Dream Machine is an ex-Warm Soda bandleader Matthew Melton and his wife Doris Melton project wich offers Heavy Psych sounds with a vintage imprinting. The third and new album “Living the Dream” was released on June 03, 2022 via Fuzz City Records and contains 12 tracks ranging from 2 to 4 minutes. The sound differs from the previous ones more oriented on Heavy Rock sounds, in this it is paaasa from Prog Rock to Synth Pop, always with a retro approach. The opening track “Come Along” focuses on the intertwining of keyboards and guitar, with a solid rhythm session with continuous tempo changes. The sound immediately takes us back to the past, managing to combine different styles and genres, with engaging vocal parts. Continuing on the sounds of the previous “Without You” it always presents a solid and tight rhythm session and melodies focused on the synth. The vocal is intense and expressive and the song flows pleasantly with the usual retro touch and short guitar solo inserts. “You Forgot to Dream” shifts the sounds to a more Pop genre, always with a vintage imprint that reminds us of the 60s in this case. Softer than the previous ones, and with a good duet of male and female voices, it is characterized by a more melancholic atmosphere. With a sound halfway between Rock and Synth Pop “In a Dream” presents a style closer to the end of the 70s, with a tight rhythm and the synth at the center of the melodies. The female vocal is dynamic and the energetic track makes you want to dance. “Until Tomorrow” takes the sound into more Synth Pop territory, showing how this work explores different sounds than its predecessors. The vintage touch is not lacking, and in the final the band offers an instrumental section with good keyboard solos and then closes. The shorter track on the record “Blame it on a Dream” alternates more Pop passages with Heavy openings with the rhythm accelerating. Halfway between the sounds of the first two albums and the new influences that the band is exploring, an interesting and successful experiment. An intro that recalls the Prog of the second half of the ’70s and begins “Dreamin it Over,” with a marked presence of the keyboards. A very intense song, which shows another facet of the band’s sound, with more Progressive textures and a warm female vocal. Although I would have expected a solo, the track is of fine workmanship. Always with a Prog touch of the late ’70s and permeated by the sounds of the synth “Not What I’m After,” it is a perfect blend with the new sounds of the band. The forays into Pop are very successful and link well to the more Prog / Rock structure of the track, another nice combination of different genres and styles. “Prisoner of his Mind” is a cheerful and engaging passage, with rhythmic drumming and the guitar in evidence along with the female vocal. Returning to a more Synth Pop sound “You Lost Her” has a Rock touch and a more 80s attitude, interesting and original. Another track that blends different styles and genres, giving life to a passage that explores a less Heavy sound than previous records. “Living the Dream” returns to the more Rocky sounds of the band with granite guitar riffs and keyboard inserts on a solid rhythm session with a killer bassline. Good guitar textures and intertwining male and female voices, a track that returns to the sounds of the early 70s and approaches the classics of the band. The album ends with the most Progressive and Heavy track of 12, “Top of Creation” featuring organ and massive guitar riffs. Enriched by tempo changes and elaborate passages, it brings us back to the early 70s, with an instrumental section in the second part with alternating guitar and keyboard solos. A good listening, where the band has explored and inserted other sounds than the previous works, with a touch more Synth Pop in some passages. As described by the group, we find here different tracks from each other, which will satisfy the tastes of a wide audience, from Prog to Rock to Synth Pop. A listening recommended for lovers of vintage sounds, those who know the band will be positively impressed by the evolution of the sound in this record, a little different but very pleasant.
Tracklist
01. Come Along (03:49)
02. Without You (02:27)
03. You Forgot to Dream (02:51)
04. In a Dream (03:30)
05. Until Tomorrow (03:40)
06. Blame it on a Dream (02:11)
07. Dreamin it Over (03:49)
08. Not What I’m After (02:35)
09. Prisoner of his Mind (02:50)
10. You Lost Her (02:38)
11. Living the Dream (03:41)
12. Top of Creation (04:02)
Lineup
Matthew Melton / Guitar, Bass & Vocals
Doris Melton / Piano, Keys, Synths & Vocals
Billy Odyssey / Drums & Percussion