Having
played across Europe, Asia and all the big Aussie festivals including Parklife
and Good Vibrations, if you haven't heard of Melbourne's electro-pop sensation
- Mink Engine - you must have been living under a rock. Now gearing up for the
release of their second artist album 'Acres of Diamonds' mixed by local producer
Lindsay Gravina (The Living End, Thirsty Merc, Magic Dirt) of Birdland Studios
Melbourne, Mink Engine are a musical force to be reckoned with.
Mink Engine
is the creative duo comprising Askii (Adam Milburn) and Touch Me Tiger (Holly-Anne
Buck). Together they are innovative and boundary pushing multi-media collaboration
that produce outstanding electro-pop tunes as well as videos, narrative, websites,
animation and characters. Askii's professional background is in film soundtrack
and concept albums and Touch Me Tiger's background in fine art; combined, the
duo are a powerful force creating television commercials (they recently created
one for the State Library of Victoria), original art and websites. With their
expertise in high demand, they set up Chez Mink Studio, the birthplace of their
album 'Acres Of Diamonds'.
Mink Engine first erupted onto the Asian dance
music scene in 2002, and instantaneously began headlining shows at infamous venues
like Tokyo's fashionista clubs 'Vanity' and 'Orbit' as well as Shanghai's 'Glamour
Bar' for their 10th Birthday in. In Japan, they soon became known as the 'Broken
Glass Dancefloor Project' where overexcited fans smashed countless champagne glasses
to their music. Their international success spread to Europe after the release
of their 'Gastronomical' EP. This tour saw them perform their high energy shows
from London where they performed at Nag Nag Nag to Berlin for Fusion Festival.
On
stage, Mink Engine delivers an audiovisual performance encompassing eccentricity
and flair in all aspects. Askii is on vocals and synths, Touch Me Tiger is on
vocals and works her image projecting keytar while DJ Safari (Gazpacho, Sorry
Grandma) mixes the beats. Imagine a stage full of giant bananas, drag queens and
monkeys playing air guitar while electro pop tunes thunder out of the amps to
captive and elated crowds - this colourful and vibrant performance is a standard
Mink Engine live show.
With their trademark dance beats, 80s style synth,
a futuristic undertone, and the captivating voices of both Askii and Touch Me
Tiger, the album is sure to capture the imagination of music enthusiasts far and
wide. Having already proven themselves to sweaty mosh pits at festivals as well
as at the local bar, Mink Engine is challenging the traditional methods of release,
with the album 'Acres of Diamonds' being delivered entirely digitally.
The
first single from the release is a double A-side featuring the tracks 'Superpad'
and 'Dick Chicken'. Dick Chicken is the tale of an empowered, escapee piece of
fried chicken who rises to the top against the odds, and turns the tables on the
chicken-munching public. Because the video is M rated, Mink Engine have decided
to release a second track and video with it, Superpad. Superpad is the story of
a classic dance battle. With some fantastic choreography and a fairytale ending
- there's something for everyone to enjoy!
As the throbbing second single,
Mink Engine have served an ace with the release of 'We Like the Hi Fi', complete
with some superb remixes from highly lauded producers Danielsan and Harris Robotis.
If any track from Mink Engine's album expresses their devotion to technology it's
'We Like the Hi Fi'. Combining their love for slap bass with their trademark brightness
and fun, 'We Like The Hi-Fi' might best be described as a percussive-metallic
track that maintains a strong musical element throughout. But you can call it
want you want, so long as the volume is turned up.
Danielsan's remix is
a stark reminder of just how cool cowbells really are. Aptly titled 'Diggy Dan's
Cowbell Assassinator Remix', if you think this is a mouthful - try saying it five
times fast with a mouth full of Dick Chicken! Otherwise known as one half of ARIA
Award winning duo Koolism, DJ/ producer Danielsan has given 'We Like the Hi Fi'
his own unique twist - complete with cowbell percussion and some heavy synths
which drive the tune to dark unchartered territory.
On the flipside, fellow
Melbournian Harris Robotis has injected some Grecian snare action to give the
track a completely different feel to the original, and this one is guaranteed
to get your feet shuffling. Having DJ'ed alongside greats such as Tiga, The Bloody
Beetroots, Digitalism, MSTRKRFT, The Rapture and many more, the demand for Harris
Robotis' unique remixes has skyrocketed in recent years with re-rubs commissioned
by the likes of Van She and Act Yo Age among others.
"Poised to deliver
genuine glee to the listener" 3d World
"A mix of dark, Presets-like
tribalism, with trashier, '80s electro edge, all coated in a shiny almost cartoon-like
veneer" Canberra Times
Ride neatly alongside MGMT, The Presets and
midnight juggernauts" BMA magazine
'More "now" than an iPhone
with and espresso-making app" People magazine
The moving parts of Mink
Engine have warmed up over the summer months and with the release of 'Acres of
Diamonds', the Minkers are getting ready to crank it up to high speed….
WATCH
THEIR VIDEOS:
Dick
Chicken
Superpad
We
Like The Hi-Fi
Mink
Engine TV
http://www.minkengine.com
/ http://www.myspace.com/minkengine
'Acres
of Diamonds' is available now.
