Dreamachine, according to Allmusic, “completes their journey from girl group- and surf music-influenced indie pop band to something more nuanced and varied as it adds dance-rock rhythms, loads of synths, and a sense of drama to their still-heavily melodic approach.” I’ll take their word for that as I honestly never listened to Habibi before seeing them at the show, though their aesthetic is clearly up my alley so I was happy to check them out and to add this album to our collection. It mixes dream pop (“My Moon” in particular), 80’s dance synth, lo-fi garage and a more polished riot-grrrl vibe (think Sleater Kinney but a bit more gentle – see the track “Do You Want Me Now” in particular). My top track is “POV,” which is a great ass-shaker. I also really like “Interlude” and “Losing Control” – both songs blend singer Rahill Jamalifard’s Middle Eastern roots and melodies with a trancey psych grooves. The album’s closer, “Alone Tonight” feels snakey and slinky; it mixes funk, 80’s pop (I’m hearing a mix of Michael Jackson, Phil Collins and weirder stuff like Talking Heads) and jazz elements (there’s a horn interlude!) making it super-unique.

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