{ S T R A N G E F A M I L I A R }


Kris Swenson is the full time vocalist for electronic/progressive/rock band 99 names of god & has collaborated with various musicians, contributing vocals & lyrics. >> PRESS: Progression Magazine Issue #46 Godsofmusic.com Fort Worth Weekly MakeaStar.com Soundmag.com Music Morsels Online Magazine >> AUDIO CLIPS: Djam Karet Gavin Harrison and Dave Streett 99 names of god (+ video footage) Demos 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 Godsofmusic.com "The vocals are very sexy and tantalizing while the music brings out the sensuous feeling." - Becca Ramsey Fort Worth Weekly "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...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 a band whose promo schmatter namechecks William Burroughs and Albert Camus?" -Ken Shimamoto MakeaStar.com Review (excerpt) 99 names of god song "Gabrielle" is reviewed by MakeaStar.com's Industry Review Board "[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." Excursions cd review: Soundmag.com "The mix is brought to full flavor by Kris Swenson’s unique rich, dark yet innocent vocal style..." -Craig Villareal Music Morsels Online Magazine 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. -Mark E. Waterbury Djam Karet Song Title: "The Arcane" {.mp3} Music: Djam Karet Warr Guitar: Dave Streett Vocals/Lyrics: Kris Swenson Mixed/Produced by Djam Karet & Dave Streett (2005) Gavin Harrison Song Title: "red moon, blue remix" (excerpt) {.mp3} Music: Warr Guitar: Mark Cook & Dave Streett Drums: Gavin Harrison Vocals/Lyrics: Kris Swenson Mixed/Produced by Dave Streett (2003) 99 names of god Music: 99 names of god: Warr Guitar: Mark Cook, Drums: Jason Spradlin, Vocals: Kris Swenson. Featuring guest musicians on occasion - Scott Miles, Terry Horn, Mike McGary, Andrea Askins. CD: Interwoven - RedMoonRecords 2003 gabrielle the logos schemata into the grey room all those things CD: Excursions - RedMoonRecords 2000 white moon turns red uncertainty in 3 parts (excerpt) diamond-like-blue flamelicker (excerpt) a moment seems forever Video footage, performing with 99 names, live in Dallas, TX (opening for CellDweller) Live 2004 - Obsolence (.wmv) Live 99 names footage from the Curtain Club {08.29.04} by Larry Cross, with Visual Projections by Larry Cross. Scott Miles on drums. Live 2004 - Gabrielle (.wmv) Live 99 names footage from the Curtain Club {08.29.04} by Larry Cross, with Visual Projections by Larry Cross. Scott Miles on drums. Demos: Song Title: "chamber" {.mp3} Music: Programming, Warr Guitar: Mark Cook Vocals/Lyrics: Kris Swenson (2002) Song Title: "shriek" {.mp3} Programming, Warr Guitar: Mark Cook Vocals/Lyrics: Kris Swenson (2001) Song Title: "incinerate" {.mp3} Programming, Warr Guitar: Mark Cook Vocals/Lyrics: Kris Swenson (2001)