Elegant Machinery

Elegant Machinery

Elegant Machinery is a Swedish electronic synth-pop group formed in 1988. The band begins as Pole Position, founded by Richard Johansson and Leslie Bayne, and later changes its name after the release of its first demo. Robert Enforsen joins as lead vocalist in 1989, and Johan Malmgren later becomes a permanent member after first joining as a touring musician in 1992.

Style and place in Swedish synthpop

The group makes traditional synthpop and is influenced by acts such as Yazoo, The Human League, Depeche Mode, Rational Youth and Robert Marlow. It is associated with the Swedish synthpop movement alongside Page, S.P.O.C.K, Sista Mannen På Jorden and KieTheVez.

Career and releases

Elegant Machinery is successful in Sweden and releases a number of singles that receive awards. Outside Sweden, the single Process becomes its biggest mainstream breakthrough in Europe and reaches number 5 in the Spanish charts. The band disbands in 1999, then reunites in 2001 for its first appearance in the United States, followed by a show in Mexico. It later performs several times in Europe and, after a gig at Romo Night in Gothenburg in October 2004, begins working on new music.

Members and related projects

The group’s members are Robert Enforsen, Leslie Bayne, Richard Jomshof and Johan Malmgren. During the band’s break, Enforsen works on Enforce, Hype, Gobble & Gag and Red Light District. Malmgren also plays keyboards, programming and composition with the Swedish band S.P.O.C.K, and he and Enforsen produce the debut album Lost in a Maze by the Swedish-British group Univaque in 2004.