Despite critical acclaim, two albums recorded for Warner Bros. failed to catch on, and the band started its own label for its third LP. A planned fourth album called “The Moth, the Lizard, and the Secret Machines” was scrapped when, during the mixing process, Brandon decided it was too depressing, mirroring his broader feelings about the group’s fortunes. Around that time, he was invited to become the touring keyboardist in Interpol, one of Secret Machines’ contemporaries that had blown up into a globally famous, professional rock outfit. Not long after, Brandon started work on a batch of original songs, some of which would end up on “Awake in the Brain Chamber.” But in early 2013, Benjamin learned he had lymphoma. “He just gave me so much love and confidence.” After his brother’s death, Curtis considered whether he was done writing music, but slowly the creative urge came back.

Source: New York Times August 16, 2020 13:52 UTC