"...this band's sound transcends category distinctions, but think Delerium crossed with Dead Can Dance with some Kate Bush and Portishead thrown in. This CD blew me away. Buzzbomb is the ultimate example of the new direction of music...exotic, sensual, hypnotic...a ground-breaking band, poised to bring music into the next century." --Sonya Shalnikov, Alternative Voice
"Dark and engrossing, MSL delivers their haunted lullabies with a fevered passion not seen in most electronic acts. While many in the genre prefer to hide behind masks of anonymity, MSL infuses their work with burning soul and emotion. It's this dose of humanity that breaks down the impersonal music and makes "BuzzBomb" so fulfilling. A true artistic achievement." --Tom Brazelton, N IOWAN
"In the course of reviewing I come across a great number of very talented bands. Once in a while something comes along that completely takes me by surprise. It gives me a fix of some addiction I wasn't even aware I was missing. My Scarlet Life and Buzzbomb seem to be that addiciton which I craved.This five member bands transcends any easy categorization. My Scarlet Life combines the flirtatious tone of New Wave 80's with electronica, diva-pop, and the subtle melancholia of today's ethereal goth/darkwave. Whatever starts with an energetic, upbeat tone, quickly shifts gears with a poignant, sorrowful turn, taking the listener on a ride non parielle...a fantastic group." --DK
"Buzzbomb, the 2nd album from Chicago's My Scarlet Life, is everything their previous album, Trypnotica, was and more. The overall sound of the album is decidedly more trip-hop. MSL continue to explore exotic instrumentation and melodies, this time with more confidence and integration. The production is very clever, reminiscent of Garbage or Massive Attack. I'm amazed by the variety of bizarre electronic and organic samples Preston used to spice the mix. The guitars are funkier, more confident and higher up in the mix. The sound of the vocals is quite unique...a very live, wet, in the same room as you sound. Lyrics, thoughts and images are pushed to the limit. Julie and Christy rely as much on metaphor as they do on reality. Buzzbomb is a very sexy album, with frank, erotic images Julie's and Christy's vocals are still the reigning divas of pop, even if most of the world hasn't heard of them yet. You can bet their time will come. You can't ignore great voices like these."
"The new album by My Scarlet Life is so excellent I had to listen to it five times in a row because I couldn't believe my ears. It's that good! First let me start with the vocals. Beautiful harmonies coming from two very talented female singers, the power in their vocals alone is amazing but when the two vocals get together, it blows your mind.
Not comparative to anyone in particular, their harmonies are pure bliss. Maybe the reason their singing is obviously from the heart is because they also write their lyrics.
The lyrics are wonderful and they lure you in, telling stories of heartache and loneliness, but also how they have power and can triumph. Pure emotion screams from the girls.
Then the keyboards and electronics are equally as amazing. Trip-hoppy beats with just a flash of 80's electro makes this album truly unique. Twists and turns through amazing synth action also lures you in with the vocals. When they add the very talented and diverse guitar, it's the best of all possible worlds.
My Scarlet Life is a band not to miss. They are equally as great live, in fact their live shows are truly amazing, watching all the talent in action.
From the hypnotic trip-hop of the song "HEARTACHE" to the quietly powerful "REFLECTION" and the loudly powerful "FIRE" to the 80's feel "RUBY KISSES", BUZZBOMB is not an album to ignore.
Excellent trip-hop electro with ethereal voices unlike no other. Go get it!" --Lisa Swiss, INDUSTRIAL NATION
"My Scarlet Life has taken their already-ingenious mix of trance, hip-hop, and erotica, and refined it into a truly unique, intoxicating and addicting style.
The effusion of creative emotion, the sensuous vocals of Julie Schreiber and Christy Cameron Smith, the morphing, shifting, tension-release is part of the magic of My Scarlet Life. Preston Klik's superb production/engineering values on BuzzBomb are even higher than Typnotica. This is an intensely creative, mysterious use of instruments and phrasing.
This band has more kinds of guitar/bass sounds than most others I've heard (thanks to Amy Spina and Paul Fini). They use insanely distorted, sustained open fifths, clean "chukkas", wall-o-sound, trippy bass licks, etc, all wonderfully produced.
Obviously the band put a lot of blood sweat and tears into these songs: strong compositions: lyrics that communicate, tension/ release, instrumenation that evokes mystery, emotion, eroticism, heaviness --whatever is needed. Most of the songs have upfront, memorable melodies.
I believe that is why the music of the Beatles is so enduring: it's melody-centric, are the songs of My Scarlet Life. My Scarlet Life's style is consistently rooted in the strength of the compositions.
BuzzBomb is even tastier than Trypnotica, and totally enjoyable to listen to. --Steve Vincent, TRANSONIQ HACKER
My Scarlet Life's 3rd CD, BuzzBomb, was recorded at KlikTrax, Chicago, and released in February 1998. The band has found the sound it's been looking for, has found its personality, its vision --which takes a dark and moody form and mixes it with The Beat.
Food for the mind and the larger brain (the 'larger brain' --that's what Brian Eno calls the body, because it's instincts and rhythms and codes have been wired and developing for millions of years).
The Musicians: Preston Klik: Organizing Principal, Samples & Sonics.
Julie Schreiber-Axis: Lead and Harmony Vocals, Lyrics, & Flute.
Christy Cameron Smith: Lead and Harmony Vocals & Lyrics.
Amy Spina: Guitar, Bass, & Percussion.
Paul Infiniti: Guitar & Percussion.
Check out all these other great DivaNation acts :
Karma Sutra, Pointy Teeth, Scarlet Life, Bed Of Roses, My Scarlet Life.
www.DivaNation.com
Read more...