INTERVIEWS

 

Dream Machine

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Interview By Jeff Nutkowitz

 

Sleep was in short supply as I made my way, via planes, trains, and automobiles, with several intermediary stops along the way, to a small, charming flat, in an old Victorian building, located in a mostly quiet, South London residential area. I was on my way, as a surrogate for PB's Melo, to interview one of UK's newest, up and coming, A-list spacerock ensembles, Dream Machine, and to then later to experience one of their absolutely incendiary performances. Unlike sleep, there was plenty of Dream to be had!

 

We are here in the South London home of Mari and her husband Gabz, bassist for Dream Machine. The band is in the middle of preparing for tonight's Dream Machine Gathering, organizing equipment and lugging gear down the three flights of stairs, from the flat to the street below. With a little bit of time to take a break from the madness, I was able to sit down with Dream Machine and ask the band a few questions…

 

JN:  Let's have you introduce yourselves, tell us your names, tell us about yourselves, what you play, what you do in DM?  Your musical background?

 

Metro:   My name is Metro.  I am the drummer.  I joined Dream Machine through Jon, who I played with in Ozric Tentacles.  Before that I was living in the US, and finishing a degree in Music Composition, playing with bands, going to graduate school.  And here I am now playing with bands in the UK.

 

Mindflux:    Mark, "Mindfllux".  I play percussion.   I started when I was six, so I play full kit and various hand percussion.  I play dadouk, djembe, tabla, that sort of thing. Also I play keyboards, and guitar, and I produce my own music at home.  My first sorta venture onto stage, really, was a gig with Ozrics back in 2001, which is how I really got to know these guys.  I play percussion with Champingon, which is Jumping Jon's band.  We play very ethnic world music, which is really quite spacey.  I play percussion for Zub Zub,  which is Zia's project, from Ozric Tentacles.  That's basically how I got into Dream Machine, from knowing these guys..  I guested with them in June at the Sunrise Festival, and they liked what I did, so now I am a permanent member.

 

Joie:   OK, I am Joie, and I have known most of them for years and years.  I play keys and synths and stuff with Jules, blends quite well, different layers..  It works quite well.  It's been a laugh.  I play in a techno band called Eat Static—and a kind of spacerock band called Here and Now--

 

JN:  --Which we are looking forward to seeing in November.  Another band I have waited 30 years to see.