On the 25th of April, I had the pleasure of attending the launch party for Dizraeli’s new album Joy Machine, and let me tell you, it was as joyous as promised! The gig took place in one of my favourite brick-and-mortar venues, the Portland Arms in Cambridge. The pub, known for its friendly staff, great sound and sensibly arranged space offering great views was a perfect space for the album launch.
The evening kicked off with a performance by Emily Magpie, fellow musicians from Bristol, who began with songs from their latest album, There Are Other Forms of Strength. The three-piece, consisting of Emily, plus two very similar-looking men named Kieran heavily utilised synthesisers along with live drums.
One song, “Rose Petals” particularly captured my heart, blending powerful lead vocals with rolling beats and ethereal backing to create a triumphant, melodious soundscape I could easily immerse myself in for hours. This was followed by “Two Feet,” a song dedicated to two band members’ late fathers. Performed with a slow, almost dirge-like march beat, this evocative and emotional piece built up to a powerful crescendo before returning to a final, haunting melody.
As their set progressed, feminist themes became more pronounced, and the bass lines more assertive, resonating with the notion that there are indeed other forms of strength. The final song was a masterclass in engagement, with the crowd harmoniously clapping along, illustrating that the real power of music lies in its ability to unite.
Following Emily Magpie was the main attraction, Dizraeli himself, accompanied by his band, consisting of a guitarist, drummer, and saxophonist. Now, fans of Dizraeli’s earlier work should be advised: his 2024 persona differs significantly from his 2009 debut. The quirky, funny festival hip-hop elements have largely been replaced by a far more mature blend of psychedelia, poetry, and jazz—an evolution he acknowledged, thanking the audience for embracing his musical transformations over the years.
These transformations, however, make for a bloody amazing live show. The performance started with a storm of heavy, surreal discordant synths, as the words “devil, devil, devil” were repeated, before the saxophonist’s beautiful part exploded as the band broke into Greek Summer, the fourth track from the single release of I See Ghosts. Reminiscent of 1970s progressive rock, the piece brings to mind bands like Pink Floyd, Cream, and Led Zeppelin, but with even more psychedelic creative energy.
One thing which has not changed about Dizraeli, however, is his political awareness. Dear Cousin, a piece about the Adriana disaster, where a refugee vessel was sunk following a towing accident between Greece and Italy, uses elements from the beat poetry tradition, with jazz drums rising in aggression and abrasiveness to force the fate of some of the young children named Simran, Omar and Abdul on board the vessel into your mind. After hearing this piece of music, ignoring the magnitude of the injustice surrounding the boats in the Mediterranean and Channel.
However, the track which most resonated with me was I See Ghosts. In it, Dizraeli dives into his family history, talking about the complexity of his background, class, and some of his relatively recent ancestors who owned slaves. Lots of people in Britain, particularly those with middle-class backgrounds tend to stick their heads in the sand when thinking about the unsavoury parts of their family history, and this attempt to tackle it straight on, and come to terms with it is courageous.
Overall, the gig was a wonderful experience and although I miss the humour that permeated Dizraeli’s early music, the shift towards a darker, more serious thematic approach is probably necessary given the depth and intensity of the new material. The current fusion of jazz, electronica, beat poetry, and psychedelia showcases an artist who has evolved and developed dramatically. I think that this more serious approach leads to great art, and I would strongly recommend trying to catch one of the remaining dates of the tour.
Tickets are available here.
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