Dream Machine are a space rock

Space rock

Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...

 supergroup, based in London, UK. Dream Machine play music that can be described as psychedelic and ambient rock music, incorporating guitar, synthesizers and woodwind instruments. Dream Machine has accomplished musicians from space rock and psychedelic festival bands such as Ozric Tentacles

Ozric Tentacles

Ozric Tentacles are an instrumental rock band from Somerset, England, whose music can loosely be described as psychedelic or space rock. Formed in 1983, the band has released 28 albums as of 2011, and become a cottage industry selling over a million albums worldwide despite never having major...

, Eat Static

Eat Static

Eat Static is an electronic music project from Frome, Somerset, England formed in 1989 by Merv Pepler and Joie Hinton. Hinton left the group in February 2008 after 18 years to spend more time with his family.-History:...

 and Here & Now

Here & Now (band)

Here & Now are an English psychedelic/space rock band formed in early 1974. They have close connections with the band Gong and in 1977/1978 worked with Gong's Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth under the name Planet Gong...

.

Early years

Dream Machine was formed by Gabriele Tosti (ex Thunderdogs Circus Archaos) who wanted to create a new progressive space rock group in 2002. The group was composed of Gabriele Tosti (bass), Farley Brian (drums), Julian Adamoli (piano and organ), Tom Harris (on saxophone) and Dan (scratch DJ).

The name "Dream Machine" came from a dream that Gabriele Tosti experienced. The first names considered for the group were "The Omenoid" and then "Blue Land of Dreams". This was then shortened to "Land of Dreams" as the first working title. After further consideration "Dream Machine" was chosen as Gabriele felt it was a more progressive title for the fledgling group. The name "Land of Dreams" was reused to describe a musical collaboration with Gabriele Tosti and Gavin Griffiths (ex-guitarist for the Ozric Tentacles) that continues today.

Farley Brian moved on from the group in 2002. Farley was an accomplished designer and VJ

VJ (video performance artist)

VJing is a broad designation for realtime visual performance. Characteristics of VJing are the creation or manipulation of imagery in realtime through technological mediation and for an audience, in synchronization to music. VJing often takes place at events such as concerts, nightclubs, music...

 featuring at large dance venues. He left to focus on these activities and Dream Machine found a replacement percussionist in the form of the former Ozric Tentacles percussionist Rad.

The first formal public performance of Dream Machine was for a benefit gig for the War Child charity

War Child (charity)

War Child is a non-governmental organisation founded in the UK 1993, which focuses on providing assistance to children in areas of conflict and post-conflict. They use their film and entertainment background to raise money for aid agencies operating in former Yugoslavia...

 held at the Pullens Centre in Kennington

Kennington

Kennington is a district of South London, England, mainly within the London Borough of Lambeth, although part of the area is within the London Borough of Southwark....

, South London

South London

South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...

 in January 2003. This event was one of a number of events that culminated in the Stop the War protest

February 15, 2003 anti-war protest

The February 15, 2003 anti-war protest was a coordinated day of protests across the world expressing opposition to the then-imminent Iraq War. It was part of a series of protests and political events that had begun in 2002 and continued as the war took place....

 in Central London

Central London

Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...

 in February. The original lineup at this event was Gabriele Tosti on bass, Jules Adamoli on piano and organ, Dan as scratch DJ, James Gilbert on Sax and Rad on drums.

Rad was an established band member by October 2003 playing in gigs at Camberwell

Camberwell

Camberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...

 and Peckham

Peckham

Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...

. Dream Machine then played several gigs at the Grove Tavern in Wimbledon

Wimbledon, London

Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...

 starting December 2003 and at this time was joined by Alex Pym (former guitar player in Damidge). They were also joined on stage by the former Ozric Tentacles members, "Jumping" Jon Egan (on woodwind) and Seaweed (on synths) who added their talent and experience to the lineup. Finally, Tony D'Amico (from Thunderdogs Circus Archaos) provided a guest performance on vocals for this venue.

Dream Machine continued with rehearsing and gigging for several months until Dan left to concentrate on club DJing. Rad's presence as drummer was also sadly short lived - he moved out of London and left the group in April 2004. James also left around this time. Dream Machine were now looking for another percussionist to fill in after Rad's departure. Johnny Morgan from Senser

Senser

Senser, a politically-charged UK band, originally formed in South West London from a group of friends in the late 1980s, Nick Michaelson , Heitham Al-Sayed , Kerstin Haigh , John Morgan , James Barrett and Alan "Hagos/Haggis" Haggarty and in 1992 they were joined by Spiral Tribe D.J, Andy Clinton...

 filled in on drums temporarily. Maurizio Rossi, an Italian drummer from Rome joined the band as their new drummer in December 2004.

2006 to the Present Day

By 2006, Jon had formally joined the band as frontman and woodwind player, in a similar role to his two decades with the Ozric Tentacles. Seaweed was also invited to join as a permanent band member, but due to work commitments he was unable to do so.

Joie Hinton (a founding member of Ozric Tentacles, one half of Eat Static and member of Here & Now) also joined the band at this point to contribute his inimitable style of space rock keyboard playing.

The band played various gigs in 2006, including festival dates at Sunrise Solstice Celebration and Eastern Haze. At these festivals they were joined on stage by Mindflux. Following these performances, he was invited to join the band as a full member and now adds synth and percussion as his contribution to the band.

Following the Eastern Haze festival, Maurizio decided to pursue a different musical path and stepped down by mutual agreement with Dream Machine. Metro (another former Ozric Tentacles percussionist) then took over as drummer. Unfortunately Metro had to move away from London and with other obligations he had with another band, he was unable to continue as percussionist although he did guest on two tracks on the second Dream Machine album - 'The Castle Of A Thousand Universes' (2008).

In 2007, Steve Cassidy (formerly of Here & Now) was introduced as the band's new drummer, and debuted with Dream Machine at the 2007 Sunrise, Eastern Haze and Waveform 2007 festivals.

In early 2008 Joie Hinton retired from Eat Static and Dream Machine, although he still plays with Hear & Now.

Reviews of Dream Machine performances for the 2007 festival season have been positive. Reviews from the eFestivals website praise Jon's performance at the Waveform festival - "..Jon's astonishing flute work, sorely missed from the latest incarnations of former band the Ozric Tentacles, was a delight for the aurals..".
The review of the 2007 Sunrise Festival included - "..excellent musicians in great form..". They are also mentioned in the Eastern Haze review on eFestivals.co.uk.

The review of the 2006 Sunrise Festival on this site also said - "The most innovative and original space/fusion rock band around at the moment.".

Dream Machine continue to play frequent live performances and released their second album - 'The Castle Of A Thousand Universes' in August 2008.

Dream Machine played the mainstage of the 2008 Wickerman Festival

Wickerman Festival

The Wickerman Festival is an annual music festival held near to Dundrennan in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Dubbed 'Scotland's Alternative Music festival', the festival will celebrate its 10th Birthday in 2011 on Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd July....

 in Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

, on the evening of Saturday 26 June 2008.

In 2009 Dream Machine headlined the Cosmic Puffin Festival

Cosmic Puffin Festival

The Cosmic Puffin Music Festival is held at Easter each year on Mersea Island at Mersea Youth Camp, near Colchester in Essex.The aim of the event is to raise money and awareness for charities. Musicians perform entirely for free, with no fee, rider or fuel costs showing their support for the...

. and also the Thimbleberry Festival, County Durham on September 25.

In February 2010 Dream Machine played the Psychedelic Carnival with Eat Static at Milan's LeonCavallo venue.
In early 2011 Theo Buckingham took over from Steve Cassidy on drums and in July 2011 Dream Machine headlined with Oresund Space Collective at the Occultrance Festival in Belgium. Kyle Martin (Bubbles/synths) also joined the band in 2011.

Musical Influences

Alex Pym's guitar style for Dream Machine was influenced by Steve Hillage

Steve Hillage

Steve Hillage is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s...

 (Gong

Gong (band)

Gong is a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock. Other notable band members include Allan Holdsworth, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Gilli Smyth, Steve Hillage, Francis Moze, Mike Howlett...

 / System 7

System 7 (band)

System 7 are a British ambient dance band. Due to the existence of another band called System Seven, they were initially marketed as 777 in North America...

), Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix

James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...

, Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

), Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy

George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...

, Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...

, Angus Young

Angus Young

Angus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...

 (AC/DC

AC/DC

AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...

), Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page

James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...

 (Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...

), Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana

Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...

 and Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck

Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...

.

Gabriele Tosti (Bass Guitar) - John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones (musician)

John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...

 (Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...

), Chris Squire

Chris Squire

Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...

 (Yes

Yes (band)

Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...

), Steve Hillage

Steve Hillage

Steve Hillage is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s...

 (Gong

Gong (band)

Gong is a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock. Other notable band members include Allan Holdsworth, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Gilli Smyth, Steve Hillage, Francis Moze, Mike Howlett...

 / System 7

System 7 (band)

System 7 are a British ambient dance band. Due to the existence of another band called System Seven, they were initially marketed as 777 in North America...

)

Julian (Jules) Adamoli (Keyboards)- Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Smith (musician)

Jimmy Smith was a jazz musician whose performances on the Hammond B-3 electric organ helped to popularize this instrument...

, Miquette Giraudy

Miquette Giraudy

Miquette Giraudy is a keyboard player and vocalist, best known for her work in Gong and with her partner Steve Hillage. She and Hillage currently form the core of the ambient band System 7.-Film:...

, Keith Emerson

Keith Emerson

Keith Noel Emerson is an English keyboard player and composer. Formerly a member of the Keith Emerson Trio, John Brown's Bodies, The T-Bones, V.I.P.s, P.P. Arnold's backing band, and The Nice , he was a founder of Emerson, Lake & Palmer , one of the early supergroups, in 1970...

, Eumir Deodato

Eumir Deodato

Eumir Deodato is a Brazilian pianist, composer, record producer and arranger, primarily based in the jazz realm but who historically has been known for eclectic melding of big band and combo jazz with varied elements of rock/pop, R&B/funk, Brazilian/Latin, and symphonic or orchestral music.Mainly,...

Jon Egan (woodwind) - Omar Faruk Tekbilek

Omar Faruk Tekbilek

Ömer Faruk Tekbilek , also known as Omar Faruk Tekbilek, is a Turkish flautist. He is known for his performances with the ney in a Sufi style...

Mindflux (percussion/synthesiser) - Eat Static

Eat Static

Eat Static is an electronic music project from Frome, Somerset, England formed in 1989 by Merv Pepler and Joie Hinton. Hinton left the group in February 2008 after 18 years to spend more time with his family.-History:...

, Prince

Prince (musician)

Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...

, Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

Steve Cassidy (drums) - Billy Cobham

Billy Cobham

William C. Cobham is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who has called Switzerland home since the late 1970s....

Band members

The current band line up is:

• Gabriele Tosti (Bass Guitar)
• Alex Pym (Guitar)
• Jules Adamoli (Piano, Organ and Synth)
• Jon Egan (Flutes and Reeds)
• Mindflux (Percussions and Synth)
• Theo Buckingham (Drums)
• Kyle Martin (Bubbles/synths)

Trilogia (2005)

Trilogia is Dream Machine's debut album recorded over the Summer of 2005. This album was recorded at Husky's Studios and was developed from the material the band had been playing live. The original recording featured Gabriele, Alex, Jules and Maurizio. Jon Egan and Seaweed recorded their parts later and this complete recording was mixed by producer Stuart McLean into the finished album.

The album was launched on November 27, 2005 with a live gig at Bush Hall, London and featuring a psychedelic lightshow by Fruit Salad. This concert was filmed professionally and has been released as a live performance DVD.

Trilogia has received a very positive 7 out of 10 review in Classic Rock Magazine (February 2006). Trilogia has also received rave reviews from Progressive Rock internet sites.

Trilogia was also described as "Warm... organic... classic..." in Organ Zine (Dec/Jan 2006 issue).

The CD has recently had a limited re-release and has been well received by those who missed out on the original pressing in 2005 .

Track listing

1. "Invisible Maze" – 17:27
2. "Macchina Dread" – 16:46
3. "Logia Dei Sogni" – 29:08

The track "Logia Dei Sogni" has three parts:

1. "Scoiattolo Volante" (The Flying Squirrel)


2. "Above & Below"


3. "Flying Carpet"

Album credits

• Seaweed on synths
• Champignon on kavals, nay, duduk and concert flute
• Gabriele Tosti on bass
• Maurizio Rossi on drums
• Julian Adamoli on keyboards
• Alex Pym on guitar

The Castle Of A Thousand Universes (2008)

Dream Machine's second album was released on Friday 1 August. The album was performed live for the first time on the mainstage of The Wickerman Festival in Scotland a week before its release on Saturday 26 July 2008.

Track listing

1. "Gate" - 1.05
2. "Vasta Wazza" - 8.19
3. "DubDub" - 4.29
4. "Happy Dragon" - 6.35
5. "Vanishing Point" - 8.19
6. "Sugar Glider" - 6.26
7. "Mantra" - 7.42
8. "The Castle Of A Thousand Universes" - 5.23

Album credits

• Gabriele Tosti on Bass, Classical Guitar and Synths
• John 'Champignon' Egan on Silver Flute, Ney, Tamboura etc...
• Julian Adamoli on Piano, Organ and Synths
• Steve Cassidy on Drums
• Mark 'Mindflux' Fletcher on Percussion and Synths
• Alex Pym on Acoustic and Electric Guitars

Produced by Stuart McLean

Engineered and mixed by Gavin Griffiths and Stuart McLean

Special Guests:

• Gavin Griffiths on Electric Guitar for solos on 'The Castle Of A Thousand Universes'
• Matt 'Metro Shmigelsky' on Drums on 'Vasta Wazza' and 'The Castle Of A Thousand Universes'

External links

• http://www.dreammachineonline.co.uk Official Dream Machine Website
• Dream Machine Forum
• http://www.myspace.com/dreammachinespacerock Dream Machine MySpace site