Infernal Devices

Found this new remix to PGDM’s anti-social anthem Leave Me Alone. It’s a pretty catchy rework with plenty of pop-based synth scattered throughout. Even with the depressing theme this song is bumpin’. I love the feel good vibes throughout.

Infernal Devices are from Brooklyn, NY. Mark Allen and Andy Miccolis recently made some noise last summer with the release of a stellar mix to the Flashmen’s Little Wildcat. I included it below to sample if you haven’t heard it. The two have great rhythm and the potential to unleash some killer synth-based mixes in the future. Keep your head up. - Aerial Noise

New York lives and breathes dance music. Whether it’s disco, post-disco, electro, new rave, synth-pop or whatever other silly name you want to come up with, people in NYC like to dance. Brooklyn’s Infernal Devices wants to make you do just that, and they do it with a flourish that would make any New Yorker, or Brooklynite for that matter, proud.

“Brooklyn is where we live, eat, work, drink, dance… it’s a big influence because we’re surrounded by it all the time,” says Andy Miccolis, one half of the band. “I mean, I think probably be making somewhat similar music if we lived in Berlin or Paris or someplace, but it would be decidedly different. Everything shapes what we do – the bands we see live, the venues where we play, the DJs we go see, the tacos we eat.”

“Because there is such a massive artist community here in Brooklyn it creates an atmosphere of experimentation and creativity,” adds Mark Allen, Andy’s partner in crime. “We get to see a lot of our musical heroes perform when they tour through Brooklyn or NYC, and its a really inspiring to have that kind of access at your fingertips.”

Such inspiration comes through nicely in Infernal Devices music. Together the band creates a delightful mix of 80s-style synth-pop, something that could sit next to Depeche Mode or Junior Boys while still being amazing in it’s own right.

Asked what brought them together, Andy sums up his love for dance music in two words, “The beat! Who can resist a great dance floor rhythm? Also, synthesizers can make some AMAZING sounds,” says Andy

Thoughtful enough to think about both their music and their live show, Mark and Andy spent plenty of time thinking about how their ideas would come to life. “The first year as a band we kept things pretty low key. We spent most of our time at Andy’s apartment sketching out new songs and developing our sound,” says Mark. “Some of those initial ideas have become full fledged Infernal Devices songs, and some have been locked up in the sketch closet for safe keeping. We also spent a significant amount of time thinking about the visual aspect of our stage shows, which brought about the concept of the Phenomatron, our on-stage companion.”

Recently taking in a set by the band at Bruar Falls, the band, for lack of a better term, set the dance floor on fire. What started off as a few people getting loose turned into a full on dance party towards the end of their set. “Just being the two of us definitely makes us work harder on stage, but I think the payoff is greater when the audiences gives the energy back,” says Andy.

While the future looks bright for Infernal Devices, you’ll have to keep following the guys if you want to see what they’ll be up to. Upon being asked what the band would be doing in the future, Mark simply stated that, “you’ll just have to wait and see!” Fair enough.

Either way, this is a duo that’s making New York and will make dance music fans everywhere happy. Besides, who else can resist a good beat? - Blaqbook

Infernal Devices is an electro band duo form Brooklyn who will be releasing their Ep 'Lost in Sound' this October 1st. The band sound is a very New York, if you are a fan of Electro like I am you learn to distinguish electro from NYC, France, LA, etc. Their EP has an amazing selection of songs, all of them with that cool 80's synth sound that draws you attention (Blind Faith is my favorite). - Indiehere

If the upcoming EP, Lost in Sound, by Greenpoint’s electro-pop duo Infernal Devices is any indication, late 80s/early 90s inspired synth-pop is alive and well on the streets of Brooklyn.

Mark Allen and Andy Miccolis met online after finding a shared love of electronic dance music. The duo began to write and produce music together, completing remixes for such notables as Pretty Good Dance Moves (featuring Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn & John), Flashmen, and Proper Villains.

Their upcoming Lost in Sound EP will drop on October first, and features four original tracks along with the Passion Pit remix of “Fast Enough”. The material is well-written, well-produced synth-pop with sonic ties back to such synth iconoclasts as Ministry (early material off of the 12? singles EP, see “Everyday is Halloween”), Soft Cell, and Celebrate The Nun. While nodding to the past, however, Infernal Devices also have one foot in the present, and an eye toward the future, making well use of modern production technology to separate them, sonically, from their predecessors.

Upon listening, you’ll be greeted by multi-layered synthesizers rife with arpeggiations and filtering, lush syn-string pads, and wonderfully simplistic drum patterns which serve well in framing the breathy, moody vocal rather than overrunning it.

The beauty in this collection is in the delicate balance between the synth-pop production elements and the somewhat darker, more mysterious melody and vocal delivery.

This music is club-ready, and to that end Infernal Devices have seemingly put as much thought into their live show as their studio productions. Determined to bring their own brand of self-described “retro futurism” to the dance-floor, the duo aims to put on a spectacular live show which includes space-age lighting and stage props such as the “Phenomatron” which must be seen to be believed. - Boom Boom Chk

If the upcoming EP, Lost in Sound, by Greenpoint’s electro-pop duo Infernal Devices is any indication, late 80s/early 90s inspired synth-pop is alive and well on the streets of Brooklyn.

Mark Allen and Andy Miccolis met online after finding a shared love of electronic dance music. The duo began to write and produce music together, completing remixes for such notables as Pretty Good Dance Moves (featuring Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn & John), Flashmen, and Proper Villains.

Their upcoming Lost in Sound EP will drop on October first, and features four original tracks along with the Passion Pit remix of “Fast Enough”. The material is well-written, well-produced synth-pop with sonic ties back to such synth iconoclasts as Ministry (early material off of the 12? singles EP, see “Everyday is Halloween”), Soft Cell, and Celebrate The Nun. While nodding to the past, however, Infernal Devices also have one foot in the present, and an eye toward the future, making well use of modern production technology to separate them, sonically, from their predecessors.

Upon listening, you’ll be greeted by multi-layered synthesizers rife with arpeggiations and filtering, lush syn-string pads, and wonderfully simplistic drum patterns which serve well in framing the breathy, moody vocal rather than overrunning it.

The beauty in this collection is in the delicate balance between the synth-pop production elements and the somewhat darker, more mysterious melody and vocal delivery.

This music is club-ready, and to that end Infernal Devices have seemingly put as much thought into their live show as their studio productions. Determined to bring their own brand of self-described “retro futurism” to the dance-floor, the duo aims to put on a spectacular live show which includes space-age lighting and stage props such as the “Phenomatron” which must be seen to be believed. - Boom Boom Chk

This album is very appropriately titled. Polyrhythms stem from each tonal melody, creating allusions to your favorite video game in a fully-digitalized 1986. The classic bass pump pushes each song forward while every different synth sound acts as a color in a very vibrant, electric piece of art.

"Frozen, no matter how hard I try." Yes. Yes, indeed. Lost in Sound. Cannot compute. Must reboot/play it back again.

This is what robots would listen to. I wish I were an emotionless android, programmed only to dance. This would be my go-to.

Even if you are merely a simpleton human like myself, I'll bet you can't sit put while listening to this album. There's nothing to lose when you've found yourself lost, and this is a wonderful place to disappear to for a while. - Kyle Patrick/GroopEase

Who is in a dancing mood? I’m sure I speak for Ting Ting and myself when I say I can’t fucking wait any longer! I’m going insane. A few more hours and it’s on. Infernal Devices is making matters alot worse. The track “Fast Enough” has me dancing my ass off at my desk, in my rolling chair, at work. If you call yourself someone who likes to dances and this doesn’t make you move, please tell the person next to you to kick you in the dick/tit. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself!” By the way, we interviewed these guys. Keep your eyes peeled for their interview on blaqbook.TV coming this summer. Enjoy! - Blaqbook

Infernal Devices met online over a shared love for electronic dance music and began writing music together shortly thereafter. After a long discussion one night about the joys of 80’s sci-fi and dance music, it was decided that this band would be a unique visual experience and take on electropop.

Do you remember the feeling when you saw Star Wars for the first time? That feeling of wonder and excitement? That’s what they’re aiming for. With this in mind, they holed up in their studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, writing, recording and constructing a live show to bring retro-futurism to the post-disco dance floor, combining floor-pounding beats with melodic hooks.

With previous remixes being done for ‘Not Enough’ by Xylos, ‘Leave Me Alone’ by Pretty Good Dance Moves featuring Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn & John (released on Township Records), ‘Wildkat’ by Flashmen (released on Crushed Records), and ‘Sleepyhead’ by Passion Pit the band has literally been all over the map. Their latest remix is of Savoir Adore and you can check it out below. It's a gorgeous rework that brings to mind St. Etienne or something straight out of the Thompson Twins back catalog more than pill munching rave zombies and maybe that's why I like it quite a bit. - the POP! Stereo

NYC electro-pop duo Infernal Devices who I've posted about before here sent me another excellent remix! This time they remixed Savoir Adore's "Loveliest Creatures" into a disco tinged dance floor delight. Another solid remix from these up and comers. Keep up the good work Mark & Andy! You've made fans at Off the Radar.

P.S. The download from their soundcloud player below is in full wave length quality! Bonus points! - Off the Radar

One of the hot spots for new music the last few years has to belong to Brooklyn, NYC. I went there on vacation last year and I swear I never saw so many hipsters in a concentrated area. Tons of young, good looking artsy people. All looking like they were in an indie band and dressed to kill, kinda surreal. Must be pretty inspiring to live in a place like that with so much creativity all around. Anyways I got another new act for you from there. This time in the form of electro-pop duo Infernal Devices. They are getting ready to release their EP Lost in Sound Oct 1st. They sent over the first single from the EP "Fast Enough" as well as a remix they did for Xylos track "Not Enough" and I am digging them both! Dark, catchy, synthy goodness. - Off the Radar

if you look up the word infernal in the mirriam-webster dictionary, you'll find two entries. one is for the adjective infernal, and one is for the noun infernal machine.

in·fer·nal ma·chine noun \in-'f?r-n?l m?-'shen\ : a machine or apparatus maliciously designed to explode and destroy life or property; especially : a concealed or disguised bomb

it's possible that brooklyn electropop duo chose the name infernal devices after reading such an entry. their machine, or device, is music, and their sound is about to explode.

andy miccolis and mark allen met online and bonded over electronica, dance music, and '80s sci-fi. before long, the two were writing and producing music and issued remixes for the likes of passion pit, flashmen, and peter, bjorn and john. now infernal devices are unleashing their debut EP lost in sound on october 1. the first single, "fast enough," will have you dancing a long in no time. it's retro-disco-hipster-fabulousness. - The Pop Sucker

Little Wildkat, being built around the classic 80’s synth sounds, really bring the retro-futuristic sound to a maximum. But a good song never travels alone. Along with the original track, Flashmen got four other bands to remix the beauty into quite different versions. The highlight among these remixes ought to be the one by The Phantom’s Revenge, bringing the forever awesome french sound to everything they touch. The heavy bass kicking in after half the track is to die for!

But then I listened the Infernal Devices remix and get’s struck by what could be perfection. Funky synths with steampunk luster, what more could you ask for? - Dödselectro

Besides the original, they have 4 remixes, all of which put a different spin on the track. The Infernal Devices Remix brings with it a dreamwave type feel that is perfect to listen to when you want to relax, while The Phantom’s Revenges brings in some of that french electro house we have come to love. The remix by Mr. Vega is a “made for the club” production that will need rave sticks and X poppin’ kiddies to fully enjoy. And last, but not least there is the remix by brooklynite Jemex who has chopped up the vocals and made a more electro-pop version of the track. All good in my opinion - Boom Boom Chk

Featuring the original version and four completely different remixes, the single's best moment of treatment might be from Infernal Devices, a duo who hail from New York and compose retro futurism in the same vein as Bradley D and Daniel E, though minus the "Miami Vice" and upping the William Gibson send-ups. Versions from The Phantom's Revenge and good ol' boys Jemex and Mr Vega aren't exactly missteps at all, it's just the Infernal version is just something epic to behold a bit more.
- Culture of Me

A few posts back, I said that eventually I would post about a band from the US. Not that it matters where you’re from, but most of the bands I’ve been posting about are European and there’s a whole world of music out there. So here is Infernal Devices from Brooklyn.


Infernal Devices
According to the band’s official Web site, their name comes from the 80s steampunk novel Infernal Devices. Very synth, very pop, and some of their tunes remind me of 80s band OMD as well as Gary Numan. Some of the synth sounds even cross over into the realm of bands like The Cars. I came across Infernal Devices on the blog The Boy With The Thorn In His Side. It seems that as of late, blogs have become my new hunting grounds for new sounds. I haven’t yet found a video for Infernal Devices, but there are plenty of great tunes on the band’s official web site and their myspace page, check ‘em out! - The Sound

From the pipes and production minds of Mark Allen and Andy Miccolis comes Infernal Devices, a duo calling-upon facets of Dance and Synthpop to get you movin'. Chock-full of commendable lyrics and stirring melodies, you will find yourself immersed in them.

Keeping with the times the band is giving away one of their newest tracks, "Passengers". It's an upbeat four-to-the-floor jammer reminiscent of Yazoo's earlier days - Antler Darts Blog

It’s a good time to live in the Brooklyn area these days. A wealth of talent just seems to be springing up from every crack in the pavement from Bushwick to Red Hook to ’round the corner from the Kellogg’s Diner in my dear Williamsburg. There just seems to be a new solid local band doing their thing and better than most that have come down the pike. This is especially true in the electro genre. The rest of New York City better step its game up because right now BK is the spot thanks in no small part to bands like Infernal Devices.

This Brooklyn duo writes ab fab electronic pop ditties that are both danceable and head-boppers. Theirs is a sound that is rooted in 80s electro but is also bursting at the seams with classic songwriting sensibility. The song featured here called Fast Enough illustrates their sound to a T. Put this bad boy on in dimly lit room or dance floor, close your eyes and let your body sway. Almost as if it were the result of a mix of Technique-era New Order and Kavinsky fronted by Jeremy Greenspan of the Junior Boys, Fast Enough has already found itself burrowing a hole in my head for the next month. Not like it’s a bad thing, mind you.

If you find yourself loving this song as much as I do, It needn’t be said that I had better see you at their next gig which is next Wednesday the 21st at Union Pool in Williamsburg as the Devices play the CMJ Music Festival. Word. - Boy With The Thorn in His Side

"extremely sexy music that deserves to have Victoria's Secret models strutting their silk tooshies right by our unhooked jaws." - In Your Speakers

This is the second band from Brooklyn based Mark Allen. This band, as opposed to Fugitive Souls, is much more music oriented. The music makes up for the less prominent melodies by creating highly differentiated beats and funky rhythms throughout. I personally like this band more so than Fugitive Souls because I find the music itself to be more interesting to listen to. In fact, when listening to Infernal Devices I couldn’t help but think of filmmaker Wes Anderson (The Life Aquatic); This music would be PERFECT in one of his films. - Jonathan Ostrow

Infernal Devices = shiny steampunk sheen/silky smooth pads/funky synth solo

Link:
http://www.sheenabeaston.com/2009/08/flashmen-little-wildkat-infernal.html - Sheena Beaston

Radio Play and Profile Listing:

http://www.thealternateside.org/bands/infernal-devices/?l=63&s=0 - WFUV Radio

Link:
http://hypem.com/track/881435/Flashmen+-+Little+Wildkat+Infernal+Devices+Remix+ - Hype Machine Blog