THE CONWAY STORY are a band whose name has intriguing connotations: the 'Conway' in question being Anne Conway, a 17th Century philosopher who lived in constant physical pain and whose writings conveyed the idea of coming to terms with both this ongoing torture and religion's part in the grand scheme of human nature. Brave lady and then some.
Thankfully, The Conway Story's music isn't as tortuous, though "Even When The Wind Blows" is certainly dark, riffmungous gear from the London-based quartet whose immortally-named drummer Lenin Alegria hails from Chile. He's pretty handy with a pair of sticks an' all, actually.
Indeed, all the Conways acquit themselves admirably on "Even When The Wind Blows". It's confident, obsessive indie rock with epic, cavernous ambition all present and correct, but unafraid to come out from behind the FX pedals and be counted either. The impressive production comes from Sean Genocky (Manics, Suede) and while The Conways are hardly a ringer for either of those, the Manics' big rock schtick (circa "Gold Against The Soul") isn't such a bad signpost sonically, and Nik Owens' voice has a fleeting touch of Brett Anderson's tremulous androgyny. It's especially effective the way he sings: "The angel on your shoulder is laughing at me 'cos the monsters are coming" like the devil's tapping him on the back looking for a light, while the way the band swing into the chorus is pretty damn sublime.
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Shame they can't keep the heat on with the flipside "Flying Start", which is very much the epitome of slow-burning and anthemic and unfortunately brings Coldplay leaping uncontrollably to mind as an inevitable by-product. Oh well, a man can't have everything, can he?
Still, "Even When The Wind Blows" is nonetheless a fine, musclebound start. More than enough to suggest you proceed to chapter two of The Conway Story with confidence.
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