Pamela Zero Music

Press
West Coast avant-garde vocalist Pamela Zero has more than extended techniques and unusual vocalizes in here: she also has some moving songs. Living Backwards features Discord Aggregate's singer on her own, multi-tracking her voice to create rich a cappella tapestries. The ten tracks presented here are genuine songs. If Zero occasionally uses unorthodox techniques (sobbing, breathing sounds, etc.), they are all subservient to the melodies. References to Kate Bush (for the topics of love, yearning, childhood) and Amy X Neuburg (for the multi-tracking) are definitely in order, but Zero has developed her own form of songwriting, drawing inspiration from sea shanties ("The Journey Home" is a genuine modern-day shanty) and Bulgarian polyphony ("Gallica"). Each song is a little gem of melodic invention, creative arranging, and vocal prowess. Zero explores different techniques, different settings, and different influences in each song, but these details appear only after a few listens. The listener's attention is first grabbed by the melodies and the lyrics. Songs like "Physics," "Gallica," "Mercy" and "Present" provide highlights that will entice connoisseurs of the female voice. A lot of work and studio time obviously went into Living Backwards: the number of vocal tracks is staggering when you start to listen up-close, and kudos go to engineer Justin Weis for mixing them all down. Yet the music conveys a wonderful sense of simplicity and immediacy -- which is all the more surprising coming from a member of one of the most obscure avant-garde artists' collectives in America. Simply beautiful. ~ François Couture, All Music Guide

"That's it-- I've been bewitched. As Pamela Zero sings, "Ghosts have somehow moved into my days." I downloaded her MP3s, two at a time. "Entrance" beckoned (think: toning in caves) and "The Yearning" begged me to stay (see: Kate Bush, "Breathing"). Audio surfaced, first in 1 track, then 2, and I let them play simultaneously. "Physics" came in-the last track in this Jungian round--and it felt like cloud-busting. In Zero's tunes you'll find snippets of Miranda Sex Garden and Dead Can Dance. Did I mention her work is 99.9% a cappella? The arrangements and vocals are so lush, you forget-her larynx IS the instrument. Listening to Zero is like eavesdropping on someone's psyche. Catharsis follows, pure as church bells. Lest you think there's no music in the lot, the blues tune "The Strip Song" carries with it a nice, lively piano accompaniment. Otherwise, it's unfettered coloratura and bass vox, Baby. Enjoy."
Jianda Johnson, Women of MP3.com

PAMELA ZERO: "LIVING BACKWARDS" Discord Aggregate
Pamela Zero gives us a lesson on how the human voice, utilized in an adequate way, can be as elaborated as an orchestra of synthesized sounds could be. Hers are themes where the voice has a basic role. She sings, and besides, records her vocals in different configurations so as to create choruses and other often fascinating effects. The melody is an important element in all the compositions. The basic style includes Celtic and Dark Folk traits. Discord Aggregate is a group of experimental artists dedicated to exploring new ideas, forms and techniques in music, literature, film, new art forms.
EDUARDO FONTANA http://www.amazings.com/reviews2005.html