Having played across Europe, Asia and all the big Aussie festivals including Parklife and Good Vibrations, if you haven’t heard of Melbourne electro-pop sensation - Mink Engine - then it's time to get with the program people! Now gearing up for the release of their second artist album ‘Acres of Diamonds’ mixed by local producer Lindsay Gravina (The Living End, Thirsty Merc, Magic Dirt) of Birdland Studios Melbourne, Mink Engine are a musical force to be reckoned with.
Mink Engine is the creative duo comprising Askii (Adam Milburn) and Touch Me Tiger (Holly-Anne Buck). Together they are innovative and boundary pushing multi-media collaboration that produce outstanding electro-pop tunes as well as videos, narrative, websites, animation and characters. Askii’s professional background is in film soundtrack and concept albums and Touch Me Tiger’s background in fine art; combined, the duo are a powerful force creating television commercials (they recently created one for the State Library of Victoria), original art and websites. With their expertise in high demand, they set up Chez Mink Studio, the birthplace of their album ‘Acres Of Diamonds’.
Mink Engine first erupted onto the Asian dance music scene in 2002, and instantaneously began headlining shows at infamous venues like Tokyo’s fashionista clubs ‘Vanity’ and ‘Orbit’ as well as Shanghai’s ‘Glamour Bar’ for their 10th Birthday in. In Japan, they soon became known as the ‘Broken Glass Dancefloor Project’ where overexcited fans smashed countless champagne glasses to their music. Their international success spread to Europe after the release of their ‘Gastronomical’ EP. This tour saw them perform their high energy shows from London where they performed at Nag Nag Nag to Berlin for Fusion Festival.
On stage, Mink Engine delivers an audiovisual performance encompassing eccentricity and flair in all aspects. Askii is on vocals and synths, Touch Me Tiger is on vocals and works her image projecting keytar while DJ Safari (Gazpacho, Sorry Grandma) mixes the beats. Imagine a stage full of giant bananas, drag queens and monkeys playing air guitar while electro pop tunes thunder out of the amps to captive and elated crowds - this colourful and vibrant performance is a standard Mink Engine live show.
With their trademark dance beats, 80s style synth, a futuristic undertone, and the captivating voices of both Askii and Touch Me Tiger, the album is sure to capture the imagination of music enthusiasts far and wide. Having already proven themselves at sweaty mosh pits of festivals as well as at the local bar, Mink Engine is challenging the traditional methods of release, with the album ‘Acres of Diamonds’ being delivered entirely digitally.
The first single from the release will be a double A-side featuring the tracks ‘Superpad’ and ‘Dick Chicken’. Dick Chicken is the tale of an empowered, escapee piece of fried chicken who rises to the top against the odds, and turns the tables on the chicken-munching public. Because the video is M rated, Mink Engine have decided to release a second track and video with it, Superpad. Superpad is the story of a classic dance battle. With some fantastic choreography and a fairytale ending – there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Together this release makes the perfect party megamix for 2010!
The moving parts of Mink Engine are just warming up, in time for Aussie summer and with the release of ‘Acres of Diamonds’ will be getting ready to crank it up to high speed…
