Merseyside’s rising stars The Dream Machine have unveiled their latest single, “Things That Make Us Cry,” a bittersweet masterpiece of "wall-of-sound" splendor. Released via Run On Records, the track serves as a poignant precursor to their highly anticipated third album, Fort Perch Rock, arriving on Friday, 27 February 2026.
Found Instruments and Grand Ambitions
Drawing heavy inspiration from the sun-speckled melancholy of The Beach Boys and the dark majesty of Phil Spector, the single finds the five-piece five exploring the delicate balance between hope and resignation. Interestingly, the track’s grand scale was achieved through unconventional means.
"It was recorded on an out-of-tune piano and a massive kettle drum that I think somebody found in a skip," reveals songwriter and lead vocalist Zak McDonnell. "It’s a total admittance and eventual acceptance that everything is falling apart." Written on a sun-drenched morning while on tour in Toulouse, the song pairs heart-wrenching lyricism with anthemic instrumentation designed to lift hearts even as it nurses them.
A Totem to Coastal Life
The upcoming 12-track album, Fort Perch Rock, is named after the historic sea-facing landmark in the band’s hometown of New Brighton. The record acts as a sonic totem to coastal life—echoing with the salt air, lost arcades, and nostalgia of the Wirral coastline. While the band draws on 60s girl groups and 70s New York New Wave, their sound remains firmly modern, citing influences ranging from Blossoms to King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.
Major Liverpool Homecoming
Following a successful run of grassroots venues in late 2025, The Dream Machine are set for their biggest milestone yet. The band will cross the River Mersey to play a massive 1,200-capacity headline show at the Liverpool O2 Academy on Friday, 27 March 2026.
Fort Perch Rock will be available on multiple formats, including a special "butterfly effect" vinyl featuring a glow-in-the-dark 7” EP of Motown covers.
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