Fans of Shpongle, Steven Wilson, and Airbag will find much to appreciate in the new release from Montreal-based artist Zoungla. His latest self-released album, “Dream Machine” presents eight tracks spanning just over an hour and is available digitally via Bandcamp. As the sixth album in his catalogue, Dream Machine marks a confident expansion into progressive rock, enriched with psychedelic textures and experimental production. The record features strong vocal performances, detailed acoustic work, and a melodic sensibility.

The project’s creator, Costa Damoulianos, draws deeply from his rock background, and it shows. His compositional approach is refined and deliberate, highlighting both technical skill and emotional awareness. Dream Machine unfolds like an introspective psychedelic journey, inviting the listener into a soundworld that feels imaginative and free-flowing.

The opening track, “Blurred Faces,” stands out as a clear highlight, combining expressive vocals with multilayered instrumental arrangements. The follow-up, “Master of Illusion,” leans into post-rock influences and showcases Damoulianos’s ability to weave atmosphere with precision. Despite my personal preference for unprocessed vocals, the creative choices made here serve the track well.

Track three continues in the post-rock vein, emphasizing Damoulianos’s strengths as both composer and guitarist. Driven by confident drumming and thoughtful guitar lines, the instrumental piece demonstrates the project’s versatility.

The fourth track, “Redshift,” acts as a transitional moment within the album, giving the listener space before the record shifts toward more progressive-rock-oriented compositions in its final third. Tracks six through eight display a greater emphasis on experimentation, featuring inventive sound design and unconventional mixing choices. This willingness to break from traditional rock structures is one of Dream Machine’s most compelling qualities, culminating in standout pieces like “Solar Evolution,” which evokes the atmospheric depth of Airbag.

The album closes with a long, immersive outro that reinforces the psychedelic undercurrent running through the record. The final guitar solo is particularly noteworthy, once again highlighting Damoulianos’s strong command of both voice and instrument.

Overall, Dream Machine is an engaging and well-crafted blend of psybient aesthetics and progressive rock ambitions. Damoulianos successfully merges psychedelic elements with contemporary rock production, offering a listening experience that should appeal to fans of Porcupine Tree, Airbag, and Long Distance Calling.

Review by Mohamadreza Govahi and Gagarin Project

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Previous releases of Zoungla:
Zougla 2022
Zougla 2016