"...'Air meets Crystal Method' melange-o-beats. The tracks go from funky pseudo-futuristic disco up to drum and bass, each listed by bpm for easy mixing... Overall, this album pushes the envelope of how vocals and beats should work together, and has a successful experimental sound."

"Rating: V V V V"

-- Kyle Faas

Wiremnky's musical compositions bold and original

"I don't really care for dance music. Never have.

"But the new dance disc by Wiremnky isn't bad. Seriously.

"It's got a bunch of different influences -- jungle, hip-hop, Meat Beat Manifesto, Bjork -- to keep it interesting. And it's slower, so it isn't headache inducing..."

"The vocals and the music don't limit themselves to each other. They both are independent, but work together, with the result being an unlikely marriage of non-human, programmed electronic sounds and a female voice that could melt a stone heart.

"Wiremnky stops and starts beats, varies them and adds other synthesized sounds (like the electronic water blips in 'Water Glass') to allow the music to remain danceable without the listener going crazy from those speedy and repetitious drumbeats so often present in much of dance music.

"Wiremnky's strategic placement of melody is helpful in keeping his brand of electronic music unique and more listenable than most.

"In 'Verisimilitude' and 'Seaweed,' he keeps a slow and low, progressive melody going to break up the composition for the listener's benefit.

"Even still, the music would grow weary on the listener's ears were it not for Bare Wire's vocals. Immediately they bring to mind The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan and Enya. Sometimes she sounds like a lost soul bearing the scars of unrequited love, but it's done in the most angelic voice I've heard in a long time.

"Some of the disc's highlights include the opening track, 'Court Adjournment.' The four-minute-plus song begins with an infectious beat that hooks you in for a mid-tempo ride wherein a female voice of incredible range and beauty floats ethereally over top.

"After a minute and a half the beat drops out -- with synthesizer croaks filling the space -- and then picks up again, but this time varied and paired with record scratches.

"The track 'Compulsion' starts off with Bare Wire admonishing herself in an eerie chant, 'Why can't I stop myself, stop myself from this self-destruction, rid myself of these painful relations with you?' A bass drum pounds the floor fast and steady as a precursor for the shuffling trip-hop beat that's to come. Soon the full beat arrives, but then ceases, yielding to some synthesized bass sounds from another world that bounce and float where gravity doesn't exist. Then the whole process begins again and this game of stop and go groove repeats itself.

"On 'Gridlock,' a circular melody and a pleasant, moving beat overlay synthesized undulations. The sonic swells persist for much of the song, rendering it a soundtrack for space travel or underwater exploration. Bare Wire sings about not being able to get into or see into something (presumably a significant other's soul) in a beautiful and sad, crooning manner..."

"While I'm still not a dance convert after hearing 'Fresh Cold Cuts, The Delicatessen Remixes,' I found the disc to be an intriguing union of two very opposite sounds."

--John Majeski

'Cuts' a work of electronic art

"It takes a true composer to make an electronica album that bears the promise of actually going mainstream -- especially when working off somebody else's material..."

"With the dreamy, sweet voice of Bare Wire's vocalist and Wiremnky's smooth electronic grooves, Cold Cuts strikes an interesting pose in the thrash-techno heavy industry of electronica. Wiremnky creates an intriguing blend of trip-hop with saccharine, funky melodies throughout the entire album.

"The tracks can be described as a bit psychedelic, rock, dance and jazz altogether -- creating a cool, never-ending mellow beat perfect for a quiet party or just something to pop into the stereo while studying.

"Standout tracks on the album, which has already received some college radio airplay since its release, include... the very radio-friendly songs 'Compulsion' and 'Small Unimportant Things,' which lace more vocals and lyrics through a good beat, reminiscent of Tori Amos or The Cranberries.

"Both tracks have a less mellow and more emotionally conflicted beat than the rest of the album, which seems to float seamlessly from one song to another in an electronica ethereal feeling, only breaking up now and then with some harsher percussionist beats in songs such as 'Curious Foliage' and 'Airport.' The music is comparable to electronic greats such as Depeche Mode and Sneaker Pimps.

"The whole album is a work of electronic art, only compounded by the musical prowess of Bare Wire. Anybody who wants to dip into a pool of electronic psychedelica should give Fresh Cold Cuts a listen to and open up to the sweet hook that is Wiremnky. For an extra treat, try picking up Bare Wire's original creation Delicatessen. If Wiremnky could make such a delicacy out of somebody's else album, then the original must be very tasty indeed..."

--Angela Williams

Wiremnky will make you groove

"'Fresh Cold Cuts: The Delicatessen Remixes' by Wiremnky is much more cuddly than a real wire monkey. With Bare Wire's vocals flowing over Wiremnky's atmospheric ambience, the project takes on a much more sympathetic light.

"'The Delicatessen Remixes' produced by Wiremnky (composer) and Bare Wire (writer and performer of visionary vocals) are completely enveloping to the listener. These artists offer a smooth atmospheric album that transports the listener into a certain state of melodic bliss; it almost brings one into a cognitive state of mediation.

"Much like the Orb, Prodigy, Air, Meat Beat Manifesto and Tricky; these musician/producers are on the pioneering edge of electronic music. Their synthesized sounds are able to change style in a second or groove with a beat to emphasize a feeling.

"'Remixes' has a very underground feel but is revolutionary enough to break thru into mainstream.

"I would classify this electronica album as a menage of trip-hop, drum and bass and ambience. The album is arranged as a realization of a feeling that works up to a frenzied crescendo, and then brings you down very smoothly.

"An interesting thing that I noticed in this album was that [it's] arranged so that the song's beats per minute would increase, peak, and then come down again. It sounds like an experience, doesn't it?

"On this 15-track album I particularly liked 'Curious Foliage,' 'Water Glass' and 'Small Unimportant Requests.' These songs appealed to me because I have heard nothing else quite like it. 'Curious Foliage' has a smooth deliberateness to it. 'Water Glass' employs deep jungle, bass and Bare Wire's bleak, wild vocals, make good use of breakbeat rhythms. 'Small Unimportant Requests' starts out as mellow as a heart beat, then drops fastpaced drum and bass with chilling vocals imploring 'have mercy.' This collaboration is very original and complimentary indeed. Which is usually difficult for two artists with such varied styles.

"This album is very living, very animate and always experimental. Techno is most often very ridged and cool but the collaboration of these complimenting styles really makes the album human. The vocals are the interpretation of the soul's emotion, while the omnipresent beats represent the environment outside one's self.

"While remixes in the world of electronic music may be easier to come by than a date on the Vegas strip, there are few albums of a single artist reworking an entire record. On Fresh Cold Cuts, the beat-smart Wiremnky retools the 1996 Bare Wire release Delicatessen. What's more, none of the original music or instruments were used, only the graceful, piercing voice of Bare Wire, who collaborated with Wiremnky on the project. The new songs present a two-pronged fron; while the robust beats assail your ass from the middle, Bare Wire's voice flanks the mind.

"Wiremnky's music slowly shifts like the topography of the beach, exposing numerous layers of melodies on each cut. 'Court Adjournment' undergoes three mutations, each one adding new dimension to Bare Wire's haunting vocal. And the songs' sequence, rearranged from the original, is perfect, beginning with mid-tempo songs, and peaking in the middle before settling down for rest at the end.

"Bare Wire's voice fits the music like dressing on a salad, whether used as a supporting instrument or out in front. Bare Wire's soaring soprano has an air of genuine vulnerability; when she sings 'Have Mercy' at the opening of 'Small Unimportant Requests,' your arms will become a goose-bump minefield. Other emotionally charged pieces include the moving 'Curious Foliage' and 'Unrequited," a musical onomatopeia.

"For those in search of full-bodied electronica packaged in more traditional song formats, Fresh Cold Cuts will satisfy your hunger."

-- Mark Schiff

"I got this CD from my editor Matt Olson and I have to admist, my first reaction was 'Matt, I dunno about this.'

"He asked me to give it a listen and you now I decided to make an effort to be impartieal and give it the old college try you know. I am not gonna sit here and tell you this was the absolute best CD I have ever heard but let me tell you, the man is Wiremnky, and you need to remember that name.

"You will be hearing it around a lot more often soon. This CD was phat. I can't really classify the type of music that it is but that makes it all the better. If I had to call it anything it would be a little electronica mixed with some trip-hop for all you ravers.

"It is a little similar to maybe Massive Attack. The reason I say that is because the beats and voice of Bare Wire work together in an ethereal harmony much the same as Massive Attack. The voice of Bare Wire almost sounds of Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries, mixed with a little bit of Jewel.

"At any rate the flowing, sumptuous remixes of Wiremnky really make you look into yourself and analyze the feelings that it brings about. It is really deep stuff. You can feel it from cortex to your tailbone, and you just don't know what to feel after listening to the whole thing.

"Also before I go any further it must be mentined that this work is completely a remix of the work of Bare Wire... What Wiremnky has construed are all completely original beats and instruments added to the near original vocals.

"Due to its remixed nature, I don't feel that it makes this CD any less worthy of praise, because man, Wiremnky has it goin' on. I really like this CD a lot. It had me going on a ride from the second I started listening to it.

"I really can't even express verbally what a ride it was. I have nevr heard beats like this; they are so erratic and different; not one song is similar to another and they are each their own singular masterpiece and should be listened to thinking as such.

"Well anyways if you wanna listen to this try to find it on the net and download some stuff, I don't know how much you will be able to find, but it is definitely worth a shot, and look for it in the independent sections at local stores in your area. If they don't have it ask when they are getting it!

"This CD gets a 4.5 Phat Kids out of a possible 5."

-- Chip Koty

"For those of you who are open-minded and ready to let yourself feel the reverberations of a new sound experience, feast your ears on Wiremnky's 'Fresh Cold Cuts: The Delicatessen Remixes.' As its title indicates, this album remixes vocal tracks from the "Delicatessen" album by Bare Wire. If you remember Orb's Little Fluffy Clouds (Volkswagen Beetle commercial) or if you know some of their other work, you can get a pretty good idea of what Wiremnky's sound is.

"Wiremnky's electronic mixes incorporate a collection of sounds and rhythms with vocals that focus on the lyrical and emotional aspects of communication. This is in stark contrast with the no doubt legitimate, but anticipated use of prose that mainstream music has instilled in us. In addition, the vocal melodies are sprinkled with a twist of South-Asian flavor, as can be heard in 'Tunnel Visionary,' 'Strong Winds' and 'Seaweed.'

"This album is not for the chronically cheerful, however. The messages, like many in the musical world, can be somewhat depressing. Subtle ironies like the words 'have mercy' in a song titled 'Small Unimportant Requests' tend to highlight the cynicism of life. We all know that misery loves company, and lyrics such as 'stop myself from this self destruction,' 'control myself' and 'here you will find my broken body, my broken soul' could definitely be that company should you need it.

"On a more upbeat note, 'Curious Foliage,' 'Airport,' the intro of 'No Auto Focus' and many of the other tracks have solid passages that will get your blood pumping. While 'Fresh Cold Cuts' does not have the usual loud and cardiac rhythmic beat found at a typical rave, there is unmistakably a live pulse here that can be felt if the listener is up for it. Tracks like 'Verisimilitude' and 'On Grade' certainly have a more relaxed quality, appropriate for finals season.

"The texture of the CD varies so much from track to track that at times, listeners might feel like they're on a roller coaster ride. But if you're in the mood for something really new, these 'Fresh Cold Cuts' should satisfy your cravings."

-- Bo Miller

"A complimentary collaboration between a haunting vocalist, Bare Wire, and an exceptional electronic musician, Wiremnky, brings about an experimental sound, titled Fresh Cold Cuts. Wiremnky's electronic orchestrations are a flawless hybrid of Trip-Hop and Break Beats, which are randomly accompanied by stunningly synthesized instrumentals. The voice of Bare Wire croons throughout the album in a way that is reminiscent of The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan and the poignant melodies vocalized by Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance..."

-- Caitlin Ryan

Remixing Bare Wire's Delicatessen album, Wiremnky has put out the Fresh Cold Cuts CD, which is one interesting adventure. It's a strange mixture of sounds, mainly because Bare Wire's distinctive voice rapidly flexes between highs and lows, contrasting heavily to the steady flow of rhythmic dancy tech sounds in the background. The beats are fun without being careless, and bring an interesting quality to Bare Wire's vocals, which can be somewhat overwhelming if left on their own. Fresh Cold Cuts:The Delicatessen remixes has a raw integrity to it, and although startling at times, Bare Wire's vocals are both beautiful in their gaping sadness and aspiring yearning. She burns through the rhythmic fibers with her croons of desire and confusion, leaving the listener intrigued and perplexed.

-- Mandy Major

"According to Wiremnky, "the function of music is two fold: the first is to create a rhythmic groove that affects the person physically, and the second is to present an emotion or idea that can affect psychologically." With that in mind, let's consider Wiremnky's latest album Fresh Cold Cuts.

"Fresh Cold Cuts is an album that remixes Bare Wire's Delicatessen, the release of Wiremnky's Eristikos label-mate. The overall concept is simple: lift the vocal lines from Bare Wire's album and place them in anew context -- atop electronic atmospheres that recall artists like Orbital. Fresh Cold Cuts is not all that different from most other remix efforts, aside from Wiremnky's proclaimed dedication to keeping the original vocal lines intact. Still, despite the feeling you have heard all this before, the effect can actually be quite dazzling, as Bare Wire's seductive female vocals float and sway atop alternating propulsive and panoramic textures.

"Bare Wire's lilting vocal delivery is reminiscent of Massive Attack's Shara Nelson in her Blue Lines-era or the non-enunciation style of Björk. Bare Wire's vocals are strong and stark, especially in the sterile surroundings of Orbital-like electronica. Wiremnky's treatment is loving, drawing interesting qualities from the aching vocal lines. Incorporating ominous synthesizer yawning and spare, clipped percussion samples, Wiremnky creates a vibrant yet claustrophobic atmosphere which owes heavily to Tricky's seminal Maxinquaye album.

"None of Fresh Cold Cuts' tracks leap out as exceptional, which allows the album to be viewed as a satisfying whole rather than as a singles collection. After repeated spins, the album becomes clearer, and Wiremnky's interesting textural ideas begin to crystallize. It is still hard, however, to tell one track from another. All told, that isn't exactly a bad thing, since it allows Wiremnky to create an encompassing backdrop that puts the listener in a mood rather than jilting them from soundscape to soundscape.

"This album affects the listener physically because it does make for some ubiquitous toe-tapping. Still some of those pangs could have been hunger pains. But does it present any emotion? Definitely. This is a beautiful treatment of engaging, strong vocals work. If you can find this album, give it a listen. It will please fans of down-tempo electronic music to the core."

-- Jeff Speckles

"Maintaining a laid-back vibe throughout, Fresh Cold Cuts ranges from smooth trip-hop (think Coldcut) to chilled-out drum and bass (think Kruder & Dorfmeister). Wiremnky has a good understanding of what constitutes a groove, and he exhibits this expert knowledge with expertise regardless of the track's bpm (beats-per-minute) rate."

-- Donte Parks

Music for the Road column

"A few years back, Bare Wire electrified the music world with Delicatessen. Recently, she released a new trance-like version of the ethereal songs from that album under the title Fresh Cold Cuts (eristikös), working with Wiremnky to create a haunting, multi-layered CD. This is an inspired city soundtrack that combines the sort of rhythmic cues you might hear at a rave with vocals that seem to work at a subliminal level. After listening to tracks like "Gridlock" and "Tunnel Visionary," you won't be able to say what the songs are about, only how they make you feel (in this regard, Bare Wire works sort of like an abstract painter; you detect an outline of a person, a hint of an event, but a triggered memory of a distant time and place). This is a limited edition disc, but well-worth seeking out."

-- Scott Barker