‘Come Tonight’ is a pulsating electronic burner that echoes Depeche Mode in its technical attack of modular synths, coupled with passionate male vocals. "This song encourages an awakening to the state of the world. An awakening to prejudice, corruption and human rights. An awakening to a revolution," says vocalist Fate Fatal.
The entire debut album is, in essence, a blast of heart-thumping beats, stomping propulsion and intoxicating melodies. Fatal injects his gloomy obsessions with an ultra melodic harmony, abetted by MIG, a conscientious technician with an understanding of the inner workings of modular technology and exploring the abyss of self-made modular circuitry.
Recording at their own studio in Los Angeles, A Million Machines use modular synths to make some of the most human sounds around. Based in Silver Lake, California, A Million Machines is a duo comprised of producer/multi-instrumentalist MIG (The New Room) and vocalist Fate Fatal (The Deep Eynde, Kittens for Christians). They formed in 2014 when MIG and Fate were separately called into an audition with an upcoming LA underground band and, while waiting, dived into discussion about their passion for electronic music.
The result is output that is rooted in raw analog synths and punchy vocals, using low-res electronic noise and pop hooks. After being showcased on local college radio stations, including LA’s KXLU, A Million Machines’ sound quickly progressed to incorporate various areas of electronic music; electroclash, shoegazing, electropunk and electropop.
Fatal's twenty years as vocalist on the Los Angeles music scene with bands Kittens for Christian (Sony) and The Deep Eynde (Bomp! /Cargo Records) brings vocal leanings towards Dave Gahan and Trent Reznor. Fate Fatal is native to Los Angeles and part American Indian with tradition rooted in expression and storytelling, this translating into years of gigs with dramatic theatrical performances. Fatal has written and recorded with William Faith (Faith and The Muse/ Christian Death/ Bellweather Syndicate) and producer Chad Blinman (Face to Face/Jarboe), and Gitane Demone (Christian Death), and also performed with Siouxsie Sioux and The Creatures in Los Angeles.
Through ten years with alternative band The New Room, MIG is greatly influenced by post punk, minimalism and dark wave, in particular, by Wire, Kraftwerk, The Editors, Throbbing Gristle and Killing Joke. Madrid-born and Miami-raised MIG’s musical focus reoriented from guitar to synthesizers after falling in love with the idea of meshing post punk with early industrial electronic music, inspired by Martin Gore and Depeche Mode, Front 242, and John Foxx.
In departing from the traditional sense of a full piece band, he found the reward of having more control over all the sonic aspects of creating new material. "I find writing/creating using synths and modular systems like a breath of fresh air,” says MIG. “It's removing some of the more technical stale aspects of modern computers and reintroducing pure energy with the use of control voltage. It makes for writing and recording to be more of a live performance. Sometimes, strange mistakes happen to make it more memorable and far more rewarding."
Earlier this year, A Million Machines sold out of their first 7” vinyl EP, which included singles Undivided and the shout-along anthem Tech Support. They have since been garnering attention at home and abroad, including notable American college radio airplay on KALX in Berkeley and KXLU in Los Angeles.
A Million Machines debut self-titled album will be released on November 24, but is already available for pre-order via the band's own Bandcamp. They are currently working on their next album which will be out September 2018 and scheduled for a European tour in November.
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"Band members MIG and Fate Fatal blend vintage synthesizers with a modular futuristic sounds that are big on melody. On ‘Come Tonight’, the cascading waves of synth are infectious and Fatal’s vocals float over as smooth as fresh chrome. The sound is polished, the whole track blending together in perfect harmony like the perfect soundscape to the synthetic future" - The Big Takeover
"In the spirit of Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk and Cut Copy comes LA-based A Million Machines. The name, just as the music, summons goosebumps over their potent mix of modular synth, brooding yet smooth vocals, and truly catchy melody" - Torched Magazine
"Lush temperament and a sense of purpose" - Unsigned and Independent
Control
A Million Machines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I hold you tightly
C'mon confess to me
You bring out the girl inside me
Conscious control
Come on girl save my soul
Conscious control
Tear it off
Take it away
Tear it up and do it again
Tear it off
Take it away
Tear it up and do it again
Conscious control
Come on girl save my soul
Conscious control
Come on girl save my soul
Your rage is half of me
I'm loosing control
You find me lost at sea
Let it all go
Conscious control
Come on girl save my soul
Conscious control
Come on girl save my soul
Lay it out, under sheets, and your conscious controlled
Take a breath, get under me, and your conscious control
Conscious control
Come on girl save my soul
Conscious control
Come on girl save my soul
The lyrics of "Control" by A Million Machines mainly revolve around the themes of control, submission, and surrender. The song opens with the image of windows against the trees, suggesting a feeling of confinement and restriction. The singer then talks about holding someone tightly and asking them to confess to him/her. This confession seems to awaken a dormant aspect of the singer's personality, bringing out the girl inside him/her.
As the song progresses, the theme of control becomes more prominent. The singer repeats the phrase "conscious control" as if to remind the listener to stay in control of their thoughts and actions. Yet, the singer also seems to be seeking salvation from someone else, imploring the girl to save his/her soul. The chorus "tear it off, take it away, tear it up and do it again" suggests a desire to break free from constraints and start anew.
The third verse introduces the idea of rage, representing a loss of control. The singer is "losing control" and feeling lost at sea. However, at the end of the verse, the singer urges the listener to let it all go, hinting at the possibility of surrender and release. The final lines of the song suggest a physical intimacy between the singer and the girl, with the former urging the latter to let go of her conscious control and save his/her soul.
Line by Line Meaning
The windows are against the trees
The position of the windows is such that they face the trees
When I hold you tightly
When I embrace you firmly
C'mon confess to me
Please tell me the truth
You bring out the girl inside me
You make me feel feminine
Conscious control
Being in charge of your own thoughts and actions
Come on girl save my soul
Please help me stay sane
Tear it off
Remove it with force
Take it away
Remove it completely
Tear it up and do it again
Destroy it and start over
Your rage is half of me
Your anger affects me deeply
I'm losing control
I'm unable to maintain my composure
You find me lost at sea
You discover me in unfamiliar territory
Let it all go
Release yourself from stress and anxiety
Lay it out, under sheets, and your conscious controlled
Spread it out on the bed, and maintain self-awareness
Take a breath, get under me, and your conscious control
Relax and recover, while being in awareness of yourself
Contributed by Dylan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.