There must be something in the water that flows from Liverpool’s taps. Ever since the Beatles changed the course of musical history, the city’s bands have retained the knack of creating high grade, effervescent melodic pop. From the genius of Julian Cope’s Teardrop Explodes in the 1980s through to The La’s, Cast, The Coral and The Zutons, Wirral four-piece The Dream Machine look to continue that lineage.
Ambling onstage to an orchestral intro, and without so much as a “good evening”, the band launch into Fort Perch Rock, the raucous title track from their third and latest album. A bold start, it’s clear The Dream Machine are going to let the music do the talking tonight. lead singer Zak McDonnell – stick-thin beneath a mass of black hair – gets lost in his own dream world, with little interaction with the crowd.
The summer months may now be behind us, but The Dream Machine aim to lift spirits on this cool autumnal night – and are soon on their way to achieving that, as the requisite Rickenbacker guitar takes centre stage, riffs chime, harmonies lock in and vocals soar. It’s no surprise to hear the band are gaining airplay on 6 Music: they were doubt less buzzing to be featured on the station’s annual T Shirt Day earlier.
As the set progresses, the quartet find their groove, and like all good bands leave the bangers to the end. Frankenstein suggests a subtle nod to The Only Ones, while penultimate number tonight, Children My England, could be their song to knock down walls. Starting with an infectious keyboard riff and straight out of the La’s playbook thereafter, it ticks all the psychedelic pop boxes. We finish with Last Temptation – a joyous, guitar-driven wigout, with McDonnell finally letting go of his inhibitions and grabbing a tambourine then a harmonica for a joyous, boisterous ending.
The Dream Machine, Le Public Space, Newport, Thurs 17 Sept
words and photos PAUL WINDSOR
