Plato's Dream Machine ~ Tal-Qamħa

New local folk-punk band Plato’s Dream Machine, waste no time jumping straight into business on their debut EP Tal-Qamħa. Five seconds into opening track Recession Street, and the listener is greeted with a contemptful “Rise and shine my son you’ve got to work.” Robert Farrugia Flores’ vocals force you to listen to his nihilist narrative of life wasted on mundane work. Bassist Frederick Abdilla, drummer Ryan Abela and flautist Justin Galea shout along, sounding like the street rabble from village festas.

The five songs on this EP ache with themes of angst, disenchantment, and political and social restlessness. Sugar in Your Poison is undeniably the most entertaining track of the bunch. Brian Tonna’s accordion playing here is a joy, and the chorus line is so hooky you can’t help but shout along with it.

But it is Fabbrika fuq l-Għolja which is perhaps the real standout track. Roberta Attard’s violin phrasings swoop and soar, washing beautiful textures over the sordid canvas. Flores also emotes better singing in his native tongue, consequently allowing the sorrow in his lyrics to come across with passionate credibility and authenticity.

PDM have decided not to polish their sound, instead opting to capture their organic-ness on record. The band have also embraced an organic DIY approach to the packaging of this EP, echoing the late spirit of late-'70s punk pioneers in the UK. The simple black cardboard sleeve-case brandishes a sprayed on golden grain of wheat, possibly an allusion to the everyman’s daily prayer; “Ħobżna ta'  kuljum  agħtina llum.”

While far from a perfect release, Tal-Qamħa does continue to reflect a renaissance of sorts in Maltese music. Along with fellow everyman-folksters Brikkuni, PDM are trying to tap into the emotions of social unrest in modern Malta, and that in itself makes this EP more relevant than most other recent local releases.

Standout tracks: Fabbrika Fuq l-Għolja//Sugar In Your Poison