Girl + the Machine

Sultry female vocals, sexy electronic beats, shimmering soundscapes, and experimental film projections combine to create the Zen-like experience that is a Girl and the Machine performance. The Deleon White Gallery's atmosphere will serve as a brilliant site for the environment created by this awesome group. To refer to them simply as a "band" would be doing them a serious disservice.

mcluhanfestival.com - McLuhan Festival

Girl and the Machine, the brilliant pop artfit, play the El Mocambo on Friday night. Anyone who enjoys Bjork when she's fun, or Gwen when she's not a sell-out, should come to this show. Doors open at 9 PM. Cost is a paltry $5. Roll bloody pennies if you have to. - Blogto.com - Stephen Garbas

Compiled of diverse personalities, Girl + The Machine brings something distinctive to the stage. This four-member band plays tunes that entertain the senses and can only be described by the term "fusion music".

The dominant sound, alt rock, is merged together with the members' love for drum ‘n' bass, reggae and bands like Sonic Youth and Portishead. This contrasting mix produces an atmospheric, progressive and very diverse end result.

Girl + The Machine is featured on CBC's New Music Canada web site. On the page is a listing of 10 tracks to listen to, some of which have been released and some which have not. Each song is not only different sounding, but some songs are in totally separate genres from one another. It seems that the band is in the process of developing a sound that combines all of their individual approaches into one core sound - a style that merges all these genres into a one of a kind Girl + The Machine sound.

"We all have such different musical tastes that it would be impossible to choose one dominant sound, we play whatever we feel," explains guitarist Geoff.

Inventing and re-inventing is a key theme for the band when describing their composing techniques.

The lead singer, who has adopted the name "Girl", is naturally creative. Whether in the recording studio, the art studio, or the kitchen (where she cooks up her strictly vegetarian dishes), Girl is one talented chick. Her voice is reminiscent of Gwen Stefani with emotion and a unique twist. "I write music in English, Mandarin, Japanese and Cantonese. Next is Tibetan!" The other members, or should I say "machines", inspire Girl.

Fred, who plays bass and keyboard, is a down-to-earth individual who lists his favourite things as peace, love, conversation, wilderness, wildness, adventure, achievement, enlightenment, tolerance and compassion.

Neil, a "Bramptonian", is the band's drummer. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to meet him but I am told that he is a funny character. His bio on the band page is quite amusing. For example, he states that his first concert was "Zamfir, Master of the pan flute".

Beyond just being passionate about music and entertaining, Girl + The Machine is very active in the community. Each member is motivated to contribute to and promote their causes, ranging from animal rights and environmental issues to social justice and the promotion of independent news. Musical inspiration varies from band member to band member.

"I get inspired by life itself. I believe life is like a movie and everything has a soundtrack," says the band's guitarist Geoff.

Girl + The Machine, featured artists at York's Multicultural Festival, tore up the stage with their lively 11am performance. They performed music in three different languages for the crowd.

"This show was very different for us," says bass player Fred, "We're not used to waking up at eight in the morning for a gig!" Girl + The Machine will be playing at The Bradstock Festival on June 18th.

So what can you expect from Girl + The Machine's live shows? On top of their charismatic performances, they like to experiment with different ways of inspiring their audiences. Projected moving visuals, visual art (by Girl) and dancers decorate the stage, while sweet smells from the audience fill the concert hall to create an energizing environment to boogie down to.

- Heidi Ruggier - York University Excalibur

It's easy to be Jagger when there's 20,000 people in an arena, watching and gushing and fawning. Not so much when you're playing a field of leathered, aged, hippie fossils who only want whatever modernized version of Country Joe and the Fish that the LSD has allowed to remain in their heads. At any rate, when the majority of the audience is sitting at picknic tables not even facing the stage, and the PA system is 30% blown, it's tough to fake a vibe other than apathy. This was the situation faced by Toronto locals, Girl + the Machine last Friday June 17th at the Bradstock Festival in Bradford, Ontario.

But, in a show of unexpected professionalism, the band managed to swagger through a tight set that seemed to transform song by song from a dirge-ish, atmospheric music exercise, to slightly punky, dirty pop that was just a lot of fun. Kind of like the Cure's career in reverse.

Front woman, the mysterious Girl, used her Malaysian cuteness to disarm all the male cynics present. It seems to be accidental, kind of like the stripper that manages to make you think that she really likes you. Either way, when the first song isn't about "yellow sun" and she doesn't move like a Hello Kitty, you find yourself immediately rooting for her.

The first half of the set consisted of longer songs, averaging over four minutes. Girl swayed through some very respectable Art School-style thinker/feelers. It seemed like the type of thing to be played at dinner parties if your friends are really smart. Or if you're a girl that just got dumped by your first girlfriend that you met in sculpting class and still have the bust you made of her (and you were even considering telling your parents about.) The three-piece behind her seemed very comfortable with this style of drone. And, although this type of music generally dares you not to be bored live; the singer's a girl. And you are starting to want to do her…

A couple of little squeaks from our front lady and the band threw itself into a series of I-don't-care-about-anything-but-my-hair pop numbers. Of course, the lyrics could have been about Middle Eastern women being executed for alleged adultery, but it sounded fun. Girl started an adorable bunny hop that Gwen-ed us all. The band kept the energy level up, as the numbers dropped to around three minutes apiece. Even some of the Elders looked up from their Chomsky-talk to take a listen and a look (a couple even danced.)

Goeffoh's alternately heavy, Creep-esque guitar bursts and clean strum/scratch, matched the stable bass of Fred. Both supported the artistic figurine Girl with balance and poise. Predictably, they played before a backdrop of insect file footage and such.

Whether they were trying to win over the room, or they just didn't fucking care, they played and looked good. Not only well worth the zero dollars I spent on the show but, worth the twenty I spent on petrol to get there.

Sources tell me their Saturday set was brilliant. A full audience and a technically perfect experience. The fact that I reviewed a basic soundcheck and liked it says even more about their performing abilities.
- BlogTo.com

Girl + the Machine opened up for Vulcan Dub Squad at Zaphod's last Friday. I thought they were more compelling than the headliners, mostly because I like a good vocalist and Jackie L. - the aformentioned Girl - has a nice, clear voice with a sultry edge. The rest of the band is good to. Bassist Fred got a lot of mileage out of his two multi-effect pedals. You might have thought he was playing a synthesizer if you were going by sound alone. There's a spacy, sci-fi edge to their sound - Broadcast, Laika or Portishead with more international favour. The band also has a budding sideline in art.
- Andrew Carver - The Ottawa Sun

Sultry female vocals, sexy electronic beats, shimmering soundscapes, and experimental film projections combine to create the Zen-like experience that is a Girl and the Machine performance. The Deleon White Gallery's atmosphere will serve as a brilliant site for the environment created by this awesome group. To refer to them simply as a "band" would be doing them a serious disservice.
- McLuhan Festival - mcluhanfestival.com

Girl + The Machine e uma banda Canadese com estilo muito proprio. A voz doce da vocalista contrasta com a marcante batida electronica dos meninos da banda. Especializada em performances com producoes arte-visuais, faz um trabalho de conscientizacao global, que promove paz e serenidade e derncia racismo, violencia, opressao e degradcoa do meio ambiente. Confira no NoCapricho esta banda que veio especialmente de Toronto para tocar para voce.
- Capricho Magazine - Brazil

Girl + the Machine
Sui Water

Girl + the Machine share a couple of things in common with Beekeeper's Society. One is a dedication to experimental electro pop, and the other is drummer Neil. There's a bizarre, space age, hallucinogenic vibe to their sound and the lead singer hits you with a voice that's similar to the sweetened siren call of Bjork. As to what this band's doing in what genre, I leave to the ears of the listener. I almost think that this music is beyond genre and brings together so many sounds and different things that it must be experienced by one's own pallet. Discerning music lovers will note the guest appearance of Ron Korb on one of the CD's later tracks. - Lucid Forge