Massey Ferguson and his
Truckload of Hope
First appeared - Issue #12

The name immediately reminds you of those travelling snake oil carney shows that would travel through the Mid West of the US in the nineteenth century. Flash forward to the next century and a previous MF incarnation. Gutterville Splendour 6, Perth’s closest answer to the Beasts of Bourbon played in the bowels of many a Perth nightspot featuring the same Mr Flavel and his growling odes to death, sex and destruction. As he would describe in ‘Other Side Of Love’, track three of their one and only release Maurice was always on the wrong side of the street and perhaps will remain there.

“I’ve been ignored,” cries the Blowfly Records owner and charismatic frontman. “It’s only now that I’m getting some recognition for the influence I’ve had on some of the younger dudes in the Perth scene.” It’s been well documented that Kill Devil Hills have looked to Maurice for musical guidance in the past, even to the extent of covering his 6=5 on their WAMi award winning CD. Maurice just couldn’t believe the lack of Perth kudos that was given to the Guttervilles despite having continual airplay on the John Peel show in the UK and the CD being voted one of Australia’s Top 25 releases by Melbourne radio station 3PBS. That was then, this is now. MF and his Truckload of Hope have a fine five track release out and it’s a full aural and cranial blast. The deep deep blue of the abstract cover punctuated with a splash of blood red streaks gives some indication of the type of sounds found inside. Recorded by bassist Adam Burges in two separate East Perth share houses the EP contains all the usual spit and sorrow from Flavel’s mouth and pen. On ‘Under Your Wings’ and ‘Daddy Don’t Shoot’ Yeah Nah’s drummer Jason Barfoot, Burges and Alister McKeich swing and lurch this primeval machine into brutal action. The rocky ‘Kiss It Better’ has arguably one of Maurice’s best vocal performances. Underneath many of his vocal tracks is a ghostly second closely miked vocal that adds to the deathly atmosphere. “The next release is going to be more gospel,” says Mr F. Which makes sense. Every MF gig can be like a prayer meeting with Maurice preaching to his converted. It’s surely time for more Perth music lovers to join his congregation.

silentmusic@westnet.com.au