Drum Machines Can't Dance

Drum Machines Can't Dance
Origin	Scotland
Genres	Ambient/Indie
Years active	2009 -
Labels	DMCD Recordings
Members	Obi Don - everything

Drum Machines Can't Dance was created by the Drummer from Edinburgh Indie Band 'Subbuteo Pitch Invasion', Don Urquhart (from here on referred to as Obi Don), after the live performances from SPI started to die down. The initial idea was to see if it was possible to produce one album with bedroom recording equipment. Strapped for cash; this initial set up was basic, but the results were surprisingly good.

Obi Don describes the first set up as:

My first set up was a cheap midi keyboard, Leighton's Honer headless, body less guitar.. all routed in through line-in on a soundblaster sound card. I struggled by on this for years.. along with a pentium 1 comp.. this proved difficult to work with as the CPU would max out if I put more than three effects to an instrument, it helped my Sound Engineering skills (of which I started with zero) as I had to invent more workarounds to combat the CPU issue.

Obi Don has upgraded his studio over the years and describes the current set up as:

My current hardware set up is.. the same Midi keyboard (you don't need an expensive one as the computer controls the sound), Gary's original Procrastination Bass guitar - complete with Svens Adult Band sticker. Tanglewood Memphis Electric/acoustic Guitar, Epiphone AJ-220SCE Acoustic/Electric Guitar, Ibanez M510E-BS Acoustic Electric Mandolin, a mid range Condenser Microphone, a PZM microphone, all mixed through a Behringer Q1202USB, Which is re-routed back so it doubles up as my sound card. and an ACER I5 Desktop Computer. It didn't cost a million bucks to set up but the sound quality from this wee studio is comparative to one that did, it's not worth 500,000 squid just to remove some easily dealt with hisses and minor latency issues.

Obi Don records and produces the music using Live Instrument and Abeleton Live 8, Soundforge 9 and Reason as a Drum Machine/Piano.

Live Performances

Obi Don has only performed once under the name of Drum Machines Can't Dance (although several times as a drummer for various bands). The gig was at the start of the UK Covid-19 Lockdown on March 27th 2020. This set however was an acoustic arrangement on guitar of Obi Don's favourite songs and not Original material. The performance was broadcast on Facebook to an audience of around 30 with 10 - 14 people on line at any one time. Obi Don is hoping to one day find a way to perform his original Drum Machines Can't Dance music to a live audience.

Members

• Obi Don - Everything

Discography

Albums

• Pause Rewind
• In Context Coincidences
• The Last T.O.C.T.A. Agent

Singles

• Tune Raider
• Tempo Control
• Prima Acies
• Farside
• Drip Drip

Videos

• Drum Machines Can't Dance on YouTube

References

Drum Machines Can't Dance website Drum Machines Can't Dance on spotiify