Machinations
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 in Sydney, Australia |
| Defunct | 1989 (initial breakup) |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunited 1997 and 2012 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Machinations is a synth-pop group originating from Australia, established in 1980. They achieved a top 20 position on the Kent Music Report albums chart with their 1985 release Big Music. Their singles "Pressure Sway", "No Say in It", "My Heart's on Fire", and "Do to You" all entered the top 30. The band dissolved by 1989, briefly came together again in 1997, and reassembled in 2012.
1980–1982: Initial EP
Formed in Sydney in 1980, Machinations consisted of Tim Doyle on guitar, Fred Loneragan as lead vocalist, and Tony Starr handling keyboards, vocals, and drum machine duties. Doyle and Starr had begun creating songs using electronic equipment in late 1979, with Loneragan joining shortly after. Their first live performance took place at Garibaldi's in Darlinghurst. Soon after, bassist Nero (Nick) Swan became part of the lineup.
Supported by radio station Triple J, they recorded material at Trafalgar Studios late in 1980 for a new music television program. In November that year, they worked with producer Lobby Loyde in the studio. Their debut single, "Average Inadequacy", was released on 26 August 1981, followed by a self-titled four-track EP on 20 November; both were issued through the independent label Phantom Records. Managed by SCAM (Suss City Artist Management), operated by Sally Collins and Loyde—who also managed groups such as The Triffids and The Sunnyboys—the band attracted industry notice. The single "Average Inadequacy" led to a contract with Mushroom Records' White Records imprint, which re-released the track with a new B-side titled "Machinations of Dance" in March 1982.
1983–1984: Esteem and Big Music
In January 1983, Machinations released "Jack," followed by "Pressure Sway" in April; the latter reached No. 21 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart. Shelley Dempsey from The Canberra Times regarded it as the band's standout work. In the United States, it climbed to No. 40 on the Billboard Club Play Singles chart.
Their first album, Esteem, was launched in April 1983 and peaked at No. 54 on the Kent Music Report albums list. Produced by Russell Dunlop, it was praised by Woroni for delivering "precisely timed intelligent pop music." The October 1983 single "Jumping the Gap" showcased lead vocalist Loneragan’s powerful singing. Henry Downes contributed live percussion and designed the single’s artwork.
Following an Australian tour supporting Joe Jackson, Machinations incorporated Warren McLean as their drummer, replacing their prior reliance on a Roland CR-78 drum machine. The band recorded their sophomore album, Big Music, at Rhinoceros Studios with producer Julian Mendelsohn. Australian music historian Ian McFarlane described it as their "most polished and fully developed album." Released in June 1985, it reached No. 20 on the charts.
Big Music produced three singles that charted. The lead single "No Say in It" (August 1984) became their highest-ranking song, peaking at No. 14. The band expressed appreciation for Mendelsohn's production work and postponed completing the album until he was available. Following singles "My Heart's On Fire" (May 1985) and "You Got Me Going Again" (August) attained No. 27 and No. 39 respectively. The fourth single "Execution of Love" (December) did not enter the charts. Naomi Star provided backing vocals on most tracks, with Inez Lawson and Anne Redmond featured specifically on "No Say in It."
1985–1989: The Big Beat, Uptown and breakup
On 13 July 1985, Machinations showcased the tracks "Pressure Sway", "My Heart's On Fire", and "No Say in It" during the Oz for Africa concert, which was part of the worldwide Live Aid initiative. This event was televised across Australia on both the Seven Network and Nine Network, as well as on MTV in the United States. Throughout the mid-1980s, the band cultivated a dedicated fanbase within dance clubs. Andrew Ferrington of The Canberra Times acclaimed their album Big Music as one of Australia's finest dance records, noting its compelling rhythm, richness, and vocal arrangements.
In May 1986, White Label issued The Big Beat, a compilation featuring dance remixes that reached number 83 on the albums chart. That same year, drummer Warren McLean departed to join Melbourne's funk-pop ensemble I'm Talking, with Henri Downes initially stepping in before John MacKay (formerly of Sea Monsters) took over in early 1987. The band then collaborated with American producer Andy Wallace, recognized for his work with Prince and Run DMC, to record their next album.
Their third studio release, Uptown, came out in October 1988, climbing to number 50 on the ARIA Charts and yielding four singles over a span of eighteen months. The lead single "Do to You" achieved a peak position of number 15; subsequent singles included "Intimacy" at number 40, "Do It to Me" at number 69, while "Cars and Planes" failed to enter the charts.
Machinations maintained a strong presence on the Australian live music scene until April 1989 when lead vocalist Fred Loneragan was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident. Although the band initially intended to continue following his recovery period, they eventually dissolved as members pursued opportunities with other local acts. Nick Swan toured with James Freud’s group, and John MacKay joined Absent Friends.
1990–present: Aftermath and reunions
In 1997, Machinations reunited featuring Loneragan for live performances with aspirations for new recordings; however, no fresh material was produced.
September 2006 saw US-based Almacantar Records re-release their original 1981 EP, supplementing it with an additional track titled "Average Inadequacy".
The band regrouped once more in February 2012 for two shows at The Bridge Hotel in Rozelle and have since made occasional appearances.
In 2020, founding member Tony Starr was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. He passed away on May 4, 2022.
Members
- Tim Doyle – guitar (1980–present)
- Tony Starr – keyboards (1980–2022; deceased 2022)
- Fred Loneragan – vocals (1980–present)
- Nick (Nero) Swan – bass guitar (1981–2024)
- John Mackay – drums (1987–2016)
Former members
- Henri Downes – percussion (1982–83)
- Warren McLean – drums (1983–1986; deceased 2021)
Touring/session vocalists
- Naomi Starr, Toni Mott, Inez Lawson, Jenny Andrews, Ricardo
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | NZ | US CMJ Club | |||
| Esteem |
|
54 | — | 22 |
|
| Big Music |
|
20 | 36 | — | |
| Uptown |
|
50 | — | — | |
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Machinations |
|
Remix albums
| Title | Album details | Chart peak position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| The Big Beat |
|
83 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | US Dance | |||
| 1981 | "Average Inadequacy" | 98 | — | Non-album single |
| 1983 | "Jack" | — | — | Esteem |
| "Pressure Sway" | 21 | 40 | ||
| "Jumping the Gap" | 59 | — | Non-album single | |
| 1984 | "No Say in It" | 14 | — | Big Music |
| 1985 | "My Heart's on Fire" | 27 | — | |
| "You Got Me Going Again" | 39 | — | ||
| "Execution of Love" | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "Do to You" | 15 | — | Uptown |
| 1988 | "Intimacy" | 40 | — | |
| "Do It to Me" | 69 | |||
Countdown Australian Music Awards
Countdown was an Australian pop music television program aired on ABC-TV from 1974 until its conclusion in 1987. Between the years of 1979 and 1987, it hosted music awards determined through a combination of popular vote and industry peer voting.
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
|}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
References
- General
- Note: The archived online version offers limited features.
- Specific
External links
- 1980 establishments in Australia
- 1989 disestablishments in Australia
- Musical groups from Sydney
- Australian pop music groups
- Australian synth-pop groups
- Australian new wave musical groups
- Musical groups established in 1980
- Musical groups disbanded in 1989
- Musical groups reunited in 2012
- Mushroom Records artists
- Musical groups disestablished in 1989