Mystery Machine - Western Magnetics (album stream)

The return of Vancouver's Mystery Machine earlier this year was an unexpected but welcome treat. Western Magnetics is the shoegaze-minded rock unit's first album since 1998's Headfirst into Everything, and now the wait is finally over. Prior to the album's release on September 11 via Sonic Unyon, you can stream the entire record below.


Thanks to Exclaim!

These 10 songs have been a long time in the making, since they were recorded over a period that stretched from 1999 to 2011. During this time, different lineups completed sessions with a handful of producers in various studios. Original drummer Jordan Pratt appears on half the tracks, while more recent addition Mario Nieva performs on the others. This means that the album is both a glance back and a look forwards.

Sessions took place at the Vancouver studios Mushroom, Slack and Big Midget, with recording overseen by producers Vince Jones, Blair Calibaba and Tim Oberthier.

Check out the sonically ambitious album below to hear what the band members have been up to for all those years.

Along with the new album, Mystery Machine will be out touring on some Canadian dates, which you can see here.

By Alex Hudson for Exclaim!

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Mystery Machine are a Canadian rock band formed in 1990 in Vancouver. The core of the band consisted of Jordan Pratt, Luke Rogalsky, Bean and Shane Ward.

History

Early Years
The band started in 1990 in Chilliwack, BC. The young band quickly grew a strong following around the Vancouver area with their strong musicianship, ear-splitting volume, unconventional, proressive song structures and often volatile and confrontational live shows. After winning the Vancouver Shindig contest the band was signed to Nettwerk Records. The band released their first album, Glazed, in 1993 and toured extensively in support of the album. Before working on a new record, Bean left the band and was replaced by Norm Thody from the band Captain Gravity.

10 Speed
In 1994, Mystery Machine headed back into the studio to record their sophomore album. Entitled 10 Speed, it was a shift from progressive leanings of Glazed. The bands love for English shoe-gazers like My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver and Ride was becoming more apparent. The album was as commercially successful as Mystery Machine ever got. The single Pound For Pound made it's way onto the soundtrack for Foxfire, and the video for the single Brand New Song was nominated for a Much Music Video Award. After releasing the record, Bean returned and the band hit the road again.

Headfirst Into Everything
Now with momentum from 10 Speed, the band entered Brian Adams' Warehouse Studios to record their third record, Headfirst Into Everything, in 1997. With an elevated budget, slick production and less complicated arrangements, the album was to be their most accessible record to date. Unfortunately, the record did not meet its commercial expectations, promotion for the record was limited and the band was dropped from Nettwerk. Around this time, Dean Young (also from the band Captain Gravity)was added as a third guitar player.

Montana
In 1999, Jordan left Mystery Machine to concentrate on his other band, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. The rest of the band carried on under the name Montana with Mario Nieva filling the vacant drumming position. Montana was meant to be a departure from the noise rock of Mystery Machine with the band taking more of an American singer/songwriter approach a la Tom Petty. Keyboardist Cary "Cozy Pines" Britton was added to fill out the line up. Although the band was well received, Montana never quite captured public interest.

Hiatus and Reunion Shows
With children, mortgages and other projects becoming more of a priority, the band stopped rehearsing on a regular basis. In 2004, Mystery Machine reformed with Luke, Shane, Bean from the original line-up and Mario, the drummer from Montana. They played a couple of "reunion" shows in Vancouver. This line up has stayed intact up until the present and has continued to write and record when the opportunity provided.

Recently, the band has announced a new album, entitled Western Magnetics, due for release in September 2012 on Sonic Unyon Records.

Discography
1992 Stain EP
1993 Glazed
1996 10 Speed
1998 Headfirst Into Everything
2012 Western Magnetics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_Machine_(band)

Links
https://www.facebook.com/mysterymachinebc
https://twitter.com/mmachinebc
http://www.myspace.com/mysterymachinevancouver