The Answering Machine were an art rock band based in Manchester, United Kin… Read Full Bio ↴The Answering Machine were an art rock band based in Manchester, United Kingdom.

The band consists of:

Martin Colclough: Vocals, Guitar
Pat Fogarty: Guitar, Backing Vocals
Gemma Evans: Bass, Backing Vocals
Ben Perry: Drums, Glockenspiel

The band formed in October 2005 at the University of Manchester. Martin and Pat wrote songs together in their final year at university, and Gemma joined on bass shortly afterwards. Their first gig was at Retro Bar in Manchester on the 1st March 2006.

The band played as a 3-piece (Martin, Pat and Gemma) until August 2007. Until this point they used a drum machine called Mustafa Beat.

The Answering Machine released their first single, 'Oklahoma' on 16th October 2006 through High Voltage Sounds. The single was limited to 500 vinyl copies, and sold out in 2 days.

Second Single, 'Silent Hotels' was released with High Voltage Sounds on the 18th June 2007. The single was again limited to 500 vinyl copies.

They released their third single, 'Lightbulbs on the 5th November 2007 with Regal Records.

The band played at Glastonbury festival 2007 and SXSW festival 2008. They have performed a UK headline tour in May/June 2007, and a support tour with The Rumble Strips in October/November 2007.

The band finished their debut album, Another City, Another Sorry at the end of 2008 with Dave Eringa. The album was recorded in a farm house in Yorkshire and then mixed at Beethoven Street Studios in London. The album will be released through brand new independent label Heist Or Hit Records in the summer. Proceeding the album is the band's newest single, 'Cliffer' released on March 16th on super limited vinyl.

In the build up to the album release the band were invited on tour by the Manic Street Preachers including a three night slot at the Roundhouse.

The band's debut album "Another City, Another Sorry" was released on June 15th to good reviews and much excitment. The NME described it as "a fantastic debut" and referenced "perfect pop songs". To celebrate the band played three gigs in youth hostels in Manchester, Birmingham and London offering fans free tickets and the chance to stay over after the gig.

In 2009, as well as touring with Manic Street Preachers, they toured with Bombay Bicycle Club, Twisted Wheel, Ra Ra Riot and played showcases in Los Angeles and New York. In 2010, the band again toured in the USA and also toured in Europe with Tokyo Police Club. They completed their 2nd album called Lifeline which was recently released in Feb 2011.

In March 2011, the band played again at SXSW in Austin. The band designed their own website on http://www.theansweringmachine.co.uk and fans follow them via 'theansmachine' on Twitter.

On 16th May 2011, The Answering Machine announced their decision to cease producing music as The Answering Machine.

Animals
The Answering Machine Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lived your life according to me
I was always down with that
"Insanity through cool make believe"
You would always tell me that

Oh it seems that you know me
Better than I know myself

Follow on in blind disbelief
See me on the other side
Promise leaves in cold make believe
You could always call me out

Oh it seems that you know me
Better than I know myself

Fawns blink in the light
The woodland's ours tonight
Pretend we're animals
Hoofs for fingers

Spent our time according to dreams
That would sometimes freak me out
A bird of prey circles our themes
Pecking round at all my doubts

Oh it seems that you know me
Better than I know myself

Fawns blink in the light
The woodland's ours tonight
Pretend we're animals
Hoofs for fingers

You stumble like a foal
When we've still got miles to go
Pretend we're animals
But you don't think so

Fawns blink in the light
The woodland's ours tonight
Pretend we're animals
Hoofs for fingers

You stumble like a foal
When we've still got miles to go

Pretend we're animals
But you don't think so

Overall Meaning

The Answering Machine’s song “Animals” seems to be about a relationship in which one person is living their life according to the other person’s standards, perhaps suppressing their own desires and dreams in the process. The lyrics suggest that the other person is fully aware of this dynamic and sometimes exploits it: “Promise leaves in cold make believe / You could always call me out.” However, the two find solace in each other’s company by pretending to be animals: “Fawns blink in the light / The woodland’s ours tonight / Pretend we’re animals / Hoofs for fingers.” This may serve as a form of escapism from their responsibilities and the pressures of conforming to societal norms.

Line by Line Meaning

Lived your life according to me
I had control over your life

I was always down with that
I was okay with controlling your life

"Insanity through cool make believe"
You believed that being crazy was cool

You would always tell me that
You often expressed this belief

Oh it seems that you know me
You seem to understand me

Better than I know myself
More than I understand myself

Follow on in blind disbelief
Keep believing without questioning

See me on the other side
Join me on this journey

Promise leaves in cold make believe
Believing in false promises

You could always call me out
You could challenge me

Fawns blink in the light
Young deer blink in the light