99 names of god: REVIEWS

REVIEWS: 99 names of god

> Progression Magazine: Alex S. Johnson reviews "Interwoven". Issue #46, Sept. 2004

> Fort Worth Weekly: Ken Shimamoto Reviews Interwoven & Live Performance @ Ridglea, Jan. 2004

> Music Morsels: 'Interwoven' Review: Music Morsels, July 2003 issue

> MakeaStar.Com: Song "Gabrielle" (from Interwoven) review, October 2002

> SoundMag.Com: Soundmag.com's Craig Villereal reviews 'eXcursions,' April 2002

> Musicians.Net: Laura Beth reviews show @ Curtain Club, May 2001

> DFWScene.Com: Rey Chapa reviews show @ Curtain Club, May 2001

Interwoven reviewed by Progression Magazine

>>> September 2004: _____________________________________________________________________________

Progression Magazine Issue #46

99 NAMES OF GOD: Interwoven
2003 (CD, 56:17); Red Moon Records RMR0302
Style: Progressive rock/Industrial
Sound: Composition: Musicianship: Performance:
Total rating: 16 (scale: 0-16)

On this album, Mark Cook (guitars, programming), Kris Swenson (vocals/lyrics/keyboards) and Jason Spradlin (drums and keyboards) successfully mesh Tangerine Dream-like soundscapes ("Sleeproom"), thick and bombastic King Crimson art-rock ("Schemata,""The Logos"), and industrial noose noodling ("Indocile").

99 Names of God commands a catchy repertoire of hooks and pulsing rhythms together with an impressionistic scope portrayed by dreamy keyboard washes and sinuous bass/percussion lines. Like the musical grandchildren of Robert Fripp and Brian Eno, the band percolates through elegantly geometrical visions, perfectly complemented by Swenson's Bjork-like vocal performance.

"No Such Place as Nowhere" features Japanese lyrics, a bubbling disco pulse and paparazzi samples, contributing to the catholic, truly international sweep of the entire venture. "All Those Things" keeps a languid groove traveling through French folk-music atmospheres and toy synth textures. "Obsolence" swamps the narrative of Kafka's great story, "The Metamorphosis," with off-kilter haze guitar and layered beats.

It all adds up to sophisticated, commercial entertainment with a solid plumb-line to integrity.

- Alex S. Johnson, Progression Magazine

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01/07/2004

99 Names of God - Interwoven
(Red Moon Records)
By Ken Shimamoto

>>> January 2004: _____________________________________________________________________________

Fans of crafty, challenging rock music who've passed on the opportunity to see 99 Names of God perform (most recently on a number of the Ridglea Theater's great but under-attended progressive rock nights) have truly missed out. Even at relatively low volume, the band's stream-of-consciousness sound, incorporating elements of electronica, can be almost overwhelmingly intense. On Interwoven, the band's first full-length c.d. since 2000's Excursions, 99 Names' sonic palette encompasses stately webs of incandescent guitar fire, edgy electronic grooves, and icy, iconic vocalismo. Their songs flow together like the soundtracks to dreams.

Mastermind Mark Cook coaxes sounds that recall the early-'80s edition of King Crimson from the amazing Warr guitar, an instrument (named for its creator, Mark Warr) that resembles the flight deck of an aircraft carrier -- kind of like a Chapman Stick on steroids. On tracks like "Schemata," "The Logos," and "Obsolence," Cook produces the equivalent of both Robert Fripp's architectonic guitar parts and Tony Levin's undulating bass patterns simultaneously by tapping on the Warr's dozen or so strings. He also does a nice line in synthesizer programming.

Jason Spradlin blends the sounds of his electronic drums with pre-recorded drum loops and percussion samples, sounding at various times like industrial cacophony, a Near Eastern marketplace, or a whole tribe of cybernetic African drummers.

And Kris Swenson lays her breathy ice-princess voice atop the swirling vortex of sound. Overall, it's pretty heady stuff, but what else would you expect from an Arlington band whose promo schmatter namechecks William Burroughs and Albert Camus?

-Ken Shimamoto
FWWeekly.com January 2004 issue
©2003 FW Weekly All rights reserved.

99 Names of God - Interwoven

>>> July 2003: _____________________________________________________________________________

Starting off with a near war drum beat with splashes of breathy female vocals and electronica flourishes, 99 Names of God may be one of the fresher acts to come out in awhile. It's hard to pin down comparisons for this Dallas area trio; maybe a bit of Cocteau Twins and New Order with a dash of trance, but this is their own hybrid and it smacks of musical genius. Powerful without being noisy and slyly hypnotic, this tripod is one to watch out for. URL: www.99namesofgod.com E-mail: redjewel2000@yahoo.com

-Mark E. Waterbury
Music Morsels Online Magazine July 2003 issue

99 names of god song "Gabrielle" is reviewed by MakeaStar.com's Industry Review Board

>>> October 2002: _____________________________________________________________________________

"Extremely creative, ambient, soulful, well textured and layered, this track cut an edge deeper than the format it represents."

[lyrics]: Dark, provocative, and visual, these words touch on several senses. Mixed with the music, it makes me wonder how you ever got as far as writing them down. A wonderful expression...

[lead vocal]: Effective, yet elusive. I love the marriage of melody and character, and you’ve nailed it. A perfect combination of ingredients that stir the senses into frenzy. I don’t know whether to book a massage or organize the sacrifice of a virgin into an erupting volcano! Great pitch, tone, and delivery.

[originality]: (99 names) have taken this to another level on their own playing field.

[arrangement & production]: Hypnotic and infectious; Clearly, the rhythm track takes precedence and rules overall, but the alternating swells of psycho looped melodic guitar sprinkles, and the lush thematic keyboard beds add the finishing touches to this epic piece.

[musicianship]: (99 names) has managed to incorporate all of their gifts into a neat package that utilizes rhythmic skills, melodic sensibility, and harmonic creativity to their fullest extent."

Score: 9 (out of 10) -Industry Review Board, MakeaStar.com

(Reprinted with permission from MakeAStar.com)
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99 NAMES OF GOD -- 'Excursions,' Red Moon Records: CD Review

>>> April 2002: _____________________________________________________________________________

When an artist captivates you live and keeps you on edge until the fade of the last note, creativity has surely reached a mark of excellence. Its rare, in my opinion, when an artist maintains that same feel and sound on a CD. 99 Names Of God achieves this with seductive allure on their CD Excursions.

With their unique experimentation on the canvas of sound, this CD is a blend of natural and electronic sounds, brewing a hypnotic mood intertwined with a catalyst from some cosmic industrial realm — a pleasant departure from the norm. Hearing Mark Cook weave a tapestry of sound layered on the back bone of rhythmic clashes of Jason Spradlin is simply awesome! The mix is brought to full flavor by Kris Swenson’s unique rich, dark yet innocent vocal style. If you think that’s an ear full, just give this CD a spin! Live or on CD, there’s an audio-aroma you feel you’re detecting with some of your other senses! Provide ample time for a definite “eXcursion.” A good choice for listening while web weaving!

According to their web site at: www.99namesofgod.com, the next effort will be a swing
towards a heavy and more progressive sound. I eagerly anticipate its release!

- Craig Villareal
http://www.soundmag.com/ 4/23/2002

99 names of god:
an inventive, creative electronic gothic trance music with beautiful vocals to match the complexity

>>> May 2001: _____________________________________________________________________________

99 names of god.. .a name this severe gives the inevitable question of 'what is in a name?' 99 names of god gives you that question in your mind to "who is this"? What are they trying to say?——

The night in question was while I was on a quest at the Women Rockin' 4 Women festival this past weekend. I was on a quest to see who are these women in Dallas? What do they stand for and can they stand to represent Dallas for what I think she is worth? Inventive, ever changing, complex and understanding is what I witnessed in 99 names of god. The whole set was amazing, how she turned this place into her own cathedral. With programmed music at her finger tips, a beautiful electric flute for those moments I was transfixed. No this is not for you hard rock fans, 99 names of god is for the transcendentalist romantic electro dancer dreamer in you.

-Laurabeth, Musicians.net

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