A review of the full length CD, The Line Between Love and Hate by DISTORTED REALITY.

Distorted Reality
The Fine Line Between Love and Hate

by Wa.thedeadpoets.org

Side projects. If it were not for side projects, many a band would
dissolve from the viral festering of creative-difference that occur when
you get more than one creative type together in the same room.
Additionally side projects can also be very useful as venture for building
new chops in the case of instrumental performers ands singers seeking to
explore the scope of their voice. Examples of successful side projects
abound:
TOOL and A PERFECT CIRCLE
YES and KING CRIMSON
MINISTRY and LARD.

In some select cases the side project surpasses the artistry exhibited
within the musician's primary group. Such is the case with DISTORTED
REALITY featuring vocals and lyrics by Martha M. Arce ( of DEEP RED)and
instrumental composition and arrangement by Christian Kobusch.

Founded in 1997, the two members began a tentative colloboration via email
and phone that resulted in the creation of The Fine Line between Love and
Hate. Each track on the album exhibits traits of lavish minutae from a
five-year labor of love. The Fine Line between Love and Hate is an instant
classic album. Pop, Goth, Electronic, it is all here. Christian Kobusch
has done an excellent job of choosing lush and innovative soundscapes that
accentuate all of Martha M. Arce's remarkable vocal skills. Arrangments
are exemplary, fleeting between nineties EBM and eighties New Wave. Arce's
vocals are found to be smooth, gritty, and ardent.

I was compelled by two tracks above others, the dynamically dance-driven
push-pull relationship song "You want me, You hate me" and the demanding
self-delusional trip of "In my Dream". Both have deep, meaningful
lyrics, not to say that the other tracks do not as well, but these tracks
are also accompanied with perfect pacing and superb hooks.

Rumor has it that this band is on the cusp of signing a deal with a major
label, and so they should. They have the live performance experience and
the excellent compositional chemistry to stand out from the rest of the
crowd. I highly recommend at least a listen to their tracks to hear for
yourself this exquisite delicacy.


--
I'm Wa. I've been working in the northwest music scene for 10 years. I've
been a member of northwest acts The Stiffs, Wymsikal Triod, I.T., and the
University of Oregon Marching Band. My current project is the
gothic/electronic act DEAD POETS SOCIETY.

I am also co-owner of the NW entertainment company Carpe Diem Publishing.
We have produced concerts for NW acts such as The Dragonflies, Brundlefly,
Hotboxed, Stir Fry and Rockhead Shiner, among others. We briefly published
an independent magazine, THIRST from 1995-1997.

I have also completed writing the first volume of a trilogy of novels I am
working on collectively titled the THIRST saga. I also have experience
with independent filmmaking and photography.

My other interests include basketball, comic books, reading a variety of
literature, and Japanese History.

www.thedeadpoets.org