Flour is a difficult project to approach without preconceived notions. When a friend first suggested it to me, he quite plainly described it as “some Touch and Go solo project related to Steve Albini.” Indeed, on the surface, this is completely true and accurate. Flour is a one man band fronted by bassist Pete Conway. Conway had been using the name for sometime in the 80s, playing bass in Minneapolis groups Breaking Circus and Rifle Sport (with future Shellac drummer Todd Trainer.) Sonically, Conway also used the same tools of the trade as his peers; drum machines, fuzzed out bass, and razor thin guitar are all over the four Flour albums. In fact, the touring lineup for Flour often included Steve Albini and Todd Trainer. If before listening to Flour you think “this is going to sound like [insert Steve Albini fronted band here]” you will be right.
Well-half right, half dismissive. Yes, it sounds like that. It sounds a whole lot like that. Flour’s similarities also make the vast differences that much more apparent and appealing. Condway definitely could imbue his music with the same aggressiveness and energy of his peers, but underneath the surface lurked some incredible hooks. Cynicism certainly is fun (try it today kids!) but it can become a little overbearing and monotonous if your listening habits consist of a lot of Touch and Go releases from their late 80s/early 90s heyday. Flour’s records are a breather from that. This music is actually pretty entertaining and memorable despite its obvious parallel thinking.
Flour may not the most amazing and overlooked artist on Touch and Go’s vast roster, however their first two albums, the (criminally never reissued) S/T debut and Luv 713, should definitely be held in higher regard. If you are a fan of [insert Steve Albini related project here] or of [insert interesting music in general here] I can’t recommend this enough.
