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About LOUD MACHINES:
Since their formation in 2003, Portland experimental pop duo, Swallows have taken an interest in collaborating with other creative individuals as well as using postmodern techniques to create their unique sound.
[While attempting to abandon all pretensions, Wikipedia sums up postmodern music quite nice: "It favors eclecticism in musical form and musical genre, and often combines characteristics from different genres, or employs jump-cut sectionalization"].
In Swallows own terminology, these post-modern musical attitudes meant working with lyricists and visual artists to help express their ideas and themes while creating community between all party's artistic visions. Swallows has also used postmodern theory in creating non-traditional covers of their favorite tunes (ie. a bluesy garage rock version of Olivia Newton John's hit, "Physical").
After their sophomore EP, Cloud Machines (Church Of Girl Records, 2007), Swallows decided to extend their enchantment with creating postmodern music by embracing remix culture. Through Myspace, Swallows' guitarist/singer, Em Brownlowe, sought out remixers and electro programmers interested in musical collaboration. The responsive parties were issued the raw tracks of Cloud Machines to transform Swallows' rock n roll sound into dance music or progressive remixes.
The result is an impressive collection entitled Loud Machines, an adjusted name of Swallows previous work, Cloud Machines. The name also refers to the instruments and tools the remixers used - electronic machines - to rework Swallows' sound.
While some of the remixers employ a plethora of the original tracking, most abandon all similarities of Swallows' original work by creating their own instrumentation for the vocals to soar above. These new mixes range in mood and genre - some are poppy and dance worthy while others are sullen and dissonant.
The artwork of Loud Machines was created by Michelle Suzanne whom has a talent for transforming photographs into graphic depictions of the subject using the Illustrator design program. The photograph used for this image was originally taken by photographer, Julia Laxer, for the press shoot of Cloud Machines in spring of 2007. It was Swallows' hope this design process would parellel the remixing concept of the album to convert Laxer's photograph into a cartoon.
INFORMATION ON THE REMIXERS:
Y-TRON
Having fallen in love with electronic music as a child and becoming a huge fan of classic punk rock in his teens, Y-TRON brings a fun, DIY aesthetic to a genre over run by decadence and "artsy" aloofism. Fusing the attitude of 70s punk, 80s electro and booty bass (as well as modern pop-hop, or crunk), Y-TRON has created a danceable sound that anyone could enjoy, in an alternate universe. Look for projects in other genres on the horizon. To contact Y-TRON about remixes or booking, email Bryan at ytronmusic @ gmail.com
Raised by Television
Raised by Television is an all media, all genre project centered around the core belief that ideas are living entities and should evolve with the artist. Albums are released in versions and all are welcome so bring your songs, stories, voice, instruments, cameras, art and dancing bodies!
Pallaton
Deemed the "King Of Lo-Fi", Pallaton is the moniker chosen by it's creator, Carlos Rodela. Over the years, Rodela has released dozens of home made music videos and songs using bare bones editing and recording techniques to capture a haunting aura through audio/visual simplicity. His music can be described as "indie pop masked by a dark cloud of mis-trust and sadness" juxtaposed with "hope filled clouds hanging overhead a full moon". In addition to his creative work, Rodela is the founder of digital music community archive, MINI LIFE.
Radio Sloan
Since the mid-90's, Radio Sloan has played epic guitar in several noteworthy bands including the legendary queer-core duo, The Need. Nowadays, Radio resides in Portland, Oregon and works as an independent audio/recording engineer. Radio's contributions use the raw tracks from Swallows debut full length, Me With Trees Towering, which she recorded in her home studio in 2006.
Team Gina
Seattle’s hotties, Team Gina, come at ya with a fresh electro sound that is queer positive and dance worthy! In April of 2008, they were praised in The Advocate as one of the top 5 queer groups to look out for! Recently the ladies have been turning people on with their Product Of The 80's Tour. Their sultry vocals featured in Radio Sloan's remix of Swallows' "Words Of Love" were pulled from Team Gina's original tune, "The Language of Love" which features Leslie & the Ly's and was produced by Argyle Miss and mixed by Radio Sloan.
Sea Otter
Founded in 2005, Sea Otter is Keith Rocka fucking around and making art music as an excuse to sew costumes and perform drunk.
myspace.com/seaotter
The Artificial Sea
The Artificial Sea is a collaboration between Kevin C. Smith and Alina Simone whose debut album City Island was released by Travelling Music in France. Kevin records the music (and does the occasional remix) using a diverse array of techniques and instruments including vintage synthesizers and drum machines, obscure samples and found sound, circuit-bent creations and homemade electronics, as well as guitar, bass, and drums while Alina completes the tracks with her lyrics and vocals.
myspace.com/theartificialsea
Keep It On The Brownlowe
While she doesn't know how to "remix", Swallows front woman, Em Brownlowe knows how to revise her own material by looping samples and singing over top of her new creation. Taking influence from Bjork, she enjoys employing multiple genres to express the same song.
Dr. Leigh Marble
Leigh Marble is both a passionate performer and a dirty studio rat. His
2007 album "Red Tornado" received glowing reviews from all corners, and
was dubbed one of the year's best albums by the Willamette Week, who
called it "a burning, angsty folk-rock masterpiece." As Dr. Marble,
Leigh has recently done remixes for Jared Mees, Pay the Coyote, and
Oslo-based dub consortium NIC. A remix EP of songs from "Red Tornado",
titled "Twister", is coming out autumn 2008 on Laughing Stock Records.
