Vera Causa

Vera Causa is almost certainly a theatrical concept without overt theatrics. Influences, both obvious and gloriously surprising, crop up throughout to create a continuously fresh, rarely pausing world of fascinating soundscapes. That trait is helped along in no small amount by this double disc’s divisions between live tracks, remixes, covers and studio recordings. It's a greatest hits of sorts for the 8-year-old group, and this collection of extraordinary musical moments is a phenomenal masterpiece.

But what else can one expect from stunning craftsmanship like "Frater Ave Atque Vale", the Alfred Lord Tennyson poem recited through a haunting chant-only format, the exceeding and very Gothic-aged piano-driven "Patience Worth" and a lovably energetic cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill". In one word, Faith & The Muse are amazing.

Naturally, there's the comparable "Mercyground" (Rhea's Obsession Mix) and "Scars Flown Proud," offered in a sweaty live version and Hong Kong Hotel's[Rodney Orpheus] excellent Industrial remix. Yet, Vera Causa (a double disc divided into "The Morning" and "The Night" CDs) goes much, much further into the world's musical encyclopedia than that.

Perhaps the emotionally boisterous "The Silver Circle" could be the main fascinating epic that a group could hope to release. Not here it isn't! Led by Richards' gorgeous voice that is sweeping unto itself the 28 tracks lack a single weak moment. It might be the representation of Electronic on the moody "The Sea Angler" (Vast Ocean Mix), the tribal "All Lovers Lost/Arianhod", the rhythmically Celtic "The Unquiet Grave" and "A Winter Wassail" or the flawless Goth underground sound of "Romeo's Distress" and "Annwyn, Beneath The Waves" that stand as highlights. But one thing is certain: all these tracks create a moody, vividly incomparable world together and individually.

- Bill Whiting-Mahoney
www.technopunkmusic.com/2001

Track Listing (Lyrics linked to Titles) - Go to Music to hear Vera Causa soundbytes

Album Credits
Night CD Credits
Live tracks recorded April 2000 in Leipzig, Germany and Gent Belgium
All live tracks performed by:
Kenton Holmes: guitars, keyboards & percussion
Monica Richards: vocals & recorder
Cynthia Coulter: bass, hammered dulcimer, violin & percussion
Jeremy George: percussion & keyboards
Stevyn Grey: drums & percussion
William Faith: guitars, cello, mandolin, percussion & vocals
Live Recording by Chad Blinman
Mixed by William Faith at Wisperthal, Los Angeles, CA

Our thanks to Raif Jurgens for live sound on the European shows, Patty Hele and Mother Dance, Sabine Eichmann, Brian Necro, Wayne Hays, Clovis IV and Grant George

Remixes:
Elyria (Toby Dammit mix)
Remix by Full Fathom Five/The Trace

Mercyground (Rhea's Obsession mix)
Remix by Jim Field/Rhea's Obsession
Additional vocals by Sue Hutton

The Silver Circle (Gears and Teeth mix)
Remix by Statik/Collide
Additional vocals by kaRIN

Shattered In Aspect (bassX_rmX)
Remix by Thomas Rainer/L'ame Immortelle

The Sea Angler (Vast Ocean mix)
Remix by Kevin Kipnis/Purr Machine
Sea whales by Betsy Martin
Guitars by Michael Ciravolo

Scars Flown Proud (24 Hour Hong Kong Hotel mix)
Remix by Rodney Orpheus/The Cassandra Complex

Porphyrogene (Laboratory X version)
Remix by Chad Blinman/Laboratory X

All titles written by Faith and the Muse
- ©Elyrian Music, BMI - p Metropolis Records 2001
Mastered by Ramon Breton at Ocean View Digital Mastering,
West Los Angeles, CA