Caravan Dream Deliver An Escape From The Real World With Their Debut Album 'Fantasy'

Drawing from an eclectic mix of pop, rock, funk and more besides, Caravan Dream are a self-proclaimed four-piece pop rock band and ex-covers band based in Qatar, comprising of ex-pat band members from various corners of the world. They recently released their first album called ‘Fantasy’, a short, seven track work (barely half an hour in length to listen to), filled with mostly uplifting songs alluding to hideaways and dream locations. Perhaps with so much evil and negativity in the world it is something we can appreciate on many levels.

Opening track ‘Moonlight’ (also released as a single) is a very catchy pop, radio friendly, track in the broadest sense: a mainstream single reminiscent of a young Chris Martin finding his vibe with a teenaged The Edge from U2 providing guitars! Naive perhaps, but not unpleasing on the ear. The title track, and second single ‘Fantasy’ (second track in), is even more of an eighties vibe and offers the dream fantasy retreat from harsh reality as does the following track ‘Constellation’, a flowing song which gets pretty trippy in its melody and lyrics. ‘Lines’ is unlike the other tracks in that it’s more pleasingly punky in its form. It underscores the fact that this band has so many different influences it chops and changes a bit between them. ‘Home’ is a ballad, again, evoking a Chris Martin vibe. This track has a wistful quality and makes you think that the band members are thinking of their homelands and family. ‘Rock and Roll Girl’ isn't a rock track, necessarily, but its subject matter is about female empowerment and those eighties style guitars come back to punctuate the track. However, it is ‘Into Your Maze’ that demonstrates they can crank it up a bit louder if they wish to (should they pick a focused direction of musical travel going forward.) The track offers hope and unlike the others it basks more in the band's musical confidence; anthemically ‘soaring’ as it nears its conclusion.

If you put all the footy controversy associated with Qatar aside at the moment, this album demonstrates Caravan Dream’s ability to play well as a band and is unpretentious and easy on the ear. Certainly, I would imagine a set based on this album would be a crowd pleaser at any footy World Cup gigs they may play at. And there’s nothing wrong with that. However, it is almost like they aren’t quite sure of themselves yet. Musically, it will be interesting to see where they go to from here. Let’s see what road they choose.

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