Amber Asylum

Amber Asylum is a highly-variable San Francisco-based music group that serves as a platform for composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Kris Force. Other members and performers have included Steve Von Till (Neurosis), Annabel Lee, Martha Burns, Charlotte Bolster, long-time collaborator Jackie Perez Gratz (Grayceon/Giant Squid/Asunder), Erica Stoltz (Lost Goat), Wendy Farina, Lorraine Rath (The Gault/Worm Ouroboros), Sarah Schaffer (Weakling), John Cobbet (Hammers of Misfortune/Ludicra), Eric Wood (Man Is The Bastard, Bastard Noise), Leila Abdul Rauf (Saros), Chiyo Nukaga (Noothgrush/Graves At Sea), Sigrid Sheie (Hammers of Misfortune), and Sarah Brady. Amber Asylum's music is generally within the neoclassical or dark ambient genres, and it tends towards the romantic, introspective, and brooding. Violin and cello are the dominant instruments. (wiki) * * * Amber Asylum is a San Francisco based modern classical chamber unit that serves as a platform for composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Kris Force, with a changing cast of some of the most prolific players on the scene; with Wendy Farina (drums and percussion); Erica Stoltz (bass and vocals) and Jackie Gratz (cello) during the "Garden Of Love" era. Other notably members have included Steve Von Till (Neurosis), Sarah Schaffer (Weakling), John Cobbet (Hammers of Misfortune / Ludicra), Eric Wood (Man Is The Bastard, Bastard Noise), Chiyo Nukaga (Noothgrush / Graves At Sea) and Sigrid Sheie (Hammers of Misfortune). In 1996, the group completed their full-length album debut album, Frozen in Amber, for the Elfenblut / Misanthropy label. A uniquely pure and focused work raising comparison to Coil and Mazzy Star at the time. By 1997, AMBER ASYLUM had signed with Relapse Records and released three divine albums, "Natural Philosophy Of Love", "Songs Of Sex And Death" and "Supernatural Parlour Collection" over the following three years. AMBER ASYLUM returned with their first new recordings in nearly five years in 2005 / 2006 with "Garden Of Love" a limited vinyl edition being self released by the band and the limited cd pressing being handled by Paradigms. Five dark, brooding chamber works of misanthropic resonance and chilling emotional beauty. A blackened neo-classical masterpiece following their previous recordings on Relapse and Neurot as well as their acclaimed collaborations with Neurosis, Swans and Jarboe amongst others. Just under half an hour of new recordings, featuring the bonus soundtrack recording, "Serenade". Since the release of "Garden Of Love", AMBER ASYLUM have released two further albums of Profound Lore, "Still Point" in 2007 and "Bitter River" in 2009. Paradigms also had the pleasure of working with Kris Force again on the soundtrack to "The Path", a collaborative work with JARBOE. (Paradigms Recordings)