Machinery Hill

Solo albums are often ensemble players' way of creating a more personal work than they can craft with their usual band. Pete "Flour" Conway creates charmingly eccentric music that flows seamlessly from industrial punk through progressive rock to something almost approaching psychedelia. Machinery Hill is an oddball masterpiece of grinding guitar, fluid bass, hammering drums, and very creative ideas. Flour's vocals are nothing special, a growl, spoken lyric, or croon fairly deep in the mix, but the strangely compelling mix of hardcore throb, intelligent lyrics, and unexpectedly delicate and lyrical guitar and keyboard work keeps listeners guessing. The final track is a practical joke on his audience that shouldn't be spoiled by telling you what it is. Just listen to the whole track, every minute of it, and you may find yourself laughing out loud. Either that, or hitting your CD player with a heavy, blunt object. The reviewer accepts no liability for either outcome, but recommends that you get this CD. Note: This reviewer also recommends that you purchase a small magnifying glass at the same time you purchase this CD, as the liner notes on the back are very, very funny and written in type that would give a mouse eyestrain. ~ Richard Foss