UNWOMAN: Blossoms

Unwoman

Blossoms

© 2007 Erica Mulkey (837101430326)

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Gorgeous works for cello, voice, piano, and electronics. "Side A" features richly orchestrated original songs and "Side B" includes settings of poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Unwoman's third 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.
...
"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

reviews

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  • Uniquely Talented
    author: Nancy Nickle

    Blossoms is "Unwoman's" (Erica Mulkey) third CD and an exceptional one at that. Erica's CD stands out due to an incredible voice and she plays the cello like I have never heard on an alternative album. After listening to "Blossoms" I had to purchase "Wildness and Artifice" which sounds totally different from "Blossoms". Erica puts electronic music into "Wildness and Artifice". I am totally impressed by this young woman's talent and she does it all herself. This is an artist to keep tabs on to see what she will invent next. Look forward to hearing this music in person...Nancy Nickle, Catz Go Round Records

  • Blossoms of a Wondrous Hue
    author: Sue Fechner

    A wonderful album - the only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars was that the tracks featuring Edna's poems didn't grab me with the same intensity as Erika's own lyrics. I suspect however that they shall creep up and grab me as well, eventually. That said, this is still an album that should be in the CD collection of anyone who claims to have eclectic tastes in music. Being partial to the sound of orchestral strings, having a cello as the central instument is a delight especially as it is played so deftly. I must single out the track "The Little Mermaid" as it was refreshing to hear a retelling of the original fairytale sans Ariel and singing fish. I am looking forward to giving Unwoman's next CD 5 stars.

  • Another great CD from Unwoman
    author: Peter Eimon

    I've been a fan of Unwoman's (aka Erica Mulkey) music since my days as a San Francisco gothling. Combine evocative vocals, intelligent lyrics, a cello, and an attractive woman in a corset and what's not to love? This is probably my favorite Unwoman CD to date; I definitely hope there are many more to come.

  • Dark Beauty
    author: Craig Gidney

    The new Unwoman project is quite beautiful. The first part is a collection of intensely personal, atmospheric cello-soaked darkwave songs that wouldn't sound out of place on the Projekt label. Part two is a song suite, with lyrics by the poet Edna St. Millay and a lone cello. But parts of 'Blossom' feature Erica Mulkey's clear, crystalline singing voice that reminds me of Sally Doherty. It's an exquisite album, mixing both art songs and arty pop in equal measure.

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