Who: Justin Norman (composer, bass, guitar, vocals), Rob Ogden (composer, drums, vocals)
Hear them: myspace.com/makebelievemachines
See them: 7 p.m. Monday at Mars Cafe, 2318 University Ave.
Influences: Dmitri Shostakovich, Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland
When the rock band Cardboard Canary broke up in 2004, members Justin Norman and Rob Ogden decided to compose a new group around the idea of "The music Gandalf hears every time he looks at a self-portrait." The result is Make-Believe Machines, Norman and Ogden's classical composition recording project.
Last year, Make-Believe Machines released its first album, "Moral Calculus." Songs include "Spiders Savor a Succulent Fleshfeast" and "Punctured Placenta and Post-Birth Peril." The record incorporates everything from traditional instruments to things like wild birds.
"Going from pop rock to completely orchestra was a pretty big transition," Norman said. "There's not a lot of modern groups making this type of music."
Because they "don't have a band of 60 elves," Make-Believe Machines has performed very few live shows. The duo has talked about composing a few simplistic pieces they could perform on the piano and bass, but until then the complexity of the music makes it too difficult to pull off. The appearance at Mars Cafe will be a part of the Scented Vinyl series - the duo will play songs from the album and be interviewed by host Daniel Bosman.
