Chaotica makes Lullaby Pit Top 20 for 2000
smithsr@colorado.edu | Boston, MA | 01/01/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"From The Best CDs of 2000:Some of the more interesting bands I've heard in the past couple years have emerged from the corner of the music universe that includes Goth and Industrial, and for lack of a satisfying term I tend to lump it all together under labels like "Darkbeat," "Dark Pop," or the more widely used "Darkwave." Denver-based Fiction 8 doesn't fit neatly into any of these categories, although on their Web site frontman Mike Smith does reluctantly admit that F8 is a "dark pop band." They're also a great dance band with an emerging knack for haunting ambient undertones (due in large part to the addition of bassist/vocalist/violinist Mardi Salazar). Chaotica is F8's third full-length release, and hopefully the personal and creative dynamics of the new lineup, coupled with a supportive label relationship, will allow the CD to reach a larger audience than its predecessors."