"Obviously, we've done a radical revamp of it," says Scott Benzel, who is now the lone member in the Machines. "It doesn’t sound like a Beach Boys song."

The Machines are currently mixing tracks in Tucson, Ariz. with Jim Waters (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) for their as-yet-untitled album, the band's first since 1995's Gilt.

In addition to Waters, the Machines are also mixing tracks in Los Angeles with Ben Grosse (Filter) and San Francisco with Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto). Dangers and Waters are co-producing the record, and Dangers co-wrote six songs with Benzel, including a track called "Superfuck," for inclusion on the late September/early October release on Mammoth.

Along with the band's former name, the Machines have left behind most of the industrial-heavy guitar sound that permeates the majority of Gilt in favor of a more electronic vibe.

"It's a lot more beat-oriented than the previous one," says Benzel "It has almost no guitar presence whatsoever. I wouldn't call it a dance record, but it's definitely less of a guitar-driven rock record. There is definitely a lot more electronics and beats happening on this one."

Look for the Machines to tour the U.S. surrounding the release of the record as well as the band's forthcoming single, tentatively scheduled to be "Transgression," out this fall.

-- Kevin Raub