Music: Immaculate sounds in the city
Sarah Caufield, Arts editor

With the word "immaculate" in their name, a band might worry that they might not live up to such greatness. But the group Immaculate Machine, a trio hailing from Victoria, takes themselves just seriously enough to enjoy themselves and to have a good time. Brooke Gallupe, Kathryn Calder, and Luke Kozlowski were friends before they formed the band, and it shows. Their latest album, Transporter, was released on May 1, and the group is eager to tour with their new songs.

Their sound is best defined as indie-pop. Their songs vary from slower, melodic tunes to upbeat songs that demand serious dance movements, though you may hear more of the latter music at their live shows.

"It's great to see the hipsters messing up their carefully coiffed hair," Gallupe said.

The band has no lead singer or bassist, and they are more than content to have it that way.

"A reviewer recently said that the duets between Kathryn and me are the real essence of what we're like," Gallupe said, "but it's more like Black Francis and Kim Deal than Sonny and Cher."

In fact, Gallupe suddenly realised, the band does seem to change its sources of inspiration according to the solar cycles.

"We're a sunshine band! And moreover, Kathryn's initials are KC ...[& The Sunshine Band]."

Clearly, Immaculate Machine has no trouble with taking themselves too seriously either. Their lyrics often have a social or political bent to them. But, as Calder said, the band is political in the same sense that Dr. Seuss is political.

Although the band has been performing and touring for the past two years, they have chosen to stay in Victoria. As Gallupe pointed out, Victoria is too small of a city to make it big, so "there's no pressure." That said, the band will be making its big move when they relocate to Toronto for the summer.

But, even if Immaculate Machine is about to run off to the giant land of concrete and too much smog, it would be difficult for the band to lose the sense of joy and fun that comes through in even the most serious of their songs.

Immaculate Machne will be performing in Vancouver this Tuesday, May 5, at the Railway Club with Jim Guthrie and Kids These Days, before heading off on their second (and more comprehensive) Canadian tour. Now may be your last chance to see them before they become jaded by the big city! But a night's worth of dancing will do you good.

http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/2004-2/issue1/ar-immac.html