{{Short description|Musical group}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = B! Machine | image = | caption = Photo-Op, 2002 | image_size = | alias = | origin = United States | genre = Synthpop, new wave | years_active = 1996–present | label = Wishduck, A Different Drum | website = | current_members = Nathaniel Nicoll | past_members = }}
'''B! Machine''' is a synthpop band from San Francisco, California.
The band was formed in 1996, consisting of the sole founding member, writer and musician, Nathaniel Leigh Nicoll. The current line-up of the band varies, but typically consists of Nathaniel Nicoll, Mike Hayden, and James Wong. The meaning behind the name B! Machine has been veiled behind cryptic remarks since its inception.
==History== Nicoll formed '''Doctors With Knives''' with Mike Hayden after the singer for a prior band "left unexpectedly." After a number of limited releases, Nicoll released ''Dorlotez-vous'' on cassette tape under the name Halflife before forming B! Machine.
==1996–2000== B! Machine's first project, ''Must Kill'', was recorded in 1996–97. This debut, however, was shelved and left uncirculated until after the release of B! Machine's second full-length project ''Aftermath'', which was distributed by A Different Drum in 1998. Following on the heels of Aftermath, B! Machine signed with A Different Drum. In 1999, they released the full-length CD ''Infinity Plus'' which featured production by Jarkko Touhimaa of Neuroactive. ''Infinity Plus'', which spawned the singles "Temple" and "Opal", was well received, with the album peaking at #25 and the "Opal" CD5 peaking at #26 on the CMJ RPM Charts in the U.S.<ref name="cmj-02-00">{{cite journal |last1=Comer |first1=M. Tye |title=RPM |journal=CMJ New Music Report |date=28 February 2000 |volume=61 |issue=655 |page=27 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/2000/CMJ-2000-02-28.pdf |access-date=13 January 2022 |publisher=College Media, Inc. |location=Great Neck, NY |issn=0890-0795}}</ref><ref name="cmj-10-00">{{cite journal |last1=Comer |first1=M. Tye |title=RPM |journal=CMJ New Music Report |date=2 October 2000 |volume=64 |issue=685 |page=27 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/2000/CMJ-2000-10-02.pdf |access-date=25 January 2022 |publisher=College Media, Inc. |location=New York, NY |issn=0890-0795}}</ref>
==2001–2009== In the 2000s, B! Machine released three full studio albums: ''Hybrid'', ''The Evening Bell'', and ''Falling Star''. A special 4-disc box set of ''Falling Star'' was also released. A collection of alternate versions of previous songs was released as ''Alternates and Remixes''. In addition, a 6-disc anthology of B! Machine songs was released as ''The Machine Box''.
==2021–2022== In March 2021, the B! Machine website came back online at a new domain name, announcing a forthcoming full-length album entitled ''Snake Charm Girl'' would drop in the spring of 2022. "Half The Time", the first digital-only single celebrating the album, was released March 22, 2022 on Bandcamp. Snake Charm Girl was released digitally on August 5, 2022, through Bandcamp with a limited edition double CD available from Poponaut.
==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''Aftermath'' (1998) * ''Infinity Plus'' (1999) * ''Hybrid'' (2001) * ''Alternates And Remixes'' (2002) * ''Machine Box'' (2002) * ''Machine Box (Disc Six - Bonus Disc)'' (2004) * ''The Evening Bell'' (2004) * ''The Evening Bell (Limited Edition 4-Disc Set)'' (2005) * ''The Falling Star'' (2007) * ''Snake Charm Girl'' (2022)
===Singles=== * ''Temple'' (1999) * ''Opal'' (2000) * ''Opal (Limited 2 CD Edition)'' (2000) * ''Umbrella'' (2001) * ''Angels'' (2004) * ''Forget'' (2005) * ''The Other Girl'' (2009) * ''A Certain Sadness'' (February, 2010) * ''Half The Time'' (2022)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.b-machine.com}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051129121839/http://houstonpress.com/Issues/2005-07-21/calendar/seen.html Houston Press Interview/Tour Review] * [http://www.discogs.com/artist/B!+Machine B! Machine at Discogs] * [http://www.last.fm/music/B!+Machine B! Machine at Last.fm]
{{Authority control}}
Category:American synth-pop groups Category:Musical groups from San Francisco Category:American new wave musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1996 Category:1996 establishments in California