- Apr 23, 2020
- 6 min read

Isolation Insiders: Echo Machine

With the world in self-isolation and gigs coming to a halt, except for broadband-dependent live shows, we thought we'd keep our favourite artists and their fans entertained with a series of interviews.

You'll soon learn everything from their origin story to dream dinner guests and of course some hard-hitting "music journalism" in-between.

ECHO MACHINE

Ah, Echo Machine, a band who captured our hearts early 2018, during a traditionally chaotic Sneaky Pete's performance. Their live shows are spectacular and their occasionally witty banter is always a highlight in the gig calendar, but now they've managed to bottle that energy into a living, breathing album - Instant Transmissions - which was released in February.

The album encapsulates everything we enjoy about Echo Machine, it's an 80s influenced synth pop opera; with inspired songwriting, instant hooks and songs fit for stadiums.

I caught up with frontman and all-round good egg, Gary (who might be familiar to those who frequent Dundee's Assai Records) to discuss Instant Transmissions, playing in Ukraine and what his recent snack of choice has been. It's a good 'un....

Q1. What’s the Echo Machine origin story?

It is a fairly familiar tale really. Four handsome misfits each find an elemental ring which brings them together with a magnetic, near spiritual force and sets them on a quest to save the planet.

We didn't choose synth pop, it chose us.

Q2. Describe each member in three words?

Gary - Hips Don't Lie

Mike - Prince Of Darkness

Lewis - Bumblegum Glitter Party

Ben - Luxury Man Feelings

Q3. If someone’s never listened to you before, which track should they start with?

I'd probably go for "Automatic Love", the single we released last summer. That felt like a bit of a game changer for us when we wrote it. It was the song that moved us away from straight forward "live" writing, and towards being a bit more adventurous and creative in our approach. And it probably contains all the stuff we like - it's loud, poptastic, a bit goth and wonderfully fun to dance to.

Q4.Echo Machine released an actual album! How does it feel?

It feels bloody magical. A genuine sense of of achievement, having a thing to hold onto, a physical little egg, laid through collective endeavour. I am an album fan.

I'm always filled with rage when I hear the now familiar "albums are a dead format maaaaaan" chat. Men in sports shoes and smart/casual outfits have been saying it at seminars and conferences since the first MP3 appeared, and it's as nonsensical now as it was then.

An album is a body of work, it takes you into the world of an artist and creates a real bond that you can't get from a single or EP. I don't really feel like I can get fully on board with a band or artist until I've sat down with their album.

Q5. Did you agonise over the track listing and ordering, or did it come naturally?

It was pretty easy really. There were definitely a couple of variations along the way, but everyone came to an agreement pretty quickly. We are all geeks for that kind of stuff, so we all had similar ideas in terms of what the opening track should be, what should start side 2 of the record, what closes it etc. Obviously track 2 is always the first single, thats near gospel in rock n' roll album terms, and the ballad shouldn't come until at least track six. If we wrote ballads.

Q5. You played at Festival in Ukraine last year, how did that come about?

Indeed we did. It was Atlas Weekend in Kiev. We know a few promoters out in Eastern Europe from previous projects, so our manager sent around some of our songs last year, and they got black pretty swiftly inviting us to play.

It was a mad experience, and one that we can't wait to repeat. Playing outdoors on a big stage is right up our street. That weekend was a blur really, as all the good ones are. We made a lot of new friends, were invited to our first orgy and managed to leave two of the band behind in Ukraine.

Q6. If you could be in any other band, which would it be and which instrument would you want to play?

I'd play tambourine in The Spiders From Mars I think. Something easy, so I could just stand on stage with Bowie in his absolute prime, watching on in awe, crying tears of joy every night.

Or maybe the lad from Slipknot who hits bins with a baseball bat, that seems like a pretty rewarding job.

Q7. Hottest Scottish artist at the moment?

Thats a highly tricky one. It changes a lot. Right now its probably st martiins, mostly because I've had their new EP on repeat and it is incredible. They are doing something totally their own and it excites me a lot. Neon Seas are probably a very close 2nd though. Their two most recent singles are incredible.

Q8. What track do you have on heavy repeat?

I've been totally obsessed with Love Is A Stranger by Eurythmics for a few weeks now. To the point where I've had to ration myself to one listen per day so I don't ruin it.

It's just perfect pop, makes you want to dance while feeling a little melancholic. Which is the aim of all good music I think.

Q9. Ever been star struck when meeting or playing with other bands?

Definitely. We've met Placebo a few times, and they are absolute goth rock idols of ours. Each time I've found a new way of saying something odd.

In the social media age I do find that I get star struck with a lot of entirely unfamous people. If I like a band, and follow them online then I think on some level my brain elevates them to celebrity even if they're just starting out.

XPO North was a nightmare for that last year, everywhere we went we would bump into folk I love and had to try and not sound creepy.

Q10. What would you change about the music industry?

Hmmmm, that is a can of worms right there. There is A LOT of things that need changed in the music industry, knowing where to start would be the issue. And then saying that, maybe the industry is like the human gut, removing some of the bacteria would fuck the whole system and ruin everything, perhaps we need some of the bullshit so that everything else functions.

That said, I suppose it would be good if someone was to click their fingers and introduce a general sense of equality to proceedings, so that it no longer mattered what your economic background/gender/race etc was, you were just considered on the things you made.

That'd be a nice start. No matter how progressive things are getting, you can still guarantee you'll be more likely to be a main stage festival act if you are a young, straight white male, from an upper-middle class background.

And if you can have Bono as your Dad as well that will help. I send my own Dad hate mail most days for not trying hard enough to be Bono.

Q11. Favourite track to play live?

We have a song called "Vibrations" which isn't on the album but which we end our live set with it. That's probably the most fun to play. It is loud, up-tempo and a little unhinged. If you allow yourself to just go with it then glorious carnage usually ensues.

Q12. What’s the first thing you’ll do post lockdown?

Have a really boozey band practice, then go someplace where I can dance to some squelchy electronic disco music.

Q13. What's been your recent snack of choice?

Anything with vegan Applewood cheese on it. I could put a slice of that creamy, gooey bastard on literally anything and I would enjoy it.

Q11. Did Carole Baskin kill her husband?

Yes. I've not seen it, but Lewis assures me she did, but also said that I must mention that everyone on that show is trash.

Q12. The best band from Dundee?

VfLamda [Editor note: Great Choice]

Q13. If Echo Machine were a biscuit, what would they be?

A double-stuff Oreo, dipped in lube and sprinkled with stardust.

Q14. Do you sing in the shower?

Always. What songs? Mostly 90s boyband tunes.

Q15. You host a dream dinner night but can only invite 3 musicians guests. Who are they?

Lou Reed, Prince and Ian Curtis. They would all be grumpy and awkward as fuck, but I am ok with it.

Q16. Who is your go to Mario Kart character?

Lewis is our games guy, and he assures me it is always Roy Koopa as he is, and I quote, "a big pink rudeboy in shades"

Q17. Can you remember what the original Irn-Bru used to taste like?

Irn-Bru was, and always will be, weird-tasting bottled heartburn. Not for me.

Q18. Buckfast, Dragonsoop or MD20/20?

Mike says Dragonsoop. But I think he's just saying that to sound hip. We are all French Martini guys really.

You can grab a copy of their debut album Instant Transmission on vinyl from Assai Records - click here - and check out 'Headlights' which possibly the closest they get to a ballad...