggio welcomes us to "Resolution White". Mach again opts for processed vocals and vocoders but this time it works better than before because the song asks for it. A nice downtempo tune to rest for a while. "Liquid Rhythm" invites us to dance a little and then stops and then continues. It´s pretty ecclectic. Mach´s vocals here reminds me of Information Society´s Kurt Harland on some parts, which is nice. The end of the album comes with "W.C.T.N.". Again an instrumental track with female and male recorded vocals that help to add suspense to the song. The low keys of the piano are the perfect match for them combining darkness and mystery. A good album overall although i ended waiting for a song that went "bang" in my head. MachFox´s music has a great potential in that area but somehow he doesn´t want to go further. I felt like his emotions were contained into the music and struggling to get out in a stronger way. Maybe that´s what he wants to achieve in the listener. To keep us both comfortable and uncomfortable enough for him to tell us his story. But this is pure especulation, i don´t think i have the answer. Listen to the album and if you find it please let me know! Alejo Parella - www.retroforwardradio.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "With no real surprises intact, Mach Fox recalls years past with a firm nod towards the electronic age of the ‘80’s where Michael J. Fox was king and music videos were still a fad. That’s right this is straight up electro that’ll have you clamoring to do the robot in no time flat. " - J-Sin @ Smother.net ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Mach FoX (also on MySpace) A Minneapolis act in my column? Are you kidding? Alright, here's what to expect: they're very much a retro-sounding electronic band. Guitars? Sure, every now and again. Vocals? Think somewhere between the new romantic era of the '80s and straight-out goth. Tons of samples, tons of complete randomness that doesn't necessarily seem like it fits into its given slot. At times it sounds like a random bleepy-bloopy experiment gone awry, and other times it's just straight electropop. Highlight: Really weird, ambient stuff that will impress computer music geeks. "Omni" is a really nice track on the poppier side of stuff. Lowlight: It's all definitely amateur as all hell, lacking focus. Neat sound and neat ideas, and their track on TC Electropunk Vol 2 shows a lot of promise, but there's still plenty of work to be done. From - www.insidepulse.com Mach FoX / Severin 24 July 2oo5 Tour info Tour is booked!! >>>>>>>> WED. JULY 13th - The Reverb - Cedar Falls, IA. THURS. JULY 14th - The Abbey Pub -Chicago, IL. FRI. JULY 15th - The Depot Bar and Grill - Faribault , MN. SAT. JULY 16th - Adams Secret Party - Mpls. MN. SUN. JULY 17th - Bastille Day Celebration - Mpls. MN. WED. JULY 2oth - the King Club - Madison, WI. THURS. JULY 21st - Dannys Tavern - Chicago, IL. FRI. JULY 22nd - Club Anything - Milwaukee , WI. SAT. JULY 23rd - Kitty Cat Klub - Mpls. MN. Check SPACETIME for links to clubs in your area. This will be an ELECTROPUNK Blowout!!! Severin 24 will be playing the Bastille day celebration in MPLS. MN. USA on SUN. JULY 17th and we will be playing the last show of the Tour with FOODTEAM on SAT. JULY 23rd @ Kitty Cat Klub in MPLS. MN. USA Hope to See You!! Mach FoX bio 2oo5 Mach FoX was the songwriting persona behind the sci-fi-spaceglam band Silver FoX. An ad seeking a Bassdroid and Drumbot was all he needed to find his very own "spiders from mars" .The band was Mach FoX- synth/guitar/vocals, Celestial Ally- bass/ lighting FX, TQ4- synths/samples/pedalsteel/guitar, and Marty E. on drums. Silver FoX brought a "Lites,Attitude,Action" kind of live show to the Twin cities clubs. SpaceGlam, however wasn't in fashion. The Dolls-meet-Numan sound was accented by TQ4s stellar pedalsteel work. A cd single was recorded at The Terrarium in Mpls., with producer Jason Orris. It included the Dollsesque signature tune "FoX" and the the spaceballad "Lep. Tongue". Now out of print. In 1999 Mach FoX joined forces w/ spacerockers Manplanet.Mach was purple and played synthesizers and sound FX, on the Skylab e.p. After being released from the space program, he formed Mach FoX & Grand-8o, the sci-fi-rock band that pitted man Vs machine.Mach FoX and Celestial Ally utilized the G-8o superkomputer for musical destruction. They then acquired the Manmachine on drums and the band veered more towards a pop-punk- synthrock sound. After many cutting edge performances , utilizing custom Flash and video projected by TQ4, the band and the G-8o superkomputer became outdated,and useless. Thus the birth of Mach FoX, and all FUTUREPAST musical endeavors. He has appeared on albums by Uberscenester, the Centurions, The Repeats, and more. Former Twin Cities bands Mach FoX has performed in, include Metro division, Grand-8o, Manplanet, Silver FoX, Vena Cava, Puck, and Charlie dont surf. Mach FoX-FUTUREPAST 12/24/04 -The album is done and the release party booked. Produced by Brian Herb and Mach FoX. It is a synthetic ride that is both retro AND futuristic sounding. The album cover was inspired by Mike Newell and designed by Jim Fitzsimons. The Back cover photo was taken by Zak Metz.