Contrary to popular belief, this team has no roots in New Zealand, and its real home is Barbados. It was formed in 1968, when the "golden musical era" reigned on the island. At that time, Barbados was dominated by Americanized soul and pop, mixed with calypso and doo wop and seasoned with local folklore, but there were already some deviations from the "general line". So drummer-vocalist Errol Bradshaw, previously warmed up in the funk ensemble 'The Blue Rhythm Combo', discovered a psychedelic that came from world rock-centers with Hendrix and Cream records. And although this style was alien to the Caribbean islands, the drummer found like-minded people in the person of the songwriter and singing guitarist Michael Bishop and bassist Merlin Norville, who also wanted to play something harder. The unification of the trinity into one team happened quite quickly, and the new project was called "Luv Machine". Performing a rock and soul with local color, the band conquered all the nearby playgrounds and several times was exposed on Barbados television. The crowning point of her local career was the national hit single, "Build Me Up Buttercup", released in the summer of 1969, and was a confusing rework of the hit of "The Foundations".
Just at that time, "Luv Machine" got into the field of view of the British manager Malcolm West, who convinced the musicians to move to England, wishing to bring them to the international scene. The transfer took place in November 1969, but the team did not develop smoothly, because the members of the group had to overcome financial, racial and housing problems. Initially, the white audience was incredulous about the three black guys who arrived from nowhere, but when they started to play, the reaction was almost always positive. Having started in small working clubs, "Luv Machine" gradually gained momentum and eventually moved to more prestigious halls such as the Liverpool "Cavern" and the London "Marquee". A little later the team began to get out and to the continent, and she happened to visit Germany and Italy, where they played on opening for "Sweet". I must say that Europeans were simply shocked by acid hard rock, which they did not expect to hear from visiting Barbadians. And the musicians from the distant island, meanwhile, fell under the influence of "King Crimson", "Pink Floyd", "ELP", and the sound of their group became more psychedelic and progressive.
However, Merlin stayed in Europe pretty quickly tired, especially since he had problems with a visa. He returned home, and the place of the bass guitarist of the "Luv Machine" took the Englishman John Jeavons, who previously had a friendship with Glenn Hughes. In July 1970, the London "Philips Studios" began the sessions of the debut album and the accompanying single "Witches Wand". In parallel, the band continued to give concerts. When the record was finished, the local guitarist Bob Bowman was added to the live lineup of the group. The Mignon, launched on sale in early 1971, fell into heavy rotation with Radio Luxemburg, and soon they drove the interest of the Americans, and licensed Mercury Records. Despite these successes, musicians continued to suffer from a lack of money, and, in addition, Errol and Michael, who arrived in England on a tourist visa, had great problems with immigration authorities. All this led to the fact that when the debut LP "Luv Machine" was released, the team actually did not exist anymore. Bradshaw immediately returned to Barbados, and Bishop tried to assemble a new version of "LM", but nothing good happened.
Here is their full album:
Just at that time, "Luv Machine" got into the field of view of the British manager Malcolm West, who convinced the musicians to move to England, wishing to bring them to the international scene. The transfer took place in November 1969, but the team did not develop smoothly, because the members of the group had to overcome financial, racial and housing problems. Initially, the white audience was incredulous about the three black guys who arrived from nowhere, but when they started to play, the reaction was almost always positive. Having started in small working clubs, "Luv Machine" gradually gained momentum and eventually moved to more prestigious halls such as the Liverpool "Cavern" and the London "Marquee". A little later the team began to get out and to the continent, and she happened to visit Germany and Italy, where they played on opening for "Sweet". I must say that Europeans were simply shocked by acid hard rock, which they did not expect to hear from visiting Barbadians. And the musicians from the distant island, meanwhile, fell under the influence of "King Crimson", "Pink Floyd", "ELP", and the sound of their group became more psychedelic and progressive.
However, Merlin stayed in Europe pretty quickly tired, especially since he had problems with a visa. He returned home, and the place of the bass guitarist of the "Luv Machine" took the Englishman John Jeavons, who previously had a friendship with Glenn Hughes. In July 1970, the London "Philips Studios" began the sessions of the debut album and the accompanying single "Witches Wand". In parallel, the band continued to give concerts. When the record was finished, the local guitarist Bob Bowman was added to the live lineup of the group. The Mignon, launched on sale in early 1971, fell into heavy rotation with Radio Luxemburg, and soon they drove the interest of the Americans, and licensed Mercury Records. Despite these successes, musicians continued to suffer from a lack of money, and, in addition, Errol and Michael, who arrived in England on a tourist visa, had great problems with immigration authorities. All this led to the fact that when the debut LP "Luv Machine" was released, the team actually did not exist anymore. Bradshaw immediately returned to Barbados, and Bishop tried to assemble a new version of "LM", but nothing good happened.
Here is their full album:
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