Machines in Heaven

Artist: Machines in Heaven

With a fearlessly experimental approach, Machines In Heaven (MiH) bring together widescreen electro, sunshine-textured shoegaze, majestic post-rock and devastatingly melodic synth-pop influences. The band’s current line-up features long-time members Greg Hurst and Davey Gwynne, both experienced producers, performers and multi-instrumentalists from Glasgow’s thriving indie and electronic scenes, and new member Melanie Dutton, taking the place of Connor Reid, currently working on his solo music as Yutani., MiH continue to carve out a unique space among their Glasgow peers – increasingly psychedelic, always danceable, and harder to categorise with each release.

2016 saw the release of their second full-length album, Phenomenology, receiving praise from Complex UK, The Herald, The List, SynthGlasgow, Tenement TV and The National. BBC Radio 6 Music’s Nemone played out album track Ruix Con, while declared fans Vic Galloway and Jim Gellatly also heavily backed the tracks on domestic channels Amazing Radio and BBC Radio Scotland. Previously, the band’s 2014 debut album bordersbreakdown caught the attention of everyone from MTV and Clash Magazine to local tastemakers The Skinny, STV Scotland and BBC Radio 1’s Ally McCrae, going on to win Best Electro Act at the 2014 Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMAs).

MiH have recorded sessions at Red Bull Studios, and played some memorable shows – including a spectacular set in London’s South Place Hotel; a session for BBC Radio 1 Introducing featuring a cover of an Arthur Russell song; a support gig with Californian sound wizard Daedelus; a joint gig at the Dundee V&A with Ubre Blanca and Paul Thompson; and a well-received set for the Glasgow leg of the Simple Things festival, alongside Autechre, Nightmares on Wax and Clark.

In their current incarnation, Greg Hurst, aka Magic Daddy (Optimo, Stuff Records / formerly NUMBERS) provides production. Sublime vocals, synths and beats from Davey Gwynne (aka blood blood); while new member Melanie on drums and percussion inreases the band’s already considerable power, allowing for dizzying improvisation and a fusion of towering organic and electronic rhythms.

They have played Glasgow’s iconic Old Fruitmarket venue alongside Petrichor (Soma Records) and Michael Mayer (Kompakt), and at festivals across the UK, including the Kelburn Garden Party, T in the Park, Wickerman and Electric Fields. The band have drawn comparisons to the iconic sounds of DFA Records, Prince, Aphex Twin, and Glasgow’s decibel-decimating finest, Mogwai. They have provided slamming, remixes for everyone from local punk-rap heroes Hector Bizerk to Brooklyn synth-poppers Au Revoir Simone; dream-pop duo Turtle; early 90s techno-heads Finitribe (25th anniversary of their classic track 101, also remixed by Andrew Weatherall); and a full-throttle 140bpm remix for psych / noise outfit Outblinker.

In 2017 / 2018 Machines in Heaven have taken some downtime to write aside from a live score they wrote and performed for the short documentary ‘Last day of the trams at The Tramway theatre, as part of Glasgow film festival.

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