Hugo Flores is a man of many talents. Clearly, his musical range of skills should impress most people, however, he goes way beyond that. Among his previous accomplishments are SONIC PULSAR, a mixture of progressive rock/metal, instrumental music and classic rock. For that work, Flores used several additional musicians and produced an innovative progressive work of significant sophistication, a well received offering that caught the eye of many and signaled Flores as a name to be reckoned with. A second project entitled Project Creation is even more expansive. The project includes a number of highly regarded musicians and is delivered through an expected 4 individual CDs. Additionally, the project includes a high budget film being produced along with the music, all in CGI plus a videoclip featuring Zara Quiroga who serves as the lead vocalist on the production. The dude likes to keep busy.

Factory of Dreams, however, is a little different, at least in terms of participation. The two musicians, however, do put out a lot of music. The musical theme is an incursion into a Fantasy World of Gothic Electronic and Progressive Rock music. There is a distinct story line, as there always seems to be in Flores’s music. For this title, Flores takes us to a land with two sides, Positiveness and Negativeness, Dark and Light called THE POLES. The world is ruled by a Generator of Illusions; the Factory of Dreams where the fuel is the Human mind and the blood is a river of emotions. It’s a science fiction story delivered through a gothic symphonic operatic musical vehicle.

Be clear that the music, although metal in a sense, is not the metal of other names in this area. There are guitars but they are not the guitars of the heavier bands, the After Forevers, The Epicas or the Nightwishes. Drums are digital. The keyboards deliver much of the symphonic components and are put to good use. And the extremely talented voice of Jessica Lehto is used to full effect. There are electronically generated components which serve to provide an electronic or industrial feel on some titles. A little different from the typical metal sound, but extremely interesting and richly delivered.

Lyrics tend to follow the story line. In Gliding Above the Ocean of Memories, Lehto sings:

Watching from Above

I see my memories

Drowned in the Sea

The sea of my own past

I recall my life

The good days and the bad

But I live for today

Denying my own Self

The lyrics are worth listening to. They speak to themes that are as current as today’s news. Flores talks to the tendency of modern society to take what they are told and view it as truth, without question. On Generator of Illusions he says:

Long ago

They came to this land

Found a corner to breed and live

Lost themselves in a

Senseless war of ideology

Lost in their own insanity.

Hmmmm, sound like anything you’ve heard before?

The production is exceptional. Individual titles often focus on individual skill sets. On Electric Boom the guitar is front and center. It is Flores’ principle instrument and is used to good effect over a fretless base with only limited vocal components. Other titles make more use of the flawless vocals of Lehto. The Piano in the Sea is one of these. It’s a soft ballad, with piano and electronica floating above the soothing vocals of the Swedish songstress.

Factory of Dreams, and Hugo Flores in general, may be a new name to many on this site. However, this is a serious talent, one that has already made a mark throughout parts of the world. It’s great music, an interesting lyrical story and a first rate production. And, it’s a good way to enter the world of Hugo Flores, a world of great music and rich thought. Just don’t plan to see it live.

9 / 10