Machines with Magnets

Pawtucket studio Machines with Magnets has graced the pages of Performer before, but they're just so damn good at what they do, we figured they needed another mention.

MWM began as Keith Souza's basement studio in the 1990s, and although started primarily as an excuse to record his own material, he offered his services to bands like Cable, Dagobah (featuring Dan McCarthy of Helms) and V for Vendetta. In 2000, Souza built the first version of MWM in East Providence, and in 2006 rehabilitated a 13,000 square foot building as MWM's new, permanent site.

The new site consists of two studios, one for recording and one for mixing, two live-in apartments, a gallery/performance space and a commercial space. It is a considerably larger space than the former, allowing Souza to expand on his arsenal of gear. Souza is most fond of the studio's new, custom designed API sidecar console, but even while obsessing over his new toys, maintains that fancy equipment will never replace creativity.

The studio features nearly every recording program available (Pro Tools, Logic, Reason etc...), the ability to record in digital and analog and enough vintage gear (including a '62 Fender Jaguar, a Yamaha C-3 Grand Piano and Fender Bandmaster amps), to make a tech geek freak.

Although afraid to add so much gear to the studio all at once, a result of the studios new space and Souza's recording ideology, everything has worked out great. Critically acclaimed noise-rockers Battles recorded their 2007 album Mirrored at MWM, tracking their intricate drums on tape in no more than two or three takes.

Having recorded and produced big names like Battles, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Lightning Bolt, MWM has earned itself a reputation among national and local acts. And last year, Japanese band Back Drop Bomb recorded their new album with MWM, necessitating the use of an in-studio translator to work the sessions.

With the opening of their gallery, MWM has extended its influence past the recorded medium into live art and music shows. Look for MWM's name in the liner notes of the next big indie band, because they will no doubt be garnering more attention in the coming years.

Contact: mail@machineswithmagnets.com

Phone: (401) 475-2655

Address: 400 Main Street, Pawtucket RI 02860

Website: www.machineswithmagnets.com

IN THE NEWS

WBRU 95.5 will be sponsoring a local music festival at the Providence Piers on July 19. The concert will feature Badfish (a Sublime tribute band) and Zox, as well as Hello Mahalo, Scotty Don't, and Someday Providence, who just released a CD in May and are following up with a tour. Someday Providence has been commended in the press recently for their combination of rock, punk and reggae sound. The lead's powerful vocals resemble those of Daryl Palumbo of Head Automatica, and the tunes revive all of the favorable elements of the better reggae/ska bands of the 1990s.

www.wbru.com

Pendragon, Rhode Island's premiere Celtic band are returning to Pendragon Newcastle Sound this spring/summer to record their first full length CD in three years to coincide with the band's 25th anniversary. The 5-piece band plans to return to their roots and record a more traditional sounding CD with an emphasis on original tunes and songs. The band first recorded at Newcastle Sound in 1998, with Beyond Borders: A Celtic Journey.

www.riverfolk.org/pendragon

Corleone Records is releasing New Fang Island's new LP Sky Gardens. The band is also planning a summer tour. Also planned from Corleone Records in July is the full-length CD from AT (AKA Adam Tabor, formerly of Necronomitron and Buddy Ship).

Also, the Black Pus 7" by Chipendale of Lightning Bolt will be released in early August.

www.corleonerecords.com

Providence's Static Production is awfully busy these days as they are constantly churning out quality metal. Name in Vain, from Providence recorded a four-song EP. The Trifecta Theory, also finished recording a three-song demo that they have been working on since 2007.

www.staticproductions.com

Burned in Effigy, a heavy metal band from Connecticut who released an album earlier this year released a single named We are to Bleed, which is available online and can be heard on their MySpace page.

www.myspace.com/

burnedineffigy

Disappearer, a noise metal band distributed by Rhode Island label Trash Art Records, has just released a free four-song digital EP. The EP displays the band's progression from exclusively instrumental to a more evolved "beast," says the band. The release will be followed by a full-length album in which the band will continue to experiment and evolve their sound.

www.myspace.com/

disappearerus

The heavy metal band Backstabbers Inc who originated in Portsmouth, NH (and who are also with Trash Art Records) has recently put their Kamikaze Missions on 12" LP, which will be for sale on their website

www.trashartrecords.com