The Black Map - Frankie Machine News

2009-12-31T18:39:00.004Z

Happy new year to everyone.

A strange decade - it most definitely ended better for me than it began, so here's a thought for all those of which the opposite is true. Keep on keepin' on.

Oh and I am no. 3 in this 'best albums of the decade' list. Fancy that.

John Kell Vs Satan

I'm not going to argue that I'm better than Mark Knopfler, but better than Half Man Half Biscuit? Behave yourself Mr Kell.

2009-11-18T20:50:00.005Z

10 years ago this week that my first 7" single was released.

I don't have any left to sell so here it is for free. Like one of those anniversary editions except without the deluxe packaging. Or the bonus tracks. Or the demographic.

Actually I found all the original demos but they were almost identical to the released versions except bad 4-track/bad-microphone quality. No one needs to hear that.

Zip file with the original artwork and John Peel intro/outro is here. RIP.

Frankie Machine - Why Are You EP (1999) AAS019

2009-04-17T18:16:00.002Z

Can it really be a year next Wednesday since my last glorious post? I guess it most surely can.

So whahappen? Well I had a gig at Christmas, but crushed my finger in a kitchen rennovation incident so had to cancel. Then I had a gig in February but it clashed with something (so important that I can't even remember what it was anymore) and I had to cancel.

But am I disheartened? Well..no. The Strutts Park Massive will rise again I'm sure now we all live within the same square mile, and the backlog of songs is as immense and as chart-tastic as you'd imagine after 4 years.

In fact this year in November is my 10th anniversary since the first 7" came out, so to celebrate I'll be sticking most of the back catalog online and burning the boxes of unsold CD's for Bonfire Night.

2008-04-22T08:14:00.000Z

Survived the first totally acoustic gig in Sheffield on Sunday night and jolly good it was too. A lovely appreciative crowd and we didn't mess up too badly from what I remember. Pete Green, Jam on Bread and Numberdan all did fine sets, even though Pete did leg it when we threatened to sing Happy Birthday to him! A nice (sort of) review here.

So tonight off to London for the second leg of the Totally Acoustic odyssey, I could get used to having no microphone at this rate - although tonight I'm on my own (my faithful band not so faithful for a change!) so there really is no hiding place. And I have no idea what songs to play. I predict a mind-practice on the train.

2008-04-15T15:44:00.000Z

Some gigs coming up very SOON.

Sparklemotion Promotions presents
a 100 per cent acoustic popshow

Frankie Machine + Jam on Bread + Numberdan + Pete Green

Sunday 20 April 2008
The Red Deer, 18 Pitt Street, SHEFFIELD S1 4DD
doors open 7:30, music starts 8:00
�3 on the door

Totally Acoustic presents
Another 100 per cent acoustic popshow

Frankie Machine + MJ Hibbett

Tuesday 22 April
The Lamb, 94 Lamb's Conduit Street, LONDON WC1N 3LZ
Doors open 7:00, music starts 7:30

A Layer Of Chips presents

Phil Wilson (June Brides) + MJ Hibbett & the Validators + Frankie Machine

Thursday 1 May
Lee Rosy's Tea Shop, Broad Street, NOTTINGHAM
Doors 8pm
�4 on the door

2008-02-18T10:45:00.001Z

Had a lovely old time at the Egofest last weekend, saw some great bands that I'd not seen before and some excellent sets by old favourites. Thanks to everyone who came and all those who said nice things about my performance afterwards. The only downer was that my guitar case broke, so I had to walk back with my axe slung over my shoulder like I was Izzy Stradlin (or at the very least - one of his ju-ju hounds)

But enough, the 2008 gig frenzy continues with news of a London gig on April 22nd at The Lamb Totally Acoustic night with MJ Hibbett - and a promise from Mr Pete Green of a gig in Sheffield (there! I wrote it down so he can't back down now..)

2008-02-01T14:38:00.000Z

Through the power of stylesheets the site has now been updated to announce the official release of The Remix EP. A long time in the making I'm amazed this day ever arrived, but it's here and it comes in a hand-stickered limited edition foldout card sleeve with photo insert (the kind of packaging you may recognise if you own a copy of MJ Hibbett's A Million Ukuleles . NB: I'm not ripping him off, I would have been there first but he nipped in while I faffed about moving house and doing DIY)

You can buy a copy here for a smackdown bargain price of �4.00 (postpaid) via the paypal button below or I'll have some for sale at the next couple of gigs

Frankie Machine - The Remix EP

If you want a sneak preview here is a short promo video for the Plans & Apologies remix of Gyproque, done by People's Palace Productions

2008-01-17T11:31:00.000Z

Breaking the law AGAIN.
The original rules of Frankie Town were:

*No drums
*No plectrums
*No sitting down whilst playing (me not the audience - they are obviously too busy dancing to care..)
*No gigs in Derby and especially not at The Vic

So the first three and a half rules have all been long broken, on account of what a rule-breaking hellhound I am - but the final piece of the rebellious jigsaw has been slotted in now as I'm playing The Vic Inn on Feb 10th as part of Egofest.

The last solo gig I did at The Vic was during the proto-Frankie period when I think I was billed as Luke Warmskywater, and as I recall did a cover version of George Michael's "A Different Corner". Rest assured that there will be no surprise reprise of that particular weepy but there will be NEW songs and, no doubt, a lot of mistakes.

The line up is excellent and it's FREE so I hope lots of people come along.

2007-11-07T20:40:00.000Z

something that is simulatneously new, old and REALLY old.

just uploaded on the myspace..i found this demo i did around the time of the first frankie album. a cover of "all her favourite fruit" by Camper Van Beethoven.

I think i intended to re-record it better, but never did - and it sounded better than i remembered when i found the master last week.

eagle-eared listeners might spot where the guitar parts got re-used on the first record.

if you haven't got CVB's 1990 Key Lime Pie album then shame on you..

2007-10-01T15:48:00.001Z

Just been sent the link to a preview of a film about the Derby Music Scene over the last 25 years which uses my track "Sun Clouds" over some footage of the old old Ajanta Theatre (famous for playing host to the penultimate Joy Division gig back in 1980)

Anyway - this isn't the finished thing but looks good for now. Apparently a book is coming out too

2007-09-28T23:05:00.000Z

Fantastic news arrives in the electronic virtual postbag of Frankie Towers in that we've been invited to play at the International German Beard Championship next March in the village of Schoemberg in southern Germany.

Not only will we be performing at the festival but I've been entered in the "Imperial" category for my rather stylish lip beard that I've been sporting for a record 10 years now.

Directions to the gig to follow (but I think it's just turn left at Luxembourg and look for the beards)

2007-09-21T22:55:00.000Z

The more astute amongst you will recall this time last year should have seen the release of the fabled and majestic Remix EP, but I decided to wait until the house move was over and that just never seemed to be OVER, just an ongoing piece of rennovation work.

NOW however, I can say that it's definitely OUT NOW. RIGHT NOW.

And you can order an advance copy by emailing frankie@frankiemachine.com for �5 (p&p inc) and I'll get round to putting a paypal link on the site ASAP.

The tracklisting has changed slightly in that the short remix of Re-Unmelt My Heart is no longer included and has been replaced by another otherwise unreleased song called "My Hair Hell" (remixed by my half-brother Reggie "Gangsta" Machine)

01- Gyproque (Plans & Apologies Frankie Panky Mix)
02- Black Eyes #3 (Tigermilk Finally Mix)
03- Nineteen Seventy Three (Johnny Domino Lean Against The Machine Mix)
04- How I Wish I Was Sophia Loren (Shortwave Dahlia Second Skin Mix)
05- My Hair Hell (Reggie "Gangsta" Machine Mix)
06- Beatings Of My Heart (Lardpony Mix)
07- Why Are You #2 (cARDbOaRD_DEaD_bOY Frankie Machine Is People Mix)
08- 54:07 (The Spunk Bubbles Sticky Ricky Mix)
09- I Invented The Walkwoman (Human A Mix)

Oh and it comes in a numbered, hand-crafted fold out origami dinosaur CD sleeve with a photo insert. Limited edition of 200.

You'd be a fool to blah...zzzzzzzzz

2007-09-19T22:51:00.000Z

It was with great regret that we pulled out of the Nightjars and Poppy & The Jezebels gig the other week, but a number of unfortunate circumstances aligned which made it impossible to perform. We have no other gigs lined up at the moment but that could change. Or it could not. What a crazy world we live in.

2007-08-16T13:49:00.000Z

First gig in a while coming up on 6th September at Susumi in Derby with Poppy & The Jezebels and old friends The Nightjars>

Details here

It's not been a good time - had another PC die on me and the remix album was lost for a while. However Mr Hibbett has located the only remaining test master, so it might still yet see the light of day.

2007-02-24T11:08:00.000Z

Been a while but we're playing again at The Five Lamps, Derby on March 9th

This is
The Feredays album launch gig with support from us and new Reveal Records signing Madam (aka Sukie Smith) who is fab and, all being well, I shall be also be playing some accompaniment for her on the night in addition to our own set.

Also to mention is the remix I did recently for Plans & Apologies is now availble on their website for FREE download by clicking this here link Wires! Dub

Like A Moth Round A Honey Pot (in a China Shop)

2006-08-30T20:39:00.000Z

Been a funny couple of months - I'm trying to move house for a start, which sort of explains the inactivity (and yes, the remix EP is unlikely to actually see the light of day now until I'm moved) - been out on tour with MJ Hibbett & The Validators (in my capacity as jobbing bass player) - then I managed to shred my left hand with an exploding lightbulb (more or less healed now but there is some weird scar tissue on my thumb still) - then last Friday a Steel Haulage lorry shed it's load of sheet metal plates all over my car (I wasn't in it at the time thankfully)

In between all this the only vaguely useful thing I managed to do was a remix of a forthcoming Plans & Apologies track "Wirez, Man!" - which actually ended up more of a dub version than a full dance-floor filling cross-over chart success remix. I think they may put it up for free download via their site, once their CD comes out.

Oh and Steve from Johnny Domino finally egged me on enough to start my mp3 blog FRANKOSONIC (access it via the left hand menu of this site if you like..) where I can post up some of the songs that I love, whilst I'm waiting to move on.

Slightly updated the main site too (well...the discog/lyrics and the gig list).

Speaking of gigs - we're playing at the Soul Cafe in Derby on September 7th (sit down meal and relaxing tunes) and the 5 Lamps in Derby on October 8th (acoustic all-dayer type thing). More details to follow. Probably.

another gig another plan it

2006-06-18T10:02:00.000Z

Playing the Green Room in Sheffield again on August 2nd with Sergeant Buzfuz and Filthy Pedro. Also because I had a spare song slot on Myspazz I put up the track Shilton's Fingertips from the XMAAS free CD (obviously no longer generally available) and it's sort of World Cup themed...

Gig & Remix EP details

2006-06-16T20:03:00.000Z

Thanks to those that came down to the Derby gig on Monday night, apologies that the set was so brief - we were expecting a low key support slot but due to illness elsewhere we ended up playing last. Hopefully we'll be returning to The Vaults sometime soon to do some more songs and brighten up those damp arches.

Also I finished compiling the remix EP tonight..at last. Which means it really IS nearly a reality. All that stands in the way now is a small matter of moving house.

Expanded tracklisting & web stuff follows:

Frankie Machine
Blow Me Out In Rings - The Remix EP
AAS055

01- Gyproque (Plans & Apologies Frankie Panky Mix)
Plans & Apologies Web
Plans & Apologies MySpace

02- Black Eyes #3 (Tigermilk Finally Mix)
TigerMilk MySpace

03- Nineteen Seventy Three (Johnny Domino Lean Against The Machine Mix)
Johnny Domino MySpace
Johnny Domino Web

04- How I Wish I Was Sophia Loren (Shortwave Dahlia Second Skin Mix)
Shortwave Dahlia MySpace
Shortwave Dahlia Web

05- Re-Unmelt My Heart (GazThatch Experience (Don't Not) Dis-Reunmelt My Heart Mix)
GazThatch Experience MySpace

06- Beatings Of My Heart (Lardpony Mix)
Lardpony MySpace

07- Why Are You #2 (cARDbOaRD_DEaD_bOY Frankie Machine Is People Mix)
cARDbOaRD_DEaD_bOY MySpace
cARDbOaRD_DEaD_bOY Web

08- 54:07 (The Spunk Bubbles Sticky Ricky Mix)
Spunk Bubbles MySpace

09- I Invented The Walkwoman (Human A Mix)
Human A MySpace
Human A Web

Gig Gag Gug

2006-06-04T20:51:00.000Z

Playing at The Vaults in Derby on Monday June 12th with Bohumil Vana. Won't be a solo show (unless something goes horribly wrong) should have The Flamboyant Heterosexuals in full effect alongside me. Now all that remains to do is have a practice..or two

Radio Dubster

2006-04-23T17:30:00.000Z

Just to say that we have a track featured on Radio Dubster's latest podcast on his John Peel Tape & File Project Website

Check it out cos there is some other good stuff on there.

Oh and despite it being there for like 3 years I just noticed that my RSS feed is here for those who are that way inclined

Spring Sale

2006-04-06T18:46:00.000Z

Hello and welcome to the Frankie Machine Spring Sale..um..I need the space and the cash so the first album is on short term special offer at �5.00 (inc. Postage) and the album deals are down to �10 for two and �15 for all three.

So go on - treat yourself - or maybe a friend...they will love you forever.

The remix album is almost upon us and the tracklisting is as follows:

1) Gyproque (Plans & Apologies Franky Panky Mix)
2) Nineteen Seventy Three (Johnny Domino Sexbot Mix)
3) Re-Unmelt My Heart (GazThatch Experience (Don't Not) Dis-Reunmelt My Heart Mix)
4) Beatings Of My Heart (Lardpony Mix)
5) How I Wish I Was Sophia Loren (Jack Alberson Second Skin Mix)
6) I Invented The Walkwoman (Human Recordings Mix)
7) Why Are You #2 (cARDbOaRD_DEaD_bOY Frankie Machine Is People Mix)

Everyone a winner...

MySpace

2006-02-17T08:30:00.000Z

Much as it pains me to kick with the fray - I have set up the myspace thing
www.myspace.com/francisalbertmachine with a track from each album to listen to. Thankfully I have a few friends now so it doesn't look quite so pathetic. Friend me up baby.

Should be on about 9ish in London on Sunday - the first gig of the year nerves are kicking in now

2006-02-08T18:22:00.000Z

Happy new year and all that. Spent the end of January in New York and came back feeling all inspired (by my standards anyway) and so the news..

The remix album EP thing is nearing completion and is even better than I could have hoped for. There is a version of the Sophia Loren song on there too - so it's not all old stuff - even though that's an old song in the scheme of things I mean to say it was never released, although we played it on a radio session once and it's been played regularly live. Once the tracklisting is confirmed then I'll post it up anyway.

Two gigs to plug this month

Sunday February 19th Buffalo Bar, Highbury LONDON
(with Tilly & The Wall + Emmy The Great)

Wednesday February 22nd The Green Room, SHEFFIELD
(with Dave Smith + Anna Haigh + Natasha Allan)

That's all for now. Message ends.

2005-12-08T16:22:00.000Z

The Artists Against Success XMAS album has arrived.

If you would like one of the FIFTY free copies - please get your emails into head honcho Mr Steve Dresden ASAP. It's first come, first served.

Click here to order

As mentioned it has two exclusive Frankie Machine tracks:

I'm Going To Kill Myself For Christmas & Shilton's Fingertips (first version)

2005-12-03T12:08:00.000Z

Thoroughly enjoyed the Hunting For Teeth gig last week, but woke up the next day feeling like death and had to cancel the Sheffield gig. The curse of man-flu.

Forgot to mention that I didn't win the My Funny Valentine competition but the guy gave me a B+ which was better than he gave Miles Davis - so can't be bad hey?

The Xmas CD's should be here on Tuesday so will be sent out later in the week - and my festive dissatisfaction will be freely available for all.

One last thing - if anyone wants to remix a Frankie track for inclusion on a planned remix CD then get in touch frankie@frankiemachine.com and i'll send you some files so you can play with my parts. You can pick your own song - providing I still have the masters at hand..some of the early singles have disappeared.