|
REVIEWS
Legends Magazine 
"Since the 1997 debut release of the self-titled album , fans
of Dissonance have been waiting for the follow-up. Finally late
in 2001, nearly a half decade later, electro-dance guru Kristy Venrick
at Nilaihah Records saw fit to pick up and release an album from
the Cat Hall and David Sebrind duo. Reincarnate is a much stronger
sound for the laid back band of old, and with mastering by Oneroid
Psychosis' Lars Hansen the production is high end as well. After
getting the debut album, I also received a demo of a side project
by Cat called Sinistar. I loved it - I reviewed it and the review
never went to print for a bunch of different reasons. But Sinistar
was heavy and tearing where Dissonance was light and groovy. I was
dying to see a full length by Sinistar, but it never happened. However
now my wish has been satisfied in Reincarnate. Their previous work
was softer and while Reincarnate has the moodiness and darkness
that first had, it's much more razor sharp. Heavier and more biting
in both sound and lyrics. Where Collide melds, Dissonance now scrapes.
Where Glis floats, Dissonance suddenly tramples. It's an amazing
release and there isn't a bad song here. I'm writing this review
myself because I'm not letting this copy of Reincarnate get out
of my hands. But if you long for the lighter, older-skool Dissonance
tune in first to track 4, Tightrope. Here Cat and David create a
lighter song that harkens back to their older work on their debut
album, but touch it up with heavier rhythms and a very pronounced
bass line that bubbles heavily through you. Fearless gets a little
funky with an awesome bass that bounces about. Cat shows us what
she can do with her wonderful voice given the chance with strong,
soprano vocals during chorus bars. Also on Reincarnate is a remake
of the Beatles song Eleanor Rigby. I actually think this version
is better than the original. I won't ruin the surprise with a deep
description. Anxiety is pure bliss for any floor stomper. Amazing
hooks, catchy riffs and tearing vocals. And check out Sinking for
more examples of what kind of interesting work David can do with
bass and rhythm. A master sound programmer if ever there was. Closing
Reincarnate is Lars' remix of Desperate. This remix version pulls
out all the rhythms and bass and creates a windy version of the
song. I prefer the former, but that's not to say that Lars' version
is in any way bad. Desperate just sounds more appropriate with the
heavier sounds. What we have here is an older, wiser, more cynical
and heavier Dissonance. Reincarnate is a perfect name for this long-awaited
release. In closing, Reincarnate is yet another winner on the Nilaihah
catalogue that includes such bands as The Azoic, Oneroid Psychosis,
and Fiction 8. A perfect ending to the label's 2001 releases, assuming
that the unsleeping Kristy Venrick isn't busy finishing up yet another
amazing piece of work. " --Marcus Pan, Legends
Magazine - Issue #117
Dark Realms Magazine
'Reincarnate' marks the second release from the duo of composer/musician
David Sebrind and songstress Cat Hall. The rich production quality
of the multi-layered tracks form a plush, synthetic bed for Cat's
purring vocals. Electronic dance tracks such as "Anxiety" and "Drained"
are energetic and fast-paced, while "Tightrope" has a slower, steamier
allure. "Fearless" pulses with an infectious, hip groove. A techno
remake of "Eleanor Rigby" comes across like a sultry, gothic dance
track. With 'Reincarnate', Dissonance further establishes themselves
as one of the freshest acts in the darkwave pop scene. --Richard
Pickman, Dark Realms
Magazine -
Issue #5
Hard Wired Magazine
Genre:synthpop/electro
Rating:3.5/4
review by Carl Jenkinson
This superb second album from the American duo of Cat Hall & David
Sebrind, known collectively as Dissonance offers a mix of synthpop,
electro & dance that benefits from a distinctive turn of phrase
(musically speaking) throughout.Whatever the duo turn their hand
to the result is indelibly stamped with a flair for carefully rendered
atmosphere & melody, even the dancey commercial "Fearless" avoiding
any characterless 'four-on the-floor' ideas by means of an assured
delivery that touches the mind as well as the body. The razor-sharp
basslines (which even the Signal 12 mix of "Control" has the good
sense to accentuate!) adds a sting to the tail of these essentially
pop tracks although an emotive & thoughtful approach means the results
rise above any commercial mediocrity. Cat's vocals shine most obviously
from the superb synthpop of "Desperate", the slightly harder edged
"Drained" & the atmospheric electronica of "Control" & this potent
combination of atmosphere & rhythm is one the band resort to throughout.
The dramatic & action-packed "Sinking" offers further proof of the
wisdom in this approach, as does the attention-grabbing opener "Anxiety"
which sounds as if Marc Almond dropped in to do the vocals. Less
successful is the cover of "Eleanor Rigby", one of those tracks
that is pretty much impossible to cover satisfactorily. It's a challenge
that very few bands (if any) could ever hope to master so the fact
that the version included here doesn't quite come up to scratch
is no disgrace.
The opening & closing sections of the instrumental "Passing" brings
the band's ambient leanings to the fore as the track expertly builds
in intensity into a hard-hitting (but too damned short!) mid-section
which sounds more like a European EBM act. That this is the only
likeness to any band or style I can think of is testament to the
distinctive sound that Dissonance offer.
MK Ultra Magazine
Cat Hall has one hell of a sexy voice. Meow! If anything catches
you about this disc it's the vocals. Hall's devilishly seductive
voice reverberates delicately through the spinning webs of keyboards
and synthesizers created by David Sebrind, the man behind the deep
musical soundscapes. He weaves his magic throughout twelve tracks,
filling in all the holes, never leaving any songs with that "empty"
feeling -like the music just fell down a hole. Sebrind even puts
together a nice instrumental, track 10, "Passing," that starts with
a 1-2 synth drone that sounds like it should have been included
on the Tron soundtrack. (hey, that movie had cool tunes!) Your finger
will never itch for the "next track" button on your CD player with
this one Relax and let yourself drown into the noise. -Moe Wyoming,
MK Ultra Magazine
OUTBURN
Electro Goth Rock: With their latest release, entitled Reincarnate,
the Texas based duo showcases a highly infectious concoction of
aggressive electronics and danceable rhythms anchored by the powerful
femme fatale vocals of Cat Hall. The album's opener, "Anxiety" sets
the pace for the rest of Reincarnate as Cat's biting vocals
instantly grab the listener while David Sebrind's crisp programming
almost drags them through a dizzying, yet satisfying sonic journey
filled with feelings of paranoia and urgency. On "Drained," Cat's
layered vocals briefly reveal her own conflicting worlds as the
effortlessly transitions from a detached tone to a slightly more
emotionally charged expression, though seemingly holding back just
enough to keep the listener wanting more. Elsewhere on Reincarnate
, the team of Hall and Sebrind reveal a more seductive side, as
can be heard on the haunting beauty of "Tightrope" or the chilling,
beat driven piece, "Sinking." Also included on Reincarnate
are remixes by the brothers Leif and Lars Hansen. "Control (remixed
by Signal 12/Leif Hansen)" takes the original and shines it into
an accessible midtempo EBM track, while Lars' Oneiroid Psychosis
remix of "Desperate" strips the song of its rhythm and replaces
it with cold, atmospheric electronic walls of sound. Overall, Dissonance
creates a very enticing blend of emotion driven electronic music
that is dark, introspective and angry, all at once. With Reincarnate,
the duo of Cat Hall and David Sebrind successfully create a powerful
blend of darkwave, electro, and rock elements tied together by human
emotion. - Brian Lumauig OUTBURN
Magazine
RE/Volt and Grinding into Emptiness
Dissonance are an American duo of Cat Hall (vocals & lyrics) & David
Sebrind (programming).Their music sits well within modern electro
realms with razor sharp basslines atop a varied range of powerful
rhythms.They never go for the simple `thud thud` backing but instead
employ a greater range of tempi & patterns which benefit the album
as a whole,particularly with the fragmented backing of tracks such
as "Sinking" & the less explosive "Second".This gives the duo a
greater range of styles to exploit which is another bonus for them
& the listener. Songs like "Anxiety" with it`s very Marc Almond
influenced vocals (which don`t sound like a female although no male
vocals are credited) & the powerful & upfront "Desperate" both work
well as dancefloor killers as does the clubby "Fearless" which also
packs a strong emotional punch "Drained" proves that the duo are
not afraid to look outside traditional electro realms with many
contemporary electronica influences whilst still retaining that
all important power while the booming beats of "Second" will shake
the foundations! The shuffling rhythms employed on "Tightrope" provide
the backbone to a slightly moody piece with slight goth/ethereal
overtones,especially with the layered chorus vocals. That`s not
to say that they`re not also adept with the more ethereal side of
electronic music as "Passing" proves with it`s ambient/cosmic opening
gradually gaining in intensity & power until it makes the grade
as a powerful & storming electro workout.Sadly this is over all
too soon & while the opening theme is returned to there are darker
elements at work here,to set a feeling of unease.This ethereal feel
is taken to it`s logical conclusion with the Oneiroid Psychosis
remix of "Desperate" which bears only a superficial resemblance
to the original with it`s massed strings,serene ambient chords setting
the scene for Hall's vocals to soar atop the lush but brooding synthetic
backing Signal 12 provide the other remix & their version of "Control"
cleans up the original,slightly gothy version with a clean cut electro
workout,slightly stripped down but still as catchy as hell with
the bassline cutting like a knife! Mention must also be made of
the version of "Eleanor Rigby" which fits in well with the rest
of the album but,to be honest,is hard to take seriously.With the
original hovering forever in the background this comes across as
a little sterile & lacking the mournful mood of the original Dissonance
have come up with a real winner here with 10 original tracks making
for one of the most progressive & innovative electro albums of modern
times. To find out more go to www.nilaihah.com reviewed by Carl
Jenkinson - 5/9/02
The Madison Isthmus
Reincarnate’s sinewy electronics slither, seduce, jab and morph
— a cross between the eccentricity of Downward Spiral-era Nine Inch
Nails and the druggy techno-pop of, say, Depeche Mode. Those comparisons
cease once Cat Hall’s deep, dark-chocolate voice pierces the mix.
Shadowy yet confident, she administers in classic goth-rock style,
flowing like the long black skirt of some dance-club femme fatale.
As much as Hall — who recently relocated to the Madison area from
the band’s home base of Texas — defines the band’s sound and image,
I have to admit that my favorite track here is programmer/synthesist
David Sebrind’s "Passing," a sci-fi-leaning instrumental
with a nice hint of ’80s Euro-pop in the rhythm track. -- Al Ritchie,
The
Madison Isthmus
Maximum Ink
Pop-industrial synthesis is blended with deep, rich female vocals
on this disc. Sounding like a mating of The Eurythmics and Nine
Inch Nails, Dissonance is able to communicate very human emotions
through the inherent coldness of electronica something that many
techno bands seem unable or unwilling to do. Despite a large sound,
the group has only two members with Cat Hall on vocals and David
Sebrind handling the synthesis, programming and sequencing. This
is a very dark album, but it retains a pop edge simply through the
catchy melodies found throughout the tracks. While songs like "Fearless"
and "Drained" have a decidedly danceable groove to them, others
like "Tightrope" and "Second" are more subdued rhythmically. The
most interesting song on the CD is the eerie, metallic version of
The Beatles "Eleanor Rigby." Anyone can do a cover, but making it
your own takes talent, and there's plenty of ability in this band.
--Jeff Muendel Maximum
Ink's website
Gothic Beauty Magazine
"'Reincarnate is Dissonance's latest release. Cat Hall (vocals)
and David Sebrind (programming) make up this electro group hailing
from Texas. I've been a Dissonance fan for about 2 years now, so
this release was highly anticipated for me. Strong tracks include
"Tightrope", "Anxiety", their remake of "Eleanor Rigby", with :Desperate"
as one of their stand-out tracks. This song ("Desperate") has been
produced and mixed very well. Electronically speakin,g, it's the
best song on the album. The more I listen to "Reincarnate", the
more I like it. " --Constantine, Gothic
Beauty Magazine - Issue #4
Electro-Age
The name Dissonance is somewhat of a misnomer, as this duo are not
particularly dissonant in their music. Rather, the music on Reincarnate
is melodic, club-friendly electro with female vocals singing with
a balance of harmony and musical aggression. Deceptive name aside,
Cat Hall and David Sebrind make music in the vein of Battery and
label-mates The Azoic, though unfortunately come across as derivative
versions of these bands rather than adding anything. Not that Reincarnate
is bad, but it’s not something that hasn’t been heard done before,
and better. That said, there is some merit in the album. Hall is
a good vocalist with a deeper register and a sometimes gritty edge,
Sebrind’s music is well-programmed, and they work very well together.
Anxiety and Desperate are solid club tracks, full of pop-like hooks
and melodies, and the disco-beat of Fearless is very catchy indeed.
Some distortion edges around the pulse of Drained which makes for
a nice texturing with thr breakbeat styled percussion, but the basic
electro-pop synth glaze that touches every track is detracting Passing
is a track that works; some tribal percussion, a bit of digitalised
noise and dark atmospherics fronted with Hall’s voice all comes
together. Over all though, Reincarnate is not terribly spectacular.
Two remixes from Lars and Leif Hansen seem a pale attempt to make
it seem as though there is more here than there really is. Also,
too many gaps in the music are lightly filled by generic syth effects
and slick production, giving an ultimately empty impression, and
lyrically there is much to be desired, something that covering Lennon
and McCartney’s Eleanor Rigby makes painfully obvious. The result
is a tepid album that sounds all right, but isn’t overly engaging.
Dissonance is: Cat Hall and David Sebrind
Electro-Age's website
Morbid Outlook
Dissonance - Reincarnate
Track Listing: Anxiety, Eleanor Rigby, Desperate, Tightrope, Fearless,
Sinking, Control, Drained, Second, Passing, Control remix by Signal
12/ Leif Hansen, Desperate remix by Oneiroid Psychosis/ Lars Hansen.
Hot off the presses from Nilaihah Records is Dissonance - 12 tracks
of dark electro beats for those days when you want something with
a little more bounce to it. The cover version of the Beatles
classic Eleanor Rigby is simply astounding and begs for a few lengthier
remixes. Other delicacies are remixes by Signal 12/ Leif Hansen
and Oneiroid Psychosis/ Lars Hansen. Check out samples at their
mp3 page. -- Mike Ventarola Morbid
Outlook's website
Alternative Zine
Dissonance - Reincarnate
A combination of two tones or more that creates a strident sound
or a dark-electro-pop duo that creates a very exiting pleasant sound.
Dissonance second album under Lars Hansen (Oneiroid Psychosis) production
reminds a bit of Garbage last two albums.
“Reincarnate” hits off with two songs that any of them
can make Dissonance career: “Anxiety” with rhythmic guitar
riff played on wicked synthesizer (a trick they use very successfully
all along the album), Madness style melody and an excellent C -part.
Song number two is an electro cover for the Beatles “Eleanor
Rigby”. Doing a Beatles cover usually considered to be quite
a dangerous act but dissonance pulls it off with a new psyched out
version, Cat Hall sings so low that there’s a good chance she
sings by the original scale.
There are also several songs that are in dark-80s style like the
gentle “Fearless”. And for an encore there are two additional
remixes: A remix by Leif Hansen (Signal 12) for “Control”
combining Darbuka samples. The other one is a simple remix by Lars
Hansen for “Desperate” with a repetitive chord riff over
which there’s the vocal line and some effects. David Sebrind
is an excellent programmer and composer and Cat Hall has Shirley
Manson’s looks and style with a bit of Marilyn.
Although “Reincarnate” is more than a bit alternative
mainstream it is that same thing that make it stand out in a time
when every Electro album sounds the same or drifts into Club-Trance.
-- Tal Galfsky Alternative
Zine's website
Gothling.com
Dissonance - Reincarnate Hard and dark with raw female vocals, with
hard-rockin' cover of "Eleanor Rigby" included. Lots of
electronic atmosphere. Nice release from Nilaihah Records, my favorite
little independent label, produce by the Oneiroid Pscychosis boys.
--bloodlossgirl, gothling.com
_____________________________________________________________________________
self-titled debut
Interface Magazine
"There has been a recent surge of high-octane female fronted
(and backed) electronic bands of late. While this is refreshing
and long overdue, most of these bands have failed to really impress
me. Not that they are worse off than their male counterparts, which
they're not, it's just that few have stood out as top-notch in my
eyes. Among those that have are Sunshine Blind, Collide and now
Dissonance. This female fronted electronic band's debut was produced
by ex-Insoc/Think Tank Paul Robb and released on his Hakatak International
Label. The duo from Texas show strong Pop sensibilities, without
ever losing their "indie edge". For those of you just
striking out into the underground electronic rock music scene, imagine
a mix of the Eurythmics on steroids, Garbage's nineties rock sound
(minus the guitar) and the beat heavy funky side of Information
Society." --Andy Waggoner, Interface Magazine - Issue #10
Buzzmonger Magazine
"Dense electronica that is altogether dark, danceable, loud,
listenable and probably more intelligent than the audience it's
geared towards. Word has it that the live show is a fairly thunderous
experience. Flawless execution and reproduction of studio work,
a pulsating light show and the crowning jewel herself; the chanteuse
Cat Hall. Cat glides in and out of the swirling vortices of fog
and light; an imposing figure radiating neon, energy and beauty
singing siren songs to rapt audiences. Awesome and underrated."
--Buzzmonger Magazine
BabySue
"Techno dance music that reminds me of Republica as well as
Annie Lenox. Dissonance is the duo of Cat Hall and David Sebrind.
This Texas duo writes some excellent tunes, and the instrumentation
is way above average for dance music. These folks must be doing
something right, because this music makes me want to dance. Bright,
upbeat, catchy, and energized." --Don W. Seven, Babysue Review
- Issue #24, April, 1997
http://www.babysue.com
Keyboard Magazine
"Eurythmics go synthcore. The instrumental tracks grind pretty
hard, but in place of the snarled / spoken male vocal that you'd
expect in this genre, you get an impassioned female singer. Cat
Hall's vocals are very processed, but not so much that it obscures
her nuances. A fair quotient of spiffy electronic effects, too --
burbling fills, high sweeps, distorted loops. It would be sexist
to assume that they were all contributed by David Sebrind, the other
half of the duo. He doesn't sing, so it's a good bet he's responsible
for at least some of the racket." --Jim Aikin, Keyboard Magazine
- July, 1997
CKMS Radio
"I did have some of these songs in other forms already, but
these versions are really good. The newer version of 'Desolation',
which was the first Dissonance song I ever heard, off of the Cat
Scan 1.0 compilation from Control-Alt-Delete, is SO good.. the synths
are powered up and the beat much more powerful. I rather liked the
more vibrato sound to her voice in the original, but it's still
equally as strong and expressive. I really like the melancholic
tone to Cat's voice.. an emotion that's not expressed with many
other voices, and the music gives a great energy to the songs. Excellent,
all around. Hard enough for the dancefloor, and soft enough for
lighter listening." --CKMS-FM 100.3 and 95.5 on Cable, Waterloo,
Ontario, Canada
http://watserv1.uwaterloo.ca/~ckmsinfo
CAKE Collection
"The moment I popped this tape into my stereo, I was immediately
transported to First Ave.'s Danceteria. The multi-layering of guitars
and synthesized sound creates a pulsing, yet melodic wall-o-sound
that could very well compel one to shake one's groove thing. Lead
vocalist Cat Hall's voice is laid down like a half-n-half saturated
swatch of velvet across a sizzling circuit board. No boundaries
broken, no senses offended- just a glossy symbiosis of electronics
and humanity. If you're into this genre, get your paws on this tape
and...Dance! Dammit! Dance!" --Michael Lessing, CAKE Collection
- Issue #39, Falling, 1995
back to Dissonance - Reincarnate
|
