Album Notes

Unwoman presents her finest work to date on her own label Unmediated Productions. The first half features works for electronics, piano, cello, and voice, and delves into themes of love from a female perspective. The second half comprises lyrics by beloved poet Edna St. Vincent Millay which Unwoman composed for solo cello and voice; the final song "What Lips My Lips Have Kissed" adds piano.

Unwoman, who has played cello for Rasputina, Attrition, and Jill Tracy, received a BA in music and minored in electronic music at UC Santa Cruz. When performing live she plays the cello and sings simultaneously, a talent which took years to master and which audiences adore. Venues that have hosted the San Francisco-based musician include the Great American Music Hall, DNA Lounge, and the Metreon.

Unwoman writes, "While the first half of Blossoms is a logical next step from my previous work, the second half of this album is something different – it is an homage to the great American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, and also marks a new era in my composition and performance technique. I sang and played these songs at the same time for the recording, and some of the songs required only minor edits and maintain a live feel. Since it is so different from the first half, I chose to press CDs in the shape of vinyl records, and even included a faux deadwax etching in the process. 'What Lips...' is the perfect finale as it combines the organic instruments with the layered production style of the first."

Blossoms follows the critically acclaimed Knowledge Scars (2002) and Wildness & Artifice (2005) and is the third album she has composed, performed, produced, and published.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

"Like Kate Bush or Nico, Unwoman (http://www.unwoman.com) bravely steps beyond the word of pop, or anything remotely close to rock, into an uncategorizable, adventurous vision that is nevertheless steeped in history. With its mix and match of classical instrumentation and modern-day electronics, Unwoman does not occuy a specific place or time." READ FULL REVIEW AT http://www.whisperinandhollerin.com/reviews/review.asp?id=5266
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"Unwoman is Erica Mulkey, a singer/songwriter that swims in the chilly darkness of Siouxsie Sioux if she had replaced post-punk guitars and danceable synthesizers for cello and piano.
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"This is not sunshine radio, but a journey into the shadows. It’s one that I am certainly willing to make over and over again." READ FULL REVIEW AT http://transeuropexpress.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/unwomans-blossoms-blooms-with-a-dark-beauty/
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"On her third release Unwoman (nee Erica Mulkey) has gotten clever: instead of giving us one full length she has given us two distinct EPs. But don't fret, either way "Blossoms" is a beautiful listen." READ FULL REVIEW AT
http://www.sepiachord.com/unwoman.htm