news

First live shows since 2019 announced - support to A Flock Of Seagulls!

We're thrilled to announce that we'll be supporting the iconic A Flock Of Seagulls for two shows this coming September. We play Brighton's Concorde 2 on Monday 25th and Guildford's Boileroom on Tuesday 26th for what will be the first mechanica shows since 2019 and the first of the new line -up!

And now we are four!

2023 finds us expanding the line up as we welcome from the celebrated band, Greenhaus (and Kamakusa), Steve Bellamy (Keys) Warren Farr (drums) and Ian Medany (bass).

The four of us are presently recording a new studio album and readying ourselves for the first mechanica live shows since late 2019.

our new single now on Spotify

new double A side single available now!

Available from today (April 4th 2022) on Bandcamp as a download our new double A side single "bring the sandman/never in my dreams" 

video for new single "bring the sandman" now on You Tube

new double A side single forthcoming

March 2022 - Next month will see a new double A side single released on Spotify (to Stream) and Bandcamp (to buy). "Bring The Sandman" & "Never In My Dreams" are bold, beautiful jangle pop - the former in the sonic space of songs such as "Pocketbooks of Butterflies" with the latter the band's most obvious radio friendly song to date. Videos for both will be posted in the coming days.

Stephen Street's Top Three

Legendary music producer Stephen Street (The Smiths/Blur and so many many more) gave us great encouragement during the recording of our (unreleased) album "beautiful mechanica" and in hearing the album provided this great feedback

"Finally had a chance to listen to your album and can honestly say I was very impressed.  I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I can definitely hear an influence of 80's synth bands and Bowie in there but what's not nice about that!?
Favourite tracks for me are Life After Time, Swans and Numb but you should be proud of the general quality overall of the album. 

 

To mark this moment, we produced a compilation video with highlights of Stephen's top three picks

May 2021 -

I'm pleased (and relieved!) to have completed the latest beautiful mechanica project with my dear friend Martin Okasili. We started this work some 23 months ago and collapsed my solo and our chekhov's beautiful gun work into the ultimate recordings made public as beautiful mechanica. Alongside Martin and I, the album features Actor Luisa Prosser who kindly provided narration (and reverse voice!). Where once a DIY CD would be made and sold, we're seeing if we can go further and better with the 8 Songs - we believe these songs deserve a label release. If you've liked what's been released previously, you should be rather taken by these. All 8 can be found at https://soundcloud.com/beautifulmechanica. For those seeking a single play, album experience, the first tack on that soundcloud page is the full "album". Fans of Cocteau Twins, Japan, Gary Numan, Suede and Placebo will hopefully find plenty here to enjoy. Music for your bank holiday - hope it's a good one. If you take time out to hear the tracks, I hope you'll enjoy them. If you would like to own the tracks please email smythssinger@icloud.com and I'll send you information on how to purchase them

January 2021

The year begins with Graham and Martin putting finishing touches to a definitive collection of the band's work. Alongside new, unreleased songs, some of the band's best songs of the past are being completely reimagined for a portfolio of songs to be presented to the global music industry. Having worked and released under several guises, all is being unified under the beautiful mechanica name. As Graham explains,

 

"the past several years have seen me work with martin, grace, mike and rebecca. The constant is me and I've come to see that irrespective of the personnel, beautiful mechanica is more than a band name, it is the perfect description of my musical aesthetic - I am beautiful mechanica"

 

The body of work that Graham and Martin are finishing, rather than be released as a self-release, will be a portfolio to present to labels both in the UK and overseas.

2019

2019 saw beautiful mechanica play several live shows. The last release was in 2018 with the EP "Blood & Sunshine".  2019 did see, however, band founder and song writer, Graham Sampson, release a 5 track EP as a new band project - chekhov's beautiful gun . 2020 has brought the global lockdown and seen Graham unable to work with  Mike & Grace or Martin (of CBG). So time has been spent writing and recording new material (and reevaluating some old into new skins).  The first track to be released to the public is "In The Hotel Of The Haunted" - based on the initial demo of the song "This Hotel Has Ghosts" - title track of beautiful mechanica's debut album of 2017.  In the coming days and weeks Graham will release more videos for the songs he is producing for his solo album.  Graham's version of the 2018 release, "Heaven's Where You Want It" can be heard here. The audio of "In The Hotel Of The Haunted" is available here.

Keeping up with the Joneses

Yes, we're back on stage next month with our great pals Jesus Jones at Derby's Flowerpot. Tickets via www.rawpromo.co.uk

RIDING THE NEW WAVE (NOUVELLE VAGUE)

19/4/19 - We've just been announced as support to Nouvelle Vague this coming Monday at Islington Assembly Hall. Tickets here.

WE ARE NOW IN THE BRITISH LIBRARY SOUND ARCHIVE NATIONAL COLLECTION

19/4/19 - We are delighted (and humbled) to have been invited to donate our work to the National Sound Library Archive  - this truly is a honour.  This week Graham met with the archive's James Tugwell (pictured with Graham) and gave over our entire back catalogue. James told Graham that the BLSA exists to document and record the music making of our nation beyond the top ten and having the work of lesser known artists is of equal importance to that of the better known. 

Melancholia - the album

Today (March 21st) sees the release of "Melancholia" - a  eleven  track album that combines 7 remixed and remastered tracks from "This Hotel Has Ghosts" together with three tracks from the rested 2nd album "Blood & Sunshine" and the "Heaven.." EP from last year and latest track "life after time". 

The band has rebooted to focus on the prettier, gentle and more atmospheric side of it's musical soul.  "Melancholia"  is the line between the past and the present. Ahead of release it can streamed in full here

We are delighted to announce 2 live shows next month in support of David Lynch muse Chrysta Bell. Thursday April 11th - Manchester Academy Friday April 12th London Dingwalls.

white label e.p. released

"blood & sunshine cd by popular request"

by popular request, we release the "blood & sunshine" ep on a three track CD. each cd has been hand curated by the band and individually numbered to make the e.p. a collector's item. Available from our online store for £5 including post and packaging

new release: "blood & sunshine" ep

a july 4th release for our los angeles inspired ep "blood & sunshine". released digitally exclusively through bandcamp and featuring "heaven's where you want it"  (video below) , "shimmer in the afterglow" and "not evermore". the ep showcases the band new sound which builds on it's electronica and moves into a dreampop space of bands such as cocteau twins

 

Buy the ep

debut video shoot for new e.p. 'blood & sunshine"

24:6:18 this summer will see the release of our new three-track (digital download only) ep 'blood & sunshine".  Saturday june 23rd saw us record a video for one of the tracks 'heaven's where you want it" in highgate north london.  above shots show the "performance wides"..latter shots of the personal close-ups brought lots of dark, mysterious trippy imagery. both the ep and video will be released in the coming weeks - video will be posted on this site. you can hear the track here 

new release: this hotel has ghosts : the black edition

22/2/18 It's here - re-imagined, re-recorded and re-defined. the new edition of our debut album.

since the day that the original was released, when grace re-joined the band for an album launch show, the original felt like a different band. in the years that have followed, graham, grace and van naarden have played these songs many times and they have developed and grown. graham was also unhappy with elements of the original and wanted to give the songs the album he could be proud of and had always envisaged. the black edition is that album. 

Available from our store page https://www.beautifulmechanica.com/store/

not only new recordings, but a new track listing. out goes the night - a song graham regretted placing on the original release and in comes freezing - an ever present song of every live show, our debt single and a fan's favourite. grace takes centre vocals on see how they play and pocketbooks of butterflies along with a beautiful spoken vocal on goodbye moment. new instrumentation makes this new edition a more beautiful, melancholic presentation of the songs and an album the band are very proud of.

roam if you want to

10/1/18 yet more gig news..and another classic act we'll be supporting. we're delighted to announce that we will be supporting Cindy Wilson of the B-52s (above, right) for 2 of her UK shows next month, in manchester (25th) and bristol (26th) respectively. ticket links via our gigs page

back in the arms of Jesus (Jones)

10/1/18 we're delighted to announce a return, not only to reading's sub 89 but another show with our damn fine pals jesus jones on sunday aprl 29th as part of their promotional tour for new album 'passengers".

dressed in black

15/12/17: we're thrilled to announce a headline show on thursday april 26th as parrt of the whitby goth weekend. details to follow.

heading to reading

We're delighted to be added to another show in Big Country's UK Tour - this one being Reading's Sub 89 on Friday October 13th

https://www.seetickets.com/event/big-country/sub-89/1089615

BIG 2018 starts here

11/9/17: We're confirmed for our first show in 2018. Following on from our shows with Big Country this coming Autumn, we'll be joining them at Bath's Komedia on Wednesday February 21st

In the hands of a God

The day after our Standon Calling show, Graham attended a VIP launch for Gary Numan's forthcoming album, "Savage". From his place at the stage front, Graham handed Gary our CDs...we hope he went onto keep them but it made for a great shot nonetheless!

The Country got Bigger

We're delighted to add 3 more shows supporting Big Country on their UK tour. Alongside Derby 23/11 we are the support for Brighton Concorde 2 28/10, Cambridge Junction 10/11 and Norwich UEA Waterfront 11/11

Standon Calls Again

For a second year running we're appearing at Standon Calling. This year we play  the Autumn Shift stage on the Sunday at 16H35 -17H15 - leaving plenty of time for us to pack our gear and head for the main stage to see Gary Numan!

Last minute support to The Primitives announced

Following our support to The Woodentops, we support post-Smiths Darlings The Primitives at London's 229 http://www.seetickets.com/event/the-primitives/229-the-venue/1025230/

London show announced

We headline London's famous Dublin Castle, Camden on Saturday August 12th

The BIG time

Another support slot secured with a legendary band from the 80's as we'll be supporting Big Country at The Flowerpot Derby on Thursday November 23rd

Tickets available via this link

Heaven Sent

We're thrilled to announce a third support show with Heaven 17. This time we head to Holmfirth's Picturedrome (scene of our support to Toyah) on Friday August 18th

http://www.thegigcartel.com/Gig-guide/Heaven-17,-Holmfirth.htm?id=3827

New major act support : Jesus Jones

We're thrilled to be supporting Jesus Jones on two dates of their forthcoming tour. 

On Friday June 16th we're at The Globe Cardiff whilst on Saturday June 17th we play York Fibbers.

Jesus Jones, the electro punk stompers who pioneered computers and samplers to create intelligent indie pop music. Having bought and loved their debut album, Liquidizer, our very own Graham saw them live in 1990. 

Check out Graham's favourite JJ track, "Info Freako"

 

12/1/17 NEW SUPPORT SHOW ANNOUNCED! BEAUTIFUL MECHANICA TO SUPPORT THE WOODENTOPS 100 CLUB LONDON 27/1/17

 

We're delighted to be added to the bill (along with Is Bliss) to support The Woodentops at London's 100 Club on Friday January 27th. Doors open at 7pm and we'll be on stage at 8p.m. Tickets available here: https://www.ticketea.co.uk/tickets-concert-woodentops-london-agmp/

Graham ( a fan of the band) saw The Woodentops play Brixton Academy in 1988 and cites their album "Giant" as one of his favourite album from the 80's.

"If you've not heard "Giant" then what are you waiting for - there are too many songs there for you not to have brightening your life"

2016 ARCHIVE

6/12/16 Last night saw our last gig of 2016 - a year that saw us triple the number of shows played in 2015. We're planning our first shows for 2017 and awaiting several confirmations. Our attention turns to the studio for the next few months as we continue to work on our second album, provisionally titled "Her Elegance Feathered" - although "Less Dark Is Your Soul" is also under serious consideration. The provisional track listing is:

 

Never

Femme Fatale

I Slipped On A Rose

The Diminished

The Swedish House

Oh To Have Your Beauty

Her Elegance Feathered

Less Dark Is Your Soul

I Can't Be You

We Are One

 

The album is planned for a spring/summer release

By clicking on the hyperlink for some of the songs you'll get to hear their latest demos that have been posted on soundcloud.

 

Next Show: London 29/10/16

Our next gig takes place on Saturday October 29th - a headline set for the second In The Moog live. This show is a Halloween special (wear black!) and support comes from electronic duo fire_sign. Once again, In The Moog's Chris Watts will DJ live sets before between and after the bands. Tickets are just £5

http://www.thegoodship.co.uk/whats-on/events/29-oct-16-halloween-electronica-special-the-good-ship/

Brighton: 5/12/16 - in support to Suicide's Martin Rev

Continuing our supports to 80's icons, we're pleased to announce we'll be supporting post punk electro pioneer Martin Rev at Brighton's Komedia on Monday December 5th.

http://www.martinrev.com/

Martin Rev was the instrumentalist in the hugely influential punk era band Suicide. He also has a solo career and has released several solo albums for a number of labels, including ROIR and Puu. His style varies widely from release to release, from electronic no wave (Martin Rev) to bubblegum pop (See Me Ridin,Strangeworld) to heavy synthesizer rock (To Live)

Tickets available here:

https://www.komedia.co.uk/brighton/buy/?show=873563828&ts_routing=/shows/873563828

Heaven Sent

Last night (August 19th) we once again supported Heaven 17, this time at Assembly, Leamington Spa. A truly wonderful night. Great venue, great crowd and a wonderful headline act - truly lovely people them H17 guys.

FIRST FESTIVAL SECURED

17/6/16 We're delighted to announce that we are playing the Octopia stage at 1745 on July 31st

HALLOWEEN HEADLINERS

22/5/16 We'll be back at Kilburn's Good Ship for another headline show - a Halloween special on Saturday October 29th. Once more, Chris Watts of In The Moog will DJ throughout and there'll be an electro support band as well. 

http://www.thegoodship.co.uk/whats-on/events/29-oct-16-halloween-electronica-special-the-good-ship/

NEWS

19/5/16: First demo from the new album on Soundcloud

 

Work is well underway for the second album scheduled for release next year. The first public posting of a new track demo is now on soundcloud. "Remade, My Face" has been written as both the album opener and a track to open future shows. Indeed, it may well be played live for the first time when we support Heaven 17 in August. The band's synth credentials are confirmed by this first track, sounding as it does like something from John Foxx's "Metamatic" album.

https://soundcloud.com/beautiful-mechanica/remade-my-face

Czech mates

Oh the vanity...just googled ourselves and found this piece of Czech coverage for our single release 

http://www.sanctuary.cz/11598-stahnete-si-debutove-ep-od-beautiful-mechanica

In Memory of Regis C Shields

Forever our friend electric

 

1/3/16:

We were very sad to hear of the passing of our dear friend and fan, Regis Shields at some point within the last 48 hours.

Based in Germany, Regis was never shy in expressing how much our music meant to him. We looked forward to the time we'd get to meet in person either with a show here in the UK or in his native Germany. Alas, that day will never come but we hope his spirit can share in our journey. Our hotel has ghosts and Regis, we can feel you here.

BBC RADIO INTERVIEW

On Friday February 19th, Graham was interviewed on air by BBC Radio Cumbria's Caroline Robertson about his musical life including his work for beautiful mechanica. You can hear the interview here: https://soundcloud.com/beautiful-mechanica/bbc-radio-cumbria-interview

HEAVENLY AUGUST

We're delighted to announce another show supporting Heaven 17 - August 19th at Leamington Spa Assembly Rooms. 

NEW SHOWS: SUPPORTING SPEAR OF DESTINY, BIRMINGHAM, LONDON & MANCHESTER

We're delighted to announce that we'll be supporting Spear of Destiny for some of their dates in April. On April 28th , we're at Birmingham's Hare & Hounds. THe next day we're at Under The Bridge, London. On Saturday April 30th we're at Manchester's FAC 251. 

Ticket links on our gigs page.

NEW LIVE SHOW: FRIDAY - 1st APRIL, KILBURN, LONDON

We're playing a headline show at The Good Ship, Kilburn on Friday April 1st. Under the banner "In The Moog Live", DJ Chris Watts will play a live DJ set of all things synth. Ticket link soon.

FINISHED AND RELEASED THIS MONTH (January 2016)

The debut LP, "This Hotel Has Ghosts" has now been finished, mastered and is in the hand of the disc manufacturers ready for it's release later this month. It's ten tracks span both eras of the band with Graham, Van Naarden, Porcelain and Grace Bailey-Hinks all featuring. The track listing is

beautiful, mechanical

jenni & the suicide girls

see how they play

to know those greats

show your heart

the night

pocketbooks and butterflies

this hotel has ghosts

damaged goods

the goodbye moment

 

the album's artwork has been designed Sean Coleman with photography by Eleonora C Collini and Eglute Sledziute.  

GIRL TALK

With Porcelain taking some family time away, Graham and Mike welcome back Grace Bailey-Hinks on keyboards and vocals.

Grace was a founder member of the band and we're pleased to have her back in the fold.

NEW LIVE SHOW ANNOUNCED!

Delighted to announce that our first show of 2016 is with yet another headline name with electronica pedigree - Saffron Republica - at the legendary Half Moon Putney

on Thursday Jan 28th. Tickets £8 (advance) http://www.musicglue.com/half-moon-putney/events/28-jan-16-saffron-republica-half-moon--putney/

BACK TO THE 80's

We've just had the best of weekends supporting Toyah and Heaven 17 respectively. We played to more than 1000 people in total and the reaction we got was incredible. Let's hope we can bring news of similar shows to come in the near future.

INTERVIEW 

Ahead of our forthcoming shows, we met with music blogger (and photographer) Eleonora C Collini http://eleonoracollini.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/new-music-in-conversation-with.html

SECOND MAJOR SUPPORT ANNOUNCED!

24 hours after our show with Toyah, we'll cross the moors to support Heaven 17 in Manchester. Ticket link on our gigs page.

HOLM(FIRTH) IS WHERE THE HEART IS FOR TOYAH SUPPORT

We're delighted to be announced as the support band to Toyah on October 30th at

the magnificent Picturedrome in Homfirth. Ticket link on our gig page.

3.8.15 "They're here"...The CDs of our debut release now available at our Hotel Shop.

31/7/15: PRESS COVERAGE: FRANCE

Cool French magazine, Obskure, with a peice on our EP's release

http://www.obskuremag.net/news/beautiful-mechanica-premier-ep/

PRE ORDER THE DEBUT EP CD

The CD of our debut release is due into stock on 4th August. You'll find it in our "Hotel Shop"

26/7/15: REFLECTING ON LAUNCH DAY 

So, yesterday (25/7/15) we released a single and played our first show.

Visit our gigs page to see videos and photos from the show.

25/7/15: DEBUT GIG TONIGHT IN LONDON

Tonight sees us take to the stage for the first time - 4 years after the first track was written, 2 years after the first rehearsal took place.We look forward to sharing images and more from the show in the days ahead.

25/7/15: RELEASED TODAY VIA DOWNLOAD:

UK: IOS users - via iTunes Android: Via Amazon.

Worldwide

http://cdbaby.com/cd/beautifulmechanica

IN THE MOOG TO TALK

Graham will be interviewed live by "In The Moog's" Chris Watts from 20h45 (BST) in the 22 July edition of "In The Moog", discussing the debut single, the forthcoming debut gig, and all manner of beautiful mechanical things. You can hear the interview in full here:

DEBUT SINGLE RELEASE

Our debut single, 'Freezing" will be released next week, as a download, to coincide with our debut gig in London on July 25th. "Freezing" is backed with "Sinister Sister" and "Always The Same". The journey begins! The single artwork was designed by Sean Coleman of Coleman Design. The photograph is by Eleonora C Collini who of course took our latest band shots too.

 

You can hear a sample of the EP here :

SUPPORTING TOYAH

We are delighted to announce that we will be supporting 80's icon TOYAH at Holmfirth Picturedrome on Friday October 30th.

http://www.thegigcartel.com/Artists-profiles/Toyah.htm

IN THE MOOG TO BE SINISTER

Chris Watts continues to be a very dear friend of ours with his playing of our music on the excellent "In The Moog" electronica show on NCCR Radio (Weds 20-22h UK). As well as featuring "The Swedish House" & the latest mix of 'This Hotel Has Ghosts", Chris has chosen our live show intro track "Sinister Sister" as his shows new introduction - replacing a track by Gary Numan in the process. We are humbled & honoured

(June 4th 2015)

Humain Suelement

Before us there was Tyler Troy - a mechanica prototype. Three years ago the song "Only Human" was discovered on the Tyler Troy soundcloud by French music magazine Les Inrocks and the following online review was the result. The new New Order?  http://www.lesinrocks.com/2012/08/25/musique/tyler-troy-only-human-11285560/

First Live show announced

beautiful mechanica confirm a show at London's Islington Academy 2 on Saturday July  25th 2015. 

Ticket link here  http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/YDH2507O…

August 5th 2014  - Press: Gutter Magazine interview

 

Gutter magazine was founded in 2006 to highlight fashion, arts and underground or street culture that was missing from most Baltimore area media outlets. It has become the standard bearers of the Baltimore underground fashion scene. It's UK Editor, Siobhanne Beattie spoke to us and here's the resulting coverage:

http://www.guttermagazine.com/2014/07/30/gutter-talk-meet-beautiful-mechanica/