Band: Factory of Dreams

CD Title: “Poles”

Label: ProgRock Records

Label Website: www.progrockrecords.com

Release Date: 2008

I recently was going on about solo-projects and how they’re seen in a completely different light these days. When you add to this discussion the number of CD’s that are put out as musical projects it gets really interesting. Perhaps one of the first to stand-out in this style was Ayreon. Well there’s another name you can add to the list, a name that’s fast becoming known to the progressive rock world and that’s Hugo Flores. First there was Sonic Pulsar, then his Project Creation and now his latest effortFactory of Dreams and the CD Poles. For this project Flores (guitar, bass, keyboards, drums) showcases the vocal talents of Jessica Letho.

Musically Factory of Dreams isn’t exactly like that of Project Creation. Here, on Poles there is a slight somber, gothic tone to the music. The scale is still epic, lushly orchestrated and extremely dramatic. Letho’s vocals command attention; they are sweet, operatic and movingly melodic. She sings on every track and in most cases her voice brings a haunting tone to the disc. Most of the eleven tracks on Poles are shorter in the three-to-four minute range, and yet there is plenty of variety; songs will start with a spacey tone, or simple electronics before building into huge anthemic pieces. None of the tracks are overly complex from a compositional standpoint. The complexity that is evident shows up in the dense arrangements. They’re heavily layered, with loads of keyboards providing electronic atmospherics, various strings and even lead lines. The guitar is added to this mix, most of the time providing lower end power chords and fuzzy lead lines. Here and there, some unusual percussion is added to some fat drumming and all the while Letho’s vocals soar over the proceedings. The overall feeling is dramatic, haunting, moving and grand. Lyrically there is a sci-fi theme running through the disc so it’s not surprising to have a musical feel similar to Project Creation, but here it’s not quite as heavy, still heavily orchestrated, but not as in-your-face, if you know what I mean.

Obviously if you’re a fan of Flores other work you’ll want to pick up a copy of Factory of Dreams. This applies to fans of the afore mentioned Ayreon and others creating music in that style. But the truth is if you are fan of gothic flavoured symphonic progressive rock, you’ll find much to enjoy here.