| CYOAKHA GRACE
Reviews: Film Soundtracks by Cyoakha
the soundtrack by Cyoakha Grace O'Manion is
a fascinating blend of new age structure and sonic weirdness.
The DVD release by Guerrilla Productions allows you to watch the
film's 100 minutes without the voices or sounds, but just awash
in the music and images. It's a surreal experience,
distinctly unique, and Lovecraftian to the bone.
O'Manion has captured another element so often lost in Lovecraft
adaptations: the importance of music. Be it otherworldly
in nature, the eerie sounds produced by and for the monsters of
the void are finally given a chance to play a part with subtle effectiveness.
The sounds are not recognizable, which was one of the stipulations
placed upon O'Manion by the director, who did not want the music
to come from any identifiable source or instrument.... lending heavily
to the creation of this animatic world's believability."-The
Horror Channel
"...And speaking of appropriate, the lush, mesmerizing
soundtrack by Cyoakha Grace O’Manion
of the band Land of the Blind perfectly complements Thompson's remarkable
dreamscapes. Even when the primitive animation was at its most stilted,
the music swept me along through the story."
RPGnet Review
"2003 also saw the release of DREAM-QUEST OF UNKNOWN
KADATH, adapting the Lovecraft novel as a full-length animated
feature....but its’ score, by underground musician
Cyoakha Grace O'Manion.. is a “gorgeous,
haunting score… complements the visuals perfectly,
and gives the whole film a sense of dream awe and dread.”
(-imdb.com posting) Soundtrack is available on CD via O’Manion’s
web site."
"...One of the qualities of great art is
that it continues to reveal itself in subsequent viewings, that
it is so rich and packed with ideas that it can't be consumed in
a single sitting.... The music is so good that
it may even obscure some of the dialog now and then..." --
Gavin Smith, unfilmable.com
Reviews of Cyoakha's recording work
"The key sonic ingredients here are the dense layered
odd-meter percussion, swooping dancing violin lines, stern arpeggiated
guitar figures and occasional soundscapes plus Cyoakha Grace's
haunting soprano spinning mysterious tales and musings.
Her voice is at once soothing and very commanding;
you just can't ignore her beauty, vocally and otherwise."
Progressive Ears
"The names of Lisa Gerard and even
Toyah come to mind when hearing the gorgeous vocals
of Cyoakha Grace but her voice is sounding a lot more eastern
and is a delight to listen to especially when she
reaches the higher tones." progarchieves
Reviews of Cyoakha's Live Performances
"Cyo, Krystov, and the Blind put on a really good show
last night in Berkeley at the Starry Plough....
opening for Tempest.... Anyone who has seen Cyo
live knows the presence she commands on stage.
Krystov also has a strong stage presence... really enjoyable to
watch. However, it's their music that really captures you. All of
the arrangements of the Blind songs are really stripped down in
this incarnation...They bring out Cyo's voice to the forefront even
more than ever before....Krystov's trademark beautiful digeridoo
playing it brought a new vibe to many of the Blind songs. ... I
am a bit effusive in my praise of Cyo's performances. I just really
feel that she does some very creative music, is a wonderful
performer, and always plays with excellent musicians".
--Bill Mazur, EctoGuide for Eclectic Female Singers
*nominated to "American Music Mavericks"
*Best Performer/Best Vocalist Prog Fest North Carolina
*Young American Composers Award, A.S.C.A.P. New York for
Out of Chaos
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