"Like
a true daughter of Lilith, Monica Richards dedicates her first solo
work to the Woman from all perspectives: Mother Nature, the oppression
of society, the Sensual Female, Mythology, the Slavery of the Ages,
and Death." - sonidobscuro.com
---
InfraWarrior
REVIEWS
InfraWarrior
is breathtaking craftwomanship. Monica's vocals are rich, lush and
in your face goodness (aka Goddess). William's pro producing along
with Monica's poetry is not an entire departure from FATM, more
like an adjunct. 'Fell to Regret' just whips me into a
frenzy of feelings of hope, gratitude and feeds my inner animal.
'In answer' opens with pounding tribal drums and sails into a chorus
of Monica. The music is driving...and makes me want to run in the
woods after the light. 'Into My Own' is what we call greatness.
'I'm not young, I'm not old, I've come into my own.' Monica shares
a bit of the spotlight with friends in the community... Fred Smith,
Kambriel, Jarboe, and even her father, Lloyd Richards, delivers
a powerful 'Gaia'. I am really impressed that someone can
write such a powerful album and it's even more amazing when it comes
from a friend whose work you have followed and admired for easily
15 years. -- Jules Cohen, RedJMusic/BMI
I have always
loved Faith and the Muse, the music is very much like a story -
with that I see many things while hearing their songs. InfraWarrior
is different than that, it is less of a story and more of a spiritual
and religious experience. I sense so much sincerity and exposing
of the soul. I see Mother Earth in every song, I feel her with every
beat and it affects the spiritual side of myself as opposed to the
artful, which Faith and the Muse does. This is Monica's best work
as a musician, but more so as a human being. Her contribution with
this album is above artful entertainment, there are lessons to be
learned and emotions to be shared. I must applaud her courage to
share so much of herself in this work and it is cleary shown that
this is exactly what she is doing. There are no characters, this
is Monica outside of myth and outside of lore, just her and I love
that. She has this compassion in her lyrics and yet I see Shiva
being honored by her followers, Mary by hers, and Gaia by hers.
InfraWarrior is brave and as a musician and human,
I respect Monica Richards for it as a whole piece of her heart.
-- Anthony Jones
Monica Richards
sheds the escapism that many Faith and The Muse fans expect, and
gets down to business. The frequent Afro-Celtic beats suggest that
these songs address (tragically) ancient issues. The opening 'Gaia'
is, ironically, written and spoken by Monica's *father* (and Renaissance
man) Lloyd Richards. It's a fitting start, the premise that the
earth itself is a Mother entity. Beauty in her voice, conviction
in her words, and blood in her teeth. The patriarchal crimes Monica
Richards denounces will continue beyond her lifetime, but her words
will echo into the future as well. Songs such as 'I Am Warrior'
- Tribal rhythm with chanted vocals and layered harmonies. Sounds
kind of like an Amazonian bonfire dance, 'Into My Own'-
Celtic rhythm gives way to hard rock, with some of the best singing
on the album. Fred "Freak" Smith brings a clean, hard
Tool-ish guitar to the party, 'Sedna' - A siren song with
a lurching, neo-martial groove. Jarboe has a spoken-word piece in
this one, 'The Hunt' - An ominous spoken piece with ambient
dread courtesy of Lustmord. The calm before the storm, which comes
four and a half minutes into the song, 'Death Is The Ultimate
Woman' - A hypnotic piece with a Middle Eastern appeal. Layers
of speaking and singing entwine like snakes, and 'We Are The
One' - The most modern-sounding track. It's a cover, and this
version has Depeche Mode appeal. 'Like Animals' - At least
1/3 of those who listen to this will cry. Solemn, gorgeous vocals
with no music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse." -- Scott Sweet/Amazon.com
All in all,
InfraWarrior installs a new dynamic for Monica
without breaking with the evocative musical universe of Faith And
The Muse. The latter, in addition, will not see its end through
the emergence of Richards as a solo artist. Simply, it add to the
whole of the subtle and hypnotic progression towards more concern
for the world. InfraWarrior clearly gains ground
on the music of Faith And The Muse, and even reminds me of the roots
of William Faith and the Christian Death/Rozz Williams period 1993/1994.
Monica was not part of this experience personally, her American
hardcore and punk roots come from bands like Hate From Ignorance,
Madhouse and Strange Boutique. Leaving these primal beginninings,
her voice continues the search for clean dynamics and proves on
the globality of this first test solo that the spirit can rise above
the hardness of Rock. InfraWarrior is a success,
and if this solo album of the Lady proves less explosive than the
work of Faith And The Muse, it does have any less relevance. --
Emmanuel/obskure.com
|
