Jesse James McClear first conceived Heavy Water Factory in 1992. What began as an experimental studio project, flourished into a live band ... that has produced and released it's own music, toured on it's own initiative, and established a firm foothold in he underground electro scene. In 1995 HWF's first album "Fluid and Meat," was released on the band's own label "Graymalkin Productions." Immediately prior to released of F&M, HWF enlisted Scott Hixon as a second vocalist. The year of it's debut, saw HWF playing in club's native to Detroit with the likes of Hate Dept., Sister Machine Gun, Mentallo and the Fixer, Battery and Deathline International.
Upon returning from their first U.S. tour. McClear began working on the next HWF release. "I searched through literally dozens of tapes and sequence to put on 'Author of Pain' together. Not only was I looking for necessarily the best tracks, but ... some that showed our diversity." For McClear, a graphic artist by trade, HWF is an opportunity to express his emotions in a medium unbound by the visual spectrum.
"I'm constantly playing with new sounds. Sometimes it develops into a song, and sometimes it just gets lost somewhere on my hard drive ... There could be a couple new albums on there, if I really pressed it. I don't think it's necessarily the best way to go about it however. If the basic structure of a song doesn't come almost instantly, it probably was never worth further development." By combining his various timbers, McClear stakes out a new territory. One that his own emotional style of electronica.
The music alternates between lush soundscapes and sparse throbbing rhythms punctuated with well placed samples and emotive vocal line. Jesse's whispered vocals speak intimately to the listener. Complementing the music's sinister atmosphere with subtle tones. While contrasting delicate electronics with harsh emotions of the man in control. " lyrics are typically generated from emotions, triggered by a personal experience" related McClear "I could be referencing a specific event in my life, and putting it in some abstract way. Failed relationships are especially useful for this" McClear looks down as he smirks.
Scott Hixson's expressive vocal style compliments McClear's subtlety to perfection. Hixson's voice emotes his personal pain in a melodic catharsis. While McClear prefers to obscure his voice. "Author of Pain" conveys the emotions of it's creators. On a sublime level, that is is perceived by the listener as a feeling ... Rather an overt message of confessions. Indeed, the instrumental compositions on the album are as emotional as the vocalized sentiments. In affect Heavy Water Factory will continue to embody both in the studio and on the road.
To date, HWF has released the following 4 albums:
Fluid & Meat
Author Of Pain
Cries From Hell
Translucent Amber