Dream Wife - Academy, Manchester, 9/4/2018

by Dixie Ernill

published: 10 / 5 / 2018

Dream Wife - Academy, Manchester, 9/4/2018

Dixie Ernill at the Manchester Academy finds that Dream Wife, while proving to be genuine, still lack the vocal punch to convince him that they are worthy of the hype.

Article

Having previously only seen photographs of the band and read the odd review I am unsure as to whether or not Dream Wife are a genuine band or some kind of industry in-joke. Band members named Alice Go, Bella Podpadec and Rakel Mjoll only add to this conspiracy theory. Seeing them live, supporting the Vaccines at a sold out Manchester Academy, it is, however, instantly apparent that they are the real deal as they belt out an array of punk-pop tracks. Mainly lifted from their self-titled debut album, the songs bristle with energy driven on by Podpadec’s muscular bass and Go’s stylist raw guitar work. Singer Mjoll may not have the strongest voice, but oozes charisma and displays enough pouts and lustful looks to keep the teenage boys in the crowd on point. 'Hey Heartbreaker' is a catchy opener, while 'Kids' and 'Somebody' also burrow into the brain, but set closer 'F.U.U.', like the Spice Girls with Tourette’s, is the perfect showstopper to end upon. Somewhere in the middle new single 'Fire' rings out with angular guitar stabs, but again the vocals don’t quite do the song justice. Dream Wife are certainly a band to keep tabs on and do have an appeal, but right now they are still some way behind the excellent Desperate Journalist and as such for me, at least, the jury is still out.