People love to make comparisons between bands, drawing parallels in order to try and better create relatable links to describe a musician’s sound. It isn’t a bad way of going about discussing a band’s music, but it is important to note whether the result is something new or just a re-hash of various influences. San Diego three piece Machines Learning are often compared to 90’s grunge/shoegaze bands in the vein of My Bloody Valentine, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Sonic Youth. However, with their debut self-titled LP released June 10th of this year, Machines Learning, the band offers a refreshing and totally enticing twist on the classic formula. Articulate and sludgy in equal measure, the tracks are crafted with care and balance the low end with singer/guitarist Paul Balmer’s softer vocals with precision. Read below as I talk to Balmer about the new album, the benefits of existing as a three-piece, and a few facts people may not already know about Machines Learning.
Firstly, congratulations on Machines Learning. How did the writing and ideas for the record come about?
Thanks!! The idea for the record initially came from people asking us for vinyl. We had 3 songs already recorded so we looked into doing a 7″, but when we looked at the cost difference between the 7″ and the 12″ it seemed to make more sense to just do a 12″. Since we were repackaging some of the songs, we wanted to make sure that we gave the listener something different so I had Mario Quintero (drums) remix the previously released songs and we ended up with a much clearer, richer mix. One of the biggest differences is in the vocals. This is the 1st time I’ve ever sang in band so the vocals are really tucked back in the old mixes. I’m a little more confident in the vocals after singing live, so there was a conscious decision to bring up the vocals on the new mixes. We love the way The Life and Times and Shiner records sounded, so got Jason Livermore from Blasting Room Studios to master it. It was a tedious process, but I’m so glad we took the time to do it. After not listening to the record for a while, when I put it on now it makes me really happy to hear how good it sounds, to me sounds like a big warm fuzzy sweater for your ears. The order of the songs is really important to us as well, it’s essentially the way we play the set live and they’re meant to be played in order to create the full album experience.
Thematically, are there any threads which run through the album?
There isn’t an intentional theme, most of the lyrics are about something specific that I’ve experienced, but I try to write them in abstract way so that you can interpret them and make them your own. The words are very important to me, so I try to choose them wisely. 
The cover art for the record is interesting, reminding me of At The Drive In’s Relationship Of Command. What’s the idea behind it?
The cover art was something that our friend Studebaker Jones had already created that Brad Botbyl (bass) had seen and thought that this would make a great album cover. If you look closely, the giraffe is actually made of motorcycle parts. We really liked the idea of a machine being manipulated to make another machine. The robot on the back was a design that my friend Elena Grossman had done for us that we had previously used on a T-Shirt and Sticker. We’re very lucky to have some very talented friends
When writing new music, what’s the process? Is there one of you who brings the music to the table?
We’re kind of a spontaneous studio band in that I when I’ve finished writing a complete song on guitar, Mario and I set up some studio time and we’ll record a scratch track of just guitars. Usually this is the 1st time that Mario has heard the song, so he’ll listen to it and go jump on the drums and get those done in a few hours. After that we record proper guitar tracks. I’ll take the tracks home and write lyrics and melodies and we’ll set up another day in the studio and bring in Brad to do the bass and I’ll do the vocals. Mario will then mix it and we’re done. After doing 12 songs like this, we’ve sort of got our process down to a science. I don’t think we spent longer than 2 days recording any of the songs, we really try not to over think things and focus just on what the songs need.
You guys have drawn comparisons to 90’s rock bands such as The Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth. How do you feel about such parallels being made?
My son’s name is Thurston if that gives you any indication! Sonic Youth is one of my all time favorite bands and I’ve definitely worn out my copy of Siamese Dream. We grew up with that ‘sound’ so I’m sure it comes out in our songs. Autolux and Failure are also huge influences on me which I think get interpreted though our songs.
Any bands you guys are listening to at the moment which people should be checking out?
There’s a great band called Anakin if you like Failure or The Rentals. Sidewave is another band that I’ve been into, they’ve kind of got that Shiner-esque quality that I really like. There’s a band out of Connecticut called Ovlov that I’ve recently discovered that’s cool, they’ve got a real Dinosaur Jr. thing going on. I also LOVE the new Helms Alee record.
The inception of Machines Learning is quite interesting, with each of you playing in various bands previously. Could you tell me a bit about that?
I’ve been playing music with Brad for the better part of 7 years. We had been in 2 bands that had dissolved when I started playing with Immovable Objects. The incarnation of I/O I was playing with was doing a post-rock thing and needed a 3rd guitar player, so I recommended Brad and he was a perfect fit. We practiced and recorded at Black Box Rehearsal and Recording Studios, which is how I met Mario because he owned and operated it. My wife was pregnant with my son while we recording the Immovable Objects record with Mario, so I booked some time with him to record some ideas I had since I figured I’d be pretty busy once the baby was born. The 1st song we did was “Bulletproof Tiger” and Mario offered to play drums. I knew he was amazing guitar player, but I never heard him play drums, so I didn’t know what to expect and once he started playing I was shocked and excited, I had no idea he could shred like that! Brad came in and did the bass and I did the vocals and machines learning was born. It was such an easy, fun and comfortable process I kept booking more time and before you know it we had our 1st EP Pedragon’s Lullaby done. I had no intention of even playing shows at 1st, never mind putting out records, so I feel really lucky to be where we are at this point.
The amount of dynamics and sounds you guys pack into a track is impressive for a three–piece. What are the benefits do you feel to existing as three members?
WE LOVE PEDALS!! I have a particular soft spot for fuzz pedals especially. As I said, Brad and I have been playing together for a long time, so our tone is no accident. We’re very very particular about our gear and our sound we’ve spent countless hours dialing that tone in. Having Mario’s ears in the band has been a tremendous advantage to us as well. Since he’s a recording engineer and does live sound, he’s very concerned about the dynamics of the band. Most of the songs are written with that ‘wall of sound’ in mind and as a three piece everything has it’s place and also has room to breath. I like bands that have more members, but for us the ‘less is more’ approach really works in terms of what we’re trying to accomplish. We’re not fighting each other for that sonic space, so the idea is fill that space until it overflows.
In terms of live shows, what are the aims and what can people expect from a Machines Learning gig?
When we play live we really want people to enjoy the experience and have good time, but you should expect it to be LOUD. We don’t have a lot of dead space between songs, we use segues and the strategic placement of space to present the dynamic that we’re trying to express.
When your not playing with Machines Learning what do you guys do? Any other interests?
Brad and I both have families, so most of our free time is focused on family. We’re also avid craft beer enthusiasts. Mario recently moved to Brooklyn, New York and has a new band called Spotlights.
If you could pick two bands to share a stage with, defunct or still going, who would you go for?
I would say I’d love to play with The Velvet Underground and Sonic Youth on the same bill, that would be fun!
Any particularly memorable live shows you guys have attended, which will remain in your memory?
I just saw the Failure reunion which was AMAZING, just a great great show. I also just saw King Buzzo do his acoustic show, his voice was just overwhelming (in a good way) against the acoustic. It was one of the most powerful performances I’ve ever witnessed.
What are three facts about Machines Learning people may not know?
The band was going to be called ‘bulletproof tiger’ and the song was going to called ‘machines learning’ until I discovered that ‘bulletproof tiger’ was already a band.
Brad and Mario are both better guitar players than I am.
One of us is a wizard.
Finally, what can we expect from Machines Learning over the coming months?
Anthony Robert Dixon aka “Tony” has been playing drums live with us over the past year since Mario moved. He was the drummer in the band Mario played guitar in, Sleep Lady. So we’ve been demoing some new songs in our rehearsal space with him and they’re sounding really good. We’ll probably start recording in the fall and then tour in the spring.