Sister Machine Gun

Sister Machine Gun might be the best industrial jazz band to have ever existed. Indeed, they might also have had the title of "only" industrial jazz band if not for Die Warzau's occasional dabbling. The two bands are closely linked. Van Christie and Jim Marcus of Die Warsau were instrumental in Chris Randall's first Sister Machine Gun demos for Wax Trax! Records in ~1990.

The band's first two albums, Sins of the Flesh and The Torture Technique, are primarily industrial efforts, but with more melodious qualities than is common to the genre.



The Torture Technique is a perfect product of the CD format; each track flows one to the next to create an entire experience that could not have been attained in the era of A-side/B-side records and cassettes, and is undervalued in today's playlist culture. Much of Sister Machine Gun's music is better enjoyed in album form, and perhaps it was this lack of "singles" that contributed to the band's eventual departure from Wax Trax! in 1997.

Albums subsequent to The Torture Technique contained more jazz influences. Sax solos crept into Burn (1995) and Randall's natural jazz vocals were highlighted in such tracks as "Temptation" off of Metropolis (1997) and "Closer to Me" from 1999's [R]evolution.



[R]evolution marked the band's first album on Positron! Records, a label founded by Chris Randall and his wife Lisa. In 1999, internet opportunities for independent musicians were in their infancy, but Positron! Records was willing to take chances, offering full sample mp3s, non-DRM albums for purchase, and Creative Commons licensing. Sister Machine Gun released two more full length albums as well as several interstitial EPs before disbanding in 2007. Randall has since released an album of straight-forward jazz/blues.

Sister Machine Gun's albums are available through Positron! Records, Amazon.com, or other online retailers.