The Answering Machine

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release

4...according to our Brian on Thu 08 Nov, 2007.

The Answering Machine up the production ante by sounding like they've been caressed by a top studio sleazebag in return for their soul. The latest hopefuls on the stately and frequently awful Regal label conjure up a rather forgettable but beautifully executed polished indie tune, 'Lightbulbs' that so wants to be legendary and anthemic but could just be by any one of 100 bands. You know the score, Bloc Party style guitars, vacuous lyrics with oh-so familiar ad-libs, air punching drums and a slippery bass line. They sure know how to play but this tune betrays any original ideas for thee ears and could easily have come out anytime in the last 3 years such is it's lack of vision. Sorry but this is one for the indie die hards....BUT then the B-side stumps me by being a tender, understated beauty called "Decadent", this time with a crisp and sweet female vocal that would appeal to fans of The Sundays, all gently chiming guitar & complementary drum machine. The contrast between the two songs is so pronounced, it honestly sounds like two different bands. Worth yer purchase for the dreamy 2nd side alone.

AA sided 7 inch single released 5th November 2007, limited to 500 copies

“The Answering Machine are pretty much every front-line indie fan's
heroes...and thank fuck for that, because they’re ace.” - NME
“Head rushing melodies” - Guardian
“Glorious wide-eyed pop” - The Fly
“Pavement for the pill-popping generation” - Artrocker
“Sunny melodies, catchy, poppy, and with real depth. In short, ace” - Clash

The latest single from the Regal Singles Club is “Lightbulbs”/”Decadent” by
Manchester’s hottest new band, The Answering Machine.

The Answering Machine continue to stake their claim as the most exciting
young band since The Strokes, with their third deliriously addictive single.

Martin Colclough (vocalist/guitarist), and Patrick Fogarty (guitarist) have a
tumultuous, inter-dependent relationship not unlike that of many of their city's luminaries. At the very core of their songwriting, this battle of egos produces the now trademark magical indie anthems (see: Oklahoma, Silent Hotels, and now crowd favourite, Lightbulbs), and the soon to be classic riffs that are leading the way in British art-pop.

This double A-side also introduces the beautifully fragile lead vocals of
bassist Gemma Evans on ‘Decadent’. It is a touching lament that showcases a vulnerable and enticing new voice, and another side to the band.

The Answering Machine have had an eventful summer on the road, including a
celebratory set at Glastonbury and an attention grabbing performance at Ibiza Rocks supporting Dirty Pretty Things. At Manchester’s D:Percussion Festival, the city was introduced to their new drummer, Ben Perry, following the decline of infamous drum-machine Mustafa Beat, to a bout of ‘nervous exhaustion’.

With a new line-up, and a whole clutch of irresistible songs, we'll leave the last line to Colclough:

"People have no rights, they have great wrongs. Bands have no rights, they only have great songs."

The Answering Machine head off on a huge tour of the UK this Autumn in support of The Rumble Strips.