The Voices' own Glenn Hughes [Deep Purple] will release his next solo album, Building the Machine September 24th.

"It's an album of rock, funk, soul and moments that I consider make up the finest rock record I have done in a number of years." That's the way Glenn Hughes describes his latest solo outing, Building the Machine. It was recorded in February 2001 and features a guest performance by the Voices' Pat Travers and Bobby Kimball. Bobby enthuses, "The album is amazing, just GREAT!"

Glenn declares, "My definition of rock has always been from the roots of my formation of Trapeze with Funk, R&B and Soul and this album is a return to that. It's also a return to more melodic vocals."

The title of the album itself was actually inspired by a child. Glenn explains, "I was going to call it something more trippy or flowery. But, I was having lunch with my wife, her boss and child. The kid wasworking on a Lego set. I said to his father, 'doesn't he want to eat?' and Gabby [my wife] said, 'no darling he's building the machine.' And it was then that I thought that would be the perfect title for the album."

So what has Glenn Hughes and company built? What is "The Machine?" Hughes reveals, "The machine I have always been building, especially with this album, is a 'soul machine.' I am an artist that lives inside my music."

Bobby Kimball & Glenn Hughes

Glenn also enjoys collaborating in the studio with some high-powered musicians. Bobby Kimball (Toto) appears on the album. Glenn said, "I wrote a specific background vocal track for Bobby. I had not seen Bobby in a few years and we began hanging out last year. I thought it would be great to have another voice on my album. I always sing all the background [vocals] myself and Bobby's one of the best singers I know so I chose him."

Accompanying Glenn throughout the album: JJ Marsh on guitar (who appeared on Hughes' last 4 albums), Gary Ferguson (drums), Vince Dicola (keyboards). Hughes also has praise for his co-producer, Michael Scott who has helped Glenn out on his last 4 albums. Scott has also worked with Van Halen. Hughes says, "He is a younger guy (in his 30s). He is a major Glenn fan but also knows current music."

The tracks on Building the Machine build on one another. The musicianship is very powerful and as expected, Glenn's vocals are extraordinary. The variety of songs on this album will certainly show listeners virtually all aspects of Glenn's rock-oriented musical personality. Here are some random thoughts from Glenn about the tracks:

• "Here Comes the Flood": It's a real big rock track, huge chorus, heavy, funky.
• "Inside": Extremely retro-funky (featuring Bobby Kimball of course), great guitar solo.
• "Out On Me": An ode to my early 70s roots in Trapeze. It's a very bar room, staggering sexy rock track. I think it is one of the best songs I have written and I feel like an 18 year old kid when I am singing it. It's one for my fans to go straight to.
• "I Just Want to Celebrate": The Voices' Peter Rivera did this one originally with Rare Earth and The Voices own Pat Travers guests on this one. We share the vocals and it is a great classic rock track.
• "Don't Let It Slip": One of my favorites. It also features Bobby Kimball. Super funky, will get everyone dancing and it's got a really effective hook.
• "High Ball Shooter": A re-recording of a Deep Purple classic. I get to sing both Coverdale and Hughes parts together this time. It was going to be a bonus track but my co-producer [Michael Scott] thought it was too strong and thought it should be included on the album.
• "When You Fall": The melody is just awesome. It's a very heavy song but I love it.
• "I Will Follow You": It's the blues song on the album. There's a guest keyboardist on it, John Beasley, Miles Davis' keyboard player.
• "Beyond the Numb": This is a song I wrote for a wife of a friend of mine who died of drugs last year. It's about someone who is in a lot of pain from addiction. This song is very dark but very beautiful.
• "Big Sky": This is an acoustic track, very bare. It's a song I wrote for one of my best friends who died of liver failure and kidney failure last December. This is my goodbye song to him.

Hughes reflects that the album does have a lot of personal material and lyrics on it. He muses, "I don't write about goblins and weasels. I write about human conditions, what goes on in my life and hopefully everyone else has the same emotions in their life." Building the Machine will be released in America on the DNA label, in Europe on SPV and Nippon Crown in Japan and Asia.