No Ordinary Machine (1999–2002)
The Beginning
After the creative success of Vibe A Tribe, Chris continued exploring the intersection of technology and emotion — blending analog synths, guitars, and emerging digital recording tools. By the turn of the millennium, he and Rob Higgins co-founded No Ordinary Machine, working together as the core creative team behind the project. All songs written by Chris & Rob.
The sessions took place at Retago Studios, Chris’s mobile recording setup built from the ground up and parked in front of a farmer’s field. It was humble, inventive, and completely independent — a reflection of the DIY spirit that would define his later Nordmach work.
“Those sessions were special. We were working with limited gear but maximum inspiration recording day and night in that trailer, figuring out how to make emotion sound mechanical, and vice versa.”
— Chris Blais / Nordmach
The project fused elements of pop, rock, and electronic textures, continuing the collaboration between Blais & Higgins. It became a space for experimentation, testing arrangements, layering instruments, and refining what would later evolve into the Nordmach production sound: warm, emotional, minimal, and real.
Higgins is credited for lead vocals, guitar and synth. Chris is credited for all the keyboard and drum programming, production, engineering, mixing and backing vocals.
Additional musicians:
Terry Lesperance - drums
Ed Everaert - guitars
Charlie Lambrick - guitars
Andrew Muroff - guitars
Al Trudell - classical guitar on "Surrounded". Trudell also has co-writing credits on the song "Real Thing".
Donnie Lyle - guitars
Ray Burton - bass
John Kersey - bass
Chris Nomikos (Dj Triple X) for the remixes of "Surrounded" & "Talking To Myself".
Album artwork concept credited to Scotty Hughes.
Legacy Connection
No Ordinary Machine bridged the gap between early collaboration and future innovation, the link between Retago Studios and Nordmach.
This project marked Chris’s transition from band member to full creative producer.
It proved that emotional depth could be built entirely from a laptop, a few machines, and the drive to keep creating a philosophy that continues through every Nordmach track today.
Production Notes
The project was tracked and mixed entirely in the Retago mobile studio a 50+ trailer using early digital hardware and a hybrid analog workflow decades before home recording became mainstream.
What started as an experiment in independence became a formative step in Chris’s identity as both artist and technician.
No Ordinary Machine CD Release Party March 25/2000