Formed as a ska-pop band in the mid-'80s, Mashina offered a fresh new sound that some compare to that of the British group Madness. The outfit developed a richer pop sound in the late '80s and became the first Israeli group to break the three-album major-label barrier. They broke up in 1995, with frontman Yuval Banai and guitarist Shlomi Bracha both pursuing solo careers, but reformed in the early '00s. They have continued to perform and record, making Mashina one of the longest-running major bands in Israel.