Nicke Royale of the Swedish hard rock band
the Hellacopters has always been a serious fan of Detroit-style high-energy rock of the '60s and '70s, and in the '90s he got the chance to work with one of his heroes in his side project
the Hydromatics. Singer and guitarist
Scott Morgan led the excellent Detroit-based rock & soul band
the Rationals in the '60s, and in the '70s he was one of the founding members of
Sonic's Rendezvous Band, an unjustly obscure Michigan group featuring Fred "Sonic" Smith of
the MC5 and Scott Asheton of
the Stooges. Royale and Tony Slug of
the Nitwitz invited
Morgan to team up with them to pay homage to
Sonic's Rendezvous Band material, and
the Hydromatics were born. After touring Europe and Scandinavia, they released the album Parts Unknown in 2000, as well as releasing several singles.
The Hydromatics is a collection featuring the material from Parts Unknown in newly remastered form, as well as both sides of a rare 7" and six songs recorded during a 1999 tour. The result is a superb set of smart but gritty hard rock, with great songs, plenty of heroic guitar work, and vocals that demonstrate why
Morgan is one of the true heroes of Michigan rock & roll. Anyone who loves high-octane rock in the manner of
the MC5 and
the Stooges should find a place for
The Hydromatics in their collection. ~ Mark Deming