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All Music Guide:
Influenced by early-'80s British acts such as Depeche Mode and Human League, Elegant Machinery are a Swedish synth pop trio that experienced moderate success during the 1990s before breaking up late in the decade and reuniting a decade later as a cult act. Founded in 1988, the trio is comprised of Robert Enforsen (vocals), Richard Jomshof (synthesizer), and Leslie Bayne (synthesizer, drums). They made their recording debut in 1990 on the Electronic Beat Association label with the 7" single Safety in Mind. Subsequently signed to the Swedish label Energy Rekords, Elegant Machinery released their full-length album debut, Degraded Faces (1991), which featured the single "Process," a surprise hit in Spain, where the trio was signed to Kong Records. Two more albums followed (Shattered Grounds, 1993; Yesterday Man, 1996), along with several more singles ("Hard to Handle," "Repressive Thoughts," "Watching You," "Myself with You," "Words of Wisdom"), before Elegant Machinery broke up after the release of the best-of compilation A Decade of Thoughts (1998). The trio reunited in 2005 and played a series of concerts in Latin America and Europe. A recording contract with the German label Out of Line Music resulted, and the newly recorded single "Feel the Silence" marked the return of Elegant Machinery in 2008, with a full-length album forthcoming.
Wikipedia:
Elegant Machinery is a Swedish synthpop band. Borrowing heavily from the likes of Depeche Mode, they are one of few recent bands dedicated to making traditional synthpop music. Along with such bands as Page, S.P.O.C.K, Sista Mannen På Jorden and Kiethevez they define the sound of the Swedish synthpop movement.
Heavily influenced by acts like Yazoo, The Human League, Depeche Mode, Rational Youth and Robert Marlow, Richard Jomshof and Leslie Bayne started the band in 1988 under the name Pole Position.
Robert Enforsen joined the band as lead vocalist in 1989, and the band released their first demo, at which point they changed their name to Elegant Machinery, a name derived from the album by DATA, a British synthpop group of the 1980s led by Norwegian Georg Kajanus.
Due to Leslie Bayne's stagefright, Johan Malmgren joined the band as a tour musician in 1992. He later became a permanent member.
The band was very successful in Sweden, with a number of successful singles and various awards. In the rest of Europe, their biggest break into the mainstream was with the single Process, which reached number 5 in the Spanish charts.
Breakup, reunion and breakup
Elegant Machinery disbanded in 1999.
In 2001, the band temporarily reunited (with Johan temporarily replaced by Jarmo Ollila of Daily Planet) for their first-ever American appearance, followed by a performance in Mexico. Over the next few years, the band performed a number of times in Europe.
In October 2004, after a successful gig at Romo Night in Gothenburg, the band decided to work on new music. Johan, Richard, and Robert have been joined by original member Leslie Bayne.
In November 2007, it was announced that the band had signed with German label Out of Line. A new single "Feel the Silence" was released in January. The current line-up consists of Robert Enforsen, Richard Jomshof and Leslie Bayne.
In early April 2011, there were rumours that the band had split once again. This was later confirmed by the groups management. Jomshof denied the rumours that the split had anything to do with his political career for Sverigedemokraterna, and cited other personal differences as reasons for the breakup.
Side projects
During the band's hiatus, Robert Enforsen worked on a number of side projects, including Enforce, Hype, Gobble & Gag, and Red Light District. Meanwhile, Johan Malmgren joined the Swedish band S.P.O.C.K as a keyboardist, programmer and composer. Johan and Robert also produced the debut album "Lost in a Maze" of the Swedish-British band Univaque in 2004.
