Mechanical Cabaret
Encyclopedia
Mechanical Cabaret are a British synthpop
project founded by the musician Roi Robertson, based in North London, and signed to the German record label Major Records Medien GmbH
and published by Warner/Chappell Entertainment GmbH.
for the film Gypsy 83
, along with bands like The Cure
and Bauhaus
.
By 2003 they played live support to The Damned, Sheep on Drugs
, and toured the United Kingdom again, this time supporting Sigue Sigue Sputnik
along with Greenhaus. Later that year, Roi contributed lyrics and vocals to a Greenhaus track called 'Try Harder' which appeared on their album 'Another Life'. Steve Bellamy from Greenhaus later went on to work with Roi on the recording, engineering and production of the second Mechanical Cabaret album Product For Your Insecurity.
In 2004, whilst continuing to play live shows around London and the UK, Mechanical Cabaret released the double A-side single "Cheap and Nasty/See Her Smile" on Umami Records. This included a Nag Nag Nag Remix of "Cheap and Nasty" which was the first official Nag Nag Nag remix, by Jonny Slut and his band Atomizer featuring fellow DJ Phil OK.
of Kraftwerk
, Suicide
, Doug McCarthy from Nitzer Ebb, Mesh, Covenant, and T. Raumschmiere.
In April 2006, Roi released his second album, Product For Your Insecurity on CD. Along with the new album came an offer from electro-pop legends Mesh to support them on their European Tour that spring.
Roi also remixed 'Like A Bird' from the album 'Synthetik' by long standing Mute Records' artists Komputer (formerly 'I Start Counting' and 'Fortran 5'). This was released in September 2007 by Mute Records.
In 2007 Roi signed to Hamburg based Major Records Medien GmbH, the European home also of Nitzer Ebb, Ladytron and IAMX, and signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Entertainment GmbH. Major released the song ‘Disbehave' from 'Product For Your Insecurity' as a single at the end of the year.
The Mechanical Cabaret album Damaged Goods and the single GBH were both released by Major Records Medien GmbH on March 20 2009. During this year they performed live around the UK, most notably supporting A Flock of Seagulls in London, as well as playing shows with Alec Empire, and Motor, fresh off their tour supporting Depeche Mode in Europe.
In 2 January 2010 - the single Careful, Careless was released from the Damaged Goods album.
On September 10th 2010, Mechanical Cabaret released a new single, recorded together with Inertia, on Cryonica Records - a cover version of the Joe Meek/Geoff Goddard hit from 1961 'Johnny Remember Me'. The CD features their joint cover version, and also a remix made by each band.
Product For Your Insecurity - Soiled Records 2006
Damaged Goods - Major Records Medien GmbH 2009
Disbehave - Major Records Medien GmbH 2008
GBH - Major Records Medien GmbH 2009
Careful Careless - Major Records Medien GmbH 2010
Johnny, Remember Me (recorded with the band Inertia) - Cryonica Records 2010
Ne Plus Ultra - Major Records Medien GmbH (Released September 24th 2010)
See Her Smile (Radiophonic Mix: Edit) - Advanced Electronics 5 CD Compilation - SPV Records 2006
Disbehave (Mesh ASBO Mix) - Elektrisch!2 Compilation - Major Records Medien GmbH 2007
See Her Smile (Radiophonic Mix: Full length) - Elektrisch!3 Compilation - Major Records Medien GmbH 2008
Let's Go To Bed - Orbit Electro Compilation - Major Records Medien GmbH 2009
Client - Xerox Machine, Elektrisch! 2 Compilation - Major Records Medien GmbH 2007
Komputer - Like A Bird, Single - Mute Records 2007
Helalyn Flowers - Love Like Aliens (Hentai Tentacle Sex Mix by Mechanical Cabaret) - Alfa Matrix Records 2009
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
project founded by the musician Roi Robertson, based in North London, and signed to the German record label Major Records Medien GmbH
Major Records
Major Records is a music label from Hamburg, Germany, focussing on electronic pop music. Currently, their most popular artists include Ladytron, IAMX, X-Perience and Boytronic.- History:...
and published by Warner/Chappell Entertainment GmbH.
Early Years: 1999 - 2004
In June 2002 Roi released his first album We Have An Agenda. The song "Nothing Special" from the CD was picked up on by some American film-makers and used as part of the official Metropolis Records soundtrackGypsy 83 (soundtrack)
The soundtrack to the 2001 film Gypsy 83 was released in 2003 on Metropolis Records. Several well-known goth and electronic music artists are featured, alongside Karen Black and the film's leading-lady, Sara Rue.-Track listing:# "Pieces" by Claire Voyant...
for the film Gypsy 83
Gypsy 83
Gypsy 83 is a 2001 drama film, written and directed by Todd Stephens, about two young goths, Gypsy and Clive, who travel to New York for an annual festival celebrating their idol, Stevie Nicks.-Plot:...
, along with bands like The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
and Bauhaus
Bauhaus (band)
Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
.
By 2003 they played live support to The Damned, Sheep on Drugs
Sheep on Drugs
Sheep on Drugs are a British techno / dance-punk music group, formed by Duncan X [aka King Duncan] and Lee Fraser [aka Dead Lee] and currently composed of Fraser and Johnny Borden...
, and toured the United Kingdom again, this time supporting Sigue Sigue Sputnik
Sigue Sigue Sputnik
Sigue Sigue Sputnik were a British new wave band created in 1982 by the former Generation X bassist Tony James. The band had three UK Top 40 hit singles, including the song "Love Missile F1-11".-Early years:...
along with Greenhaus. Later that year, Roi contributed lyrics and vocals to a Greenhaus track called 'Try Harder' which appeared on their album 'Another Life'. Steve Bellamy from Greenhaus later went on to work with Roi on the recording, engineering and production of the second Mechanical Cabaret album Product For Your Insecurity.
In 2004, whilst continuing to play live shows around London and the UK, Mechanical Cabaret released the double A-side single "Cheap and Nasty/See Her Smile" on Umami Records. This included a Nag Nag Nag Remix of "Cheap and Nasty" which was the first official Nag Nag Nag remix, by Jonny Slut and his band Atomizer featuring fellow DJ Phil OK.
2005 - 2007
Mechanical Cabaret played various support slots in 2005, playing with Karl BartosKarl Bartos
Karl Bartos was, between 1975 and 1990, along with Wolfgang Flür, an electronic percussionist in the electronic-music group Kraftwerk. He was originally recruited to play on its US "Autobahn" tour...
of Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
, Suicide
Suicide (band)
Suicide is an American electronic protopunk musical duo, intermittently active since 1970 and composed of vocalist Alan Vega and Martin Rev on synthesizers and drum machines. They are an early synthesizer/vocal musical duo....
, Doug McCarthy from Nitzer Ebb, Mesh, Covenant, and T. Raumschmiere.
In April 2006, Roi released his second album, Product For Your Insecurity on CD. Along with the new album came an offer from electro-pop legends Mesh to support them on their European Tour that spring.
Roi also remixed 'Like A Bird' from the album 'Synthetik' by long standing Mute Records' artists Komputer (formerly 'I Start Counting' and 'Fortran 5'). This was released in September 2007 by Mute Records.
In 2007 Roi signed to Hamburg based Major Records Medien GmbH, the European home also of Nitzer Ebb, Ladytron and IAMX, and signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Entertainment GmbH. Major released the song ‘Disbehave' from 'Product For Your Insecurity' as a single at the end of the year.
2008 - 2010
Roi spent 2008 in the studio recording and turned down all live performances, in order to finish what was to become the next Mechanical Cabaret full length album.The Mechanical Cabaret album Damaged Goods and the single GBH were both released by Major Records Medien GmbH on March 20 2009. During this year they performed live around the UK, most notably supporting A Flock of Seagulls in London, as well as playing shows with Alec Empire, and Motor, fresh off their tour supporting Depeche Mode in Europe.
In 2 January 2010 - the single Careful, Careless was released from the Damaged Goods album.
On September 10th 2010, Mechanical Cabaret released a new single, recorded together with Inertia, on Cryonica Records - a cover version of the Joe Meek/Geoff Goddard hit from 1961 'Johnny Remember Me'. The CD features their joint cover version, and also a remix made by each band.
Albums
We Have An Agenda - Soiled Records 2002Product For Your Insecurity - Soiled Records 2006
Damaged Goods - Major Records Medien GmbH 2009
Singles
Cheap and Nasty/See Her Smile - Umami Records 2004Disbehave - Major Records Medien GmbH 2008
GBH - Major Records Medien GmbH 2009
Careful Careless - Major Records Medien GmbH 2010
Johnny, Remember Me (recorded with the band Inertia) - Cryonica Records 2010
Ne Plus Ultra - Major Records Medien GmbH (Released September 24th 2010)
Other
Nothing Special - Gypsy 83 OST - Metropolis Records 2003See Her Smile (Radiophonic Mix: Edit) - Advanced Electronics 5 CD Compilation - SPV Records 2006
Disbehave (Mesh ASBO Mix) - Elektrisch!2 Compilation - Major Records Medien GmbH 2007
See Her Smile (Radiophonic Mix: Full length) - Elektrisch!3 Compilation - Major Records Medien GmbH 2008
Let's Go To Bed - Orbit Electro Compilation - Major Records Medien GmbH 2009
Remixes of other Artists by Mechanical Cabaret
Mesh - Step By Step, Elektrisch! 2 Compilation - Major Records Medien GmbH 2007Client - Xerox Machine, Elektrisch! 2 Compilation - Major Records Medien GmbH 2007
Komputer - Like A Bird, Single - Mute Records 2007
Helalyn Flowers - Love Like Aliens (Hentai Tentacle Sex Mix by Mechanical Cabaret) - Alfa Matrix Records 2009