Brandon Curtis is always keeping busy. In between gearing up Secret Machines for another European tour and indeed convening with the other two members of his band to put ideas in place for their next record, he is in Indiana producing South Africans BLK JKS (pronounced Black Jacks).
There has been little let-up since the release of the band’s third, self-titled album in January, an album that has marked a sort of rebirth for the Dallas-born, New York-based trio.
Because, of course, this was the first without Brandon’s brother Benjamin, their erstwhile guitarist who had defined their shuddering alt-prog since their 2004 debut Now Here Is Nowhere. Benjamin left to pursue a more imaginative pop avenue with School Of Seven Bells (who, all being well, we speak to next issue), leaving a sizable hole that Brandon plugged with old Dallas cohort Phil Karnats, a very different presence. That, in a nutshell, is why Secret Machines have all the hallmarks of an entirely new band. The eponymous title of the new album alone marks the redefining process.
You could even say being in a band was, for Brandon, injected with a new passion he hadn’t experienced since his early days of playing with friends in Dallas.
“It was a kind of back to basics approach,” he says, “more related to where I was when I first started playing music, and I was thinking about the same kind of feeling I was feeling when I first started writing songs. A point of origin sort of thing…”
The new album is a passionate display of heavy, loud rock with deft touches of Curtis’s familiarly leftfield song structure, and is not as prog-rock as most people would have them. The new songs were actually born when Ben was still around in 2007.
“I guess I thought I was writing what I thought would be new music, and then when Benjamin said he was leaving I started playing the stuff with Josh and we decided to continue.
“The music was starting this way with or without Benjamin, although I think it would have travelled over a different path with him. I think whenever you involve someone else it affects the journey. Once Benjamin or Phil became involved it would have taken on a different life.”
Obviously, the familiar Secret Machines sound has been transformed, as has the dynamic within the group, completed by drummer Josh Garza.
“They share a lot [Ben and Phil] in that they’re both very passionate musicians and very meticulous, but they’re very different as guitarists. When I hear them play I hear their personalities.
“I’m really excited about a whole new perspective on the situation, it’s kind of empowering, but I was heading in this direction anyway.”
It’s fair to say then, that this album is a combination of Curtis’s natural creative development since 2006’s Ten Silver Drops and the direction that Karnats’ inevitable influence turned his original vision.
Brandon had been listening to a variety of music while he was putting together Secret Machines, including Boris and other similarly brutal fare. This influence Brandon refers to as “so dark and heavy but so beautiful; having this melancholy but aggressive feeling. An aggressive sadness.” This sums up the Secret Machines album perfectly. A robust misery. An angry depression. A combative dejection. And so forth.
Benjamin’s departure aside, this album has been an upheaval for Secret Machines in other ways. Reinventing themselves as a ‘new band’ apparently jarred with Warner Brothers (or to be more specific, Reprise) and the label promptly decided Secret Machines were no longer the artist they thought they had.
“We presented this record to Warner Brothers,” says Curtis, “and we had different opinions on how the record would be recorded and presented. Even when we were starting to make this record we had a different philosophical approach to the circumstances – who should produce it and stuff like that. For Josh and I, we felt it was important to stay as producers and the people calling the shots in the studio. We were willing to collaborate but didn’t want to give up total control.
“Warner Brothers disagreed but let us do it anyway. Then we turned in the record and they felt it wasn’t the record we should have made for us in our time right now. They wanted to sell millions of records but we wanted to make a record that was in our hearts. At the end of the day they were very generous to us and very fair, and gave us the rights to the record back.”
It was World’s Fair / Cooperative Music who eventually released the album… “I’m very happy to have a new situation and I’m not missing [Warner Brothers].”
Secret Machines’ history is an illustrious one. Not least because they count David Bowie amongst their fans (he wonders into their gigs when they play in New York), as well as Jason Pierce and Kevin Shields. Then there is that rare feat of appealing to both an indie fraternity as well as those into metal – all their fans reaching typically fanatical and meticulous levels of adoration. There is also a fantastically theatrical live show with lights, lasers and other extravagant visuals.
“It’s really expensive to travel with it,” says Curtis, “so I’m not sure we’re gonna be able to do it or not [on the European tour]. We will always pay attention to the atmosphere when we play, whether or not we have expensive production. I wish it were cheaper.”
As work intensifies for Secret Machines on the follow up to what we can tentatively say was a ‘watershed’ record, Brandon Curtis is in a position to assess his own band’s future with that injection of the spirit of youth, as well as admire his brother’s marvellous new band.
“I am really enjoying seeing the fruits of his labour,” he says. “School Of Seven Bells has been a passion for him for such a long time. He’s cared about it so much and I’m really proud and excited for him. It’s his work coming to light in just his way. I’m enjoying his success by contact.”
http://www.tourdates.co.uk/LondonTourdates/issue-040/2009/02/13/1396-Secret-Machines-Welcome-To-The-Machines
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
ARI(R) Appoints John Storz to Manager of Heavy Truck and Equipment Remarketing
MT. LAUREL, NJ - ARI - Automotive Resources International, a leading global fleet solutions provider specializing in complex car and truck fleets, has appointed John Storz to manager heavy truck and equipment remarketing.
In his new position, Storz will handle used trucks and equipment, which involves overseeing two programs that he developed and implemented: ARITruckDirect.com, which offers used trucks and equipment to a global market, and ARIBuyDirect.com, where clients can consign both trucks and cars for ARI to purchase and receive payment within 48 hours.
"John's level of experience and expertise is not easily matched in this industry. He knows the vehicles, has developed the outlets and understands the technology. This appointment acknowledges the advancements that he's already brought to our company and the vision John has for furthering ARI's strategic direction," said Director of Vehicle Remarketing Bob Graham.
Throughout his twenty years in the remarketing industry, Storz has been responsible for a variety of functions, including developing and directing retail and wholesale truck remarketing departments, conducting appraisals, purchasing trucks and trailers to develop profitable used truck inventories, recommending proper specifications as part of the new vehicle order process and expanding customer bases through aggressive prospecting.
About ARI
ARI, a subsidiary of Holman Enterprises based in Mt. Laurel, N.J., is an industry leader and the largest privately-held fleet leasing and management company in the world. As a single-source fleet management leader, ARI customizes innovative solutions that streamline fleet operations, help lower the cost of fleet ownership and create long-term value for customers.
Today, with a workforce numbering more than 1,200 and offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Europe, the company manages more than 2,000 outsourced fleets (over 650,000 autos and trucks) in North America and, combined with its strategic partners, more than 2.0 million fleet vehicles globally.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28982101/
In his new position, Storz will handle used trucks and equipment, which involves overseeing two programs that he developed and implemented: ARITruckDirect.com, which offers used trucks and equipment to a global market, and ARIBuyDirect.com, where clients can consign both trucks and cars for ARI to purchase and receive payment within 48 hours.
"John's level of experience and expertise is not easily matched in this industry. He knows the vehicles, has developed the outlets and understands the technology. This appointment acknowledges the advancements that he's already brought to our company and the vision John has for furthering ARI's strategic direction," said Director of Vehicle Remarketing Bob Graham.
Throughout his twenty years in the remarketing industry, Storz has been responsible for a variety of functions, including developing and directing retail and wholesale truck remarketing departments, conducting appraisals, purchasing trucks and trailers to develop profitable used truck inventories, recommending proper specifications as part of the new vehicle order process and expanding customer bases through aggressive prospecting.
About ARI
ARI, a subsidiary of Holman Enterprises based in Mt. Laurel, N.J., is an industry leader and the largest privately-held fleet leasing and management company in the world. As a single-source fleet management leader, ARI customizes innovative solutions that streamline fleet operations, help lower the cost of fleet ownership and create long-term value for customers.
Today, with a workforce numbering more than 1,200 and offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Europe, the company manages more than 2,000 outsourced fleets (over 650,000 autos and trucks) in North America and, combined with its strategic partners, more than 2.0 million fleet vehicles globally.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28982101/
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
What is Heavy Machinery and what are the merits of Heavy Machinery?
Heavy machine or heavy machinery is referred to a complex machine doing a number of simple machine operations at the same time. The need for usage of heavy machinery arises from the fact that complex and complicated activities such as laying of roads, tilling and sowing seeds equidistantly spread over a vast area of agricultural fields ready for the commencement of agricultural operations can neither be performed with the help of simple machines, nor the labor force is capable of doing the complex and heavy activities at a relatively faster pace. Heavy machinery, or heavy equipment, meets the requirement of completing complex jobs at a relatively quicker pace of time, and in the bargain saving considerable amount of overheads.
Have you ever watched a giant-sized machine being used at the roadside to lay roads? or a heavy machine being put to use to create a gravel and sand mixture to build roads? These and similar of equipment are jointly referred to heavy equipment required to carry out heavy jobs of specific nature.
The need for usage of heavy equipment machinery arises from the fact that global competition among the different types of activities is on the rise due to technological innovations, and in such a competitive world, any firm aspiring to survive and grow in the competitive market space is to innovate new products, and mostly reduce the overhead costs. For example, the activity of laying roads a stretch of say 500 meters can be completed by the heavy equipment operator (or) heavy machinery operator and a couple of helpers in less than 12 hours maximum. If the heavy machine were not there, about 50 to 60 employees might have to be employed for digging the hole, clearing the debris and all other such related works to complete the mission of laying a new road for the local street.
Heavy equipment or heavy machinery needs the services of heavy equipment operator or heavy machinery operator, who is capable of operating the machine and complete the multi-tasks assigned to some of the custom-built heavy equipment.
The market for heavy equipment is vibrant with lots of competition among the heavy machinery traders to offer heavy equipment sales or heavy machinery sales either as new products, or used heavy equipment or second-hand equipment, in the market to prospective customers.
http://www.msokorea.com/trucks-suvs/0,6600,400690,00.html
Have you ever watched a giant-sized machine being used at the roadside to lay roads? or a heavy machine being put to use to create a gravel and sand mixture to build roads? These and similar of equipment are jointly referred to heavy equipment required to carry out heavy jobs of specific nature.
The need for usage of heavy equipment machinery arises from the fact that global competition among the different types of activities is on the rise due to technological innovations, and in such a competitive world, any firm aspiring to survive and grow in the competitive market space is to innovate new products, and mostly reduce the overhead costs. For example, the activity of laying roads a stretch of say 500 meters can be completed by the heavy equipment operator (or) heavy machinery operator and a couple of helpers in less than 12 hours maximum. If the heavy machine were not there, about 50 to 60 employees might have to be employed for digging the hole, clearing the debris and all other such related works to complete the mission of laying a new road for the local street.
Heavy equipment or heavy machinery needs the services of heavy equipment operator or heavy machinery operator, who is capable of operating the machine and complete the multi-tasks assigned to some of the custom-built heavy equipment.
The market for heavy equipment is vibrant with lots of competition among the heavy machinery traders to offer heavy equipment sales or heavy machinery sales either as new products, or used heavy equipment or second-hand equipment, in the market to prospective customers.
http://www.msokorea.com/trucks-suvs/0,6600,400690,00.html
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Textile, heavy machinery sectors receive bailouts
yesterday rolled out its third and fourth industry-specific bailout packages in three weeks, targeting the textile and heavy machinery manufacturing sectors, as stock markets rose on optimism about a quick recovery in the embattled economy....
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2c913216495213d5df646910cba0a0a0/
?vgnextoid=c6924a0b1324f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=teaser&ss=Companies&s=Business
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2c913216495213d5df646910cba0a0a0/
?vgnextoid=c6924a0b1324f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=teaser&ss=Companies&s=Business
Don't Let Heavy Machinery Weigh You Down
First came the whiskers, followed by a furry little face that didn't look very threatening. But now, investors are being whipped by a destructive tail.
Yes, Fools, the cat is now fully out of the bag. Global industry simply fell off a cliff sometime last fall, and the more plant closures and layoffs we see, the more this once-bagged cat resembles a rabid, ferocious lion. After Terex (NYSE: TEX) became the latest heavy-equipment manufacturer to reduce guidance this week, the time is ripe to reassess the landscape for these machinery makers.
Back in September 2008, before the feline had extended its claws, Terex reduced 2008 earnings guidance to less than $6.65 per share and watched investors crush the stock. This week, Terex reduced guidance yet again, this time to a range of $5.40 to $5.45 per share, but the shares traded resiliently in the aftermath. The difference, I believe, is all about sentiment, which suggests that markets have already priced in a barrage of earnings disappointments. With a final growl, Terex even warned of a potential $600 million impairment charge relating to tumbling asset valuations, and still, shares refused to head lower.
Elsewhere in the sector, investors are licking their wounds after Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) dumped dismal earnings and deep labor cuts upon them. CNH Global (NYSE: CNH) set the mood by forecasting huge sales declines and announcing plant closures to work through burgeoning inventories. Manitowoc (NYSE: MTW) posted a fourth-quarter loss last week despite some one-time gains from the divestiture of its marine segment. Meanwhile, mining-equipment specialist Joy Global (Nasdaq: JOYG) notably bucked the trend, with a 68% increase in net earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter and a still-expanding backlog of equipment orders.
As we await earnings from both Bucyrus (Nasdaq: BUCY) and Deere (NYSE: DE) in mid-February, Fools with an interest in the sector have time to review balance sheets and operational outlooks. With stimulus packages under consideration around the world, and indications that some portion of demand disruption is related to credit and liquidity issues, I believe several of these companies will find themselves on the road to recovery by 2010. Now that the cat is out of the bag with respect to a massive global recession and the frightful derailment of the worldwide industrial machine, I believe that a recovery process can soon begin for the heavy industrials with the lightest debt burdens.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2009/02/04/dont-let-heavy-machinery-weigh-you-down.aspx
Yes, Fools, the cat is now fully out of the bag. Global industry simply fell off a cliff sometime last fall, and the more plant closures and layoffs we see, the more this once-bagged cat resembles a rabid, ferocious lion. After Terex (NYSE: TEX) became the latest heavy-equipment manufacturer to reduce guidance this week, the time is ripe to reassess the landscape for these machinery makers.
Back in September 2008, before the feline had extended its claws, Terex reduced 2008 earnings guidance to less than $6.65 per share and watched investors crush the stock. This week, Terex reduced guidance yet again, this time to a range of $5.40 to $5.45 per share, but the shares traded resiliently in the aftermath. The difference, I believe, is all about sentiment, which suggests that markets have already priced in a barrage of earnings disappointments. With a final growl, Terex even warned of a potential $600 million impairment charge relating to tumbling asset valuations, and still, shares refused to head lower.
Elsewhere in the sector, investors are licking their wounds after Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) dumped dismal earnings and deep labor cuts upon them. CNH Global (NYSE: CNH) set the mood by forecasting huge sales declines and announcing plant closures to work through burgeoning inventories. Manitowoc (NYSE: MTW) posted a fourth-quarter loss last week despite some one-time gains from the divestiture of its marine segment. Meanwhile, mining-equipment specialist Joy Global (Nasdaq: JOYG) notably bucked the trend, with a 68% increase in net earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter and a still-expanding backlog of equipment orders.
As we await earnings from both Bucyrus (Nasdaq: BUCY) and Deere (NYSE: DE) in mid-February, Fools with an interest in the sector have time to review balance sheets and operational outlooks. With stimulus packages under consideration around the world, and indications that some portion of demand disruption is related to credit and liquidity issues, I believe several of these companies will find themselves on the road to recovery by 2010. Now that the cat is out of the bag with respect to a massive global recession and the frightful derailment of the worldwide industrial machine, I believe that a recovery process can soon begin for the heavy industrials with the lightest debt burdens.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2009/02/04/dont-let-heavy-machinery-weigh-you-down.aspx
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Dallas Heavy Machinery Sales – TenList
A new Dallas Heavy Machinery Sales and service website was unveiled today. The need of top quality heavy machinery and heavy equipment service and sales directory has become apparent for contractors due to current economic conditions.
The advent of http://dallas.tenlist.com/heavy-machinery-sales/tx has been designed to help contractors maximize their return on investment. "It is our hopes that giving contractors the ability to find the best heavy machinery sales in Dallas will provide them the means to stimulate the growth of their companies" stated President of TenList Shawn Sandifer in an online interview.
The online directory of heavy machinery sales in Dallas follows the traditional guidelines of TenList. The companies found in the new online heavy machinery sales directory are verified using the VeriFIDO process. The TenList VeriFIDO process gives consumers and businesses the ability to find services, with a degree of confidence that is unmatched in online directories.
The heavy machinery sales directory has been greeted with much interest from Dallas contractors during the pre-launch phase. The overwhelming interest has resulted in TenList making this service available in Houston see: http://houston.tenlist.com/heavy-machinery-sales/tx and also in Fort Worth Texas http://fortworth.tenlist.com/heavy-machinery-sales/tx
The value of these directories may be felt from the large construction companies that can now save money and time when searching for heavy machinery sales to the construction workers that may be aided in finding employment due to these savings. The long term effect of promoting construction thru providing heavy machinery sales brings the promise of economic stimulus that can benefit the entire state of Texas.
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=86043
The advent of http://dallas.tenlist.com/heavy-machinery-sales/tx has been designed to help contractors maximize their return on investment. "It is our hopes that giving contractors the ability to find the best heavy machinery sales in Dallas will provide them the means to stimulate the growth of their companies" stated President of TenList Shawn Sandifer in an online interview.
The online directory of heavy machinery sales in Dallas follows the traditional guidelines of TenList. The companies found in the new online heavy machinery sales directory are verified using the VeriFIDO process. The TenList VeriFIDO process gives consumers and businesses the ability to find services, with a degree of confidence that is unmatched in online directories.
The heavy machinery sales directory has been greeted with much interest from Dallas contractors during the pre-launch phase. The overwhelming interest has resulted in TenList making this service available in Houston see: http://houston.tenlist.com/heavy-machinery-sales/tx and also in Fort Worth Texas http://fortworth.tenlist.com/heavy-machinery-sales/tx
The value of these directories may be felt from the large construction companies that can now save money and time when searching for heavy machinery sales to the construction workers that may be aided in finding employment due to these savings. The long term effect of promoting construction thru providing heavy machinery sales brings the promise of economic stimulus that can benefit the entire state of Texas.
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=86043
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)