Dream Machine

Dream Machine

Dream Machine is a UK space rock group based in London and active since 2002. The group plays psychedelic and ambient rock, with guitar, synthesizers and woodwind instruments forming a central part of its sound. It is described as a space rock supergroup and includes musicians associated with acts such as Ozric Tentacles, Eat Static and Here & Now.

Formation and early line-up

The group is formed by Gabriele Tosti, formerly of Thunderdogs Circus Archaos, who wants to create a progressive space rock band in 2002. The name comes from a dream Tosti has, after earlier ideas including The Omenoid and Blue Land of Dreams. The first working title becomes Land of Dreams before Dream Machine is chosen.

The original line-up includes Gabriele Tosti on bass, Farley Brian on drums, Julian Adamoli on piano and organ, Tom Harris on saxophone, and Dan as scratch DJ. Farley Brian leaves later in 2002 and focuses on design and visual work, and the band brings in Rad, formerly of Ozric Tentacles, on percussion.

Live activity and line-up changes

Dream Machine gives its first formal public performance at a War Child benefit gig at the Pullens Centre in Kennington, South London in January 2003, alongside events connected to the Stop the War protest in London the following month. By this period, the line-up includes Gabriele Tosti, Jules Adamoli, Dan, James Gilbert on saxophone and Rad on drums.

The band plays at venues including the Grove Tavern in Wimbledon from December 2003, where it is joined by Alex Pym, formerly of Damidge. Former Ozric Tentacles members Jon Egan, on woodwind, and Seaweed, on synthesizers, also appear with the group, and Tony D'Amico of Thunderdogs Circus Archaos guests on vocals. Dan later leaves to focus on club DJ work, Rad leaves in April 2004 after moving away from London, and James Gilbert also departs around this time.

Johnny Morgan of Senser fills in on drums temporarily before Maurizio Rossi, a drummer from Rome, joins in December 2004. By 2006 Jon Egan joins formally as frontman and woodwind player, and Joie Hinton, a founder member of Ozric Tentacles and also a member of Eat Static and Here & Now, joins on keyboards. Mindflux performs with the band at Sunrise Solstice Celebration and Eastern Haze in 2006 and then joins as a full member, adding synthesizer and percussion. After Eastern Haze, Maurizio Rossi leaves, and Metro, another former Ozric Tentacles percussionist, takes over drums before later stepping back; he appears as a guest on two tracks on the second album. Steve Cassidy, formerly of Here & Now, joins on drums in 2007 and plays with the band at Sunrise, Eastern Haze and Waveform that year. Joie Hinton leaves in early 2008.

Recordings

Dream Machine releases Trilogia in 2005, The Castle Of A Thousand Universes in 2008, and Temple Of Dreams in 2018. The group continues to perform live and releases its second album in 2008.

Current line-up

The band’s listed line-up is Gabriele Tosti on bass guitar, Alex Pym on guitar, Jules Adamoli on piano, organ and synth, Jon Egan on flutes and reeds, Mindflux on percussion and synth, and Steve Cassidy on drums.

Festival appearances and reception

Dream Machine plays at festivals including Sunrise Solstice Celebration, Eastern Haze, Waveform 2007, the Wickerman Festival in Scotland in 2008, and the Cosmic Puffin Festival and Thimbleberry Festival in 2009. Coverage of these performances describes the group as strong live musicians and notes Jon Egan’s flute playing.

Style and influences

The band’s music draws on psychedelic, progressive and space rock, with contributions from guitar, organ, flute, saxophone, synthesizers and percussion. Alex Pym’s guitar style is influenced by Steve Hillage, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Angus Young, Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana and Jeff Beck. Gabriele Tosti cites John Paul Jones, Chris Squire and Steve Hillage; Jules Adamoli cites Jimmy Smith, Miquette Giraudy, Keith Emerson and Eumir Deodato; Jon Egan cites Omar Faruk Tekbilek; Mindflux cites Eat Static, Prince and Pink Floyd; and Steve Cassidy cites Billy Cobham.