Pointy Teeth
Scarlet Life
My Scarlet Life
Karma Sutra
Bed Of Roses
Cicatrix (Ritual Scarring)
Oblivia
Is.U.Is
 
Bed Of Roses THE KISSING TREE

Reviews:

• "Highly recommended to fans of This Mortal Coil, Massive Attack, and Portishead. To hear it is to savour it. I recognized the name of Bed Of Roses ringleader as a member of My Scarlet Life, whose inventive, silky cover of "Suspended in Gaffa" graced the exemplary Kate Bush tribute album "I Wanna Be Kate". None of these signposts belied the true artistry behind this album. THE KISSING TREE . . . a rich, dense sound tapestry of swirling, gauzy layers . . . romantic ambiance. The musicianship at the core adds another level of enjoyment. This ensemble is more musically adventurous than many . . . a scintillating, high-quality album of unusual grace." --CONSUMABLE ONLINE

• "This is stunning work . . . Rarely do i burst into tears when hearing music. Congratulations again and thank you for the music." -Thomas Dunning, BrownStar Records

• "1998 Very Honorable Mentions: Beck / Bed Of Roses / Jeff Buckley / Fatboy Slim . . ." --Gregg Shapiro, Outlines

• "Master producer and all-around gregarious being Preston Klik has eeked out a marvelous CD in his spare time. THE KISSING TREE is a collection of "serendipity and Happy Accidents." Beautiful, melodic tunes and glistening textures . . . unexpected delightful sound effects . . . "The Merry Spinster" transforms itself from a sedative trip into a hypnotic, danceable weave of guitar, piano, and violin."Pale White Dove" brings a sentimental Big Hat tear to my eye with Yvonne Bruner and Char Malloy. "The Ghost Of Mr Muir" is a pleasing opus laced with finger percussion and odd samples amidst a bed of lush keyboards and rain and thunder. A li'l gem . . . "--Richard Klecka, CONSCIOUS CHOICE

• "I cannot tell you enough how much I like Bed Of Roses' THE KISSING TREE . It is beautiful, the most inspired thing you have recorded in years. I literally (I am not making this up) listened to the whole CD from track to track and I marveled in how much passion and emotion went into the project. Needless to say, I think it is beautiful -at times beyond words- and I can again say I am your biggest fan!!!!" --Kristen Sohacki, Shikago

• "Few darkwave releases do much to move me emotionally. Preston Klik's side project THE KISSING TREE moves me with surreal ease by bringing together the austere nature of electronics with the intense beauty of the soul. The unifying factor between these 12 musicians is their love for dark beauty. From beautiful cello work to thick sampling and layering, Bed Of Roses will be a breeding ground for inspiration and future work will no doubt be as wonderful as this release." --Andy W, interface

• "Bed Of Roses THE KISSING TREE: grade A" --Music Madness

• "This is a great album. Groundbreaking work. It has a dark, ominous tone yet uplifting and at times cathartic . . . warm, very clear, pure . . . in a class all it's own -you will never be pigeonholed! This CD commands your full attention. When the music ends, you wish it was still there." --Pat H

• "I listen to THE KISSING TREE every day. I usually listen at night when it sounds sultry and sensual, but in the morning it's invigorating." --Alpa G, Mpls

• "Bed Of Roses' THE KISSING TREE kompletely blew me away. Thanks for a beautiful and amazing album." --Ana Kronistik

• "A wonderful treat. I put on the headphones and let the moods flow. It's fantastic! THE KISSING TREE should get a lot of attention." --Ann A, Shikago

• "THE KISSING TREE is sooo beautiful, I will keep listening deeper and deeper. There is much to be heard. I love the strings, especially some of the transitions between cello and violin . . . some extremely pure moments of desire-fed longing: 00Romantica." --Drew Pluta, LA

• "THE KISSING TREE is so beautiful -it has a wonderful flow. It's really cool and shows a lot of heart." --Laura G, Chgo

• "THE KISSING TREE is wonderful . . . quiet and refined, thoughtful and evocative." --Sheryl K, Canada

• "Thank you so much . . . THE KISSING TREE blew Ben and I away!" You are an extremely talented being. Much Love, --Lisa F, Seattle

• ". . . incredibly cool and cinematic . . . awesome." --Lucas T

• "FANTASTIC!!! You always produce good work, but Bed Of Roses' THE KISSING TREE is exceptional. Thanks for the genius." --Michael Doyle, NJ

• "Really, really nice work. Bed Of Roses' THE KISSING TREE stayed in my cd player for days - I can't say enough. Some where in the liner notes you called it "honest." Great word. Honest, and personal. I'm touched." --Mike Lintner, Shikago

• "THE KISSING TREE is one of my most lent-out cds. You remind this jaded old DJ that there can be truly good releases." --N Brink, IA

• "(My friend) told me it is one of the most incredible things he's ever heard." --Robert N, Shikago

• "The Kissing Tree is amazing. It blew me away. Everything about it, from the sitar-guitar to the stringed instruments to the artwork to the liner notes... wow." --Alan E, Cambridge, MA


About Bed Of Roses THE KISSING TREE:

Preston Klik, currently of MY SCARLET LIFE got a bunch of his friends from other bands together and recorded a very unique CD of his cinematic orchestral-electronics. Full of cello, ethnic samples, piano, sitar, turntables, male and female (mostly wordless) vocals, acoustic & electronic guitars, electronics, flute, and violin, this CD is made for headphones.

THE KISSING TREE is not rock, not pop, nor jazz, new-age, punk, etc. Perhaps it's the soundtrack to an imaginary movie. It's certainly cinematic, and emotional, with the sounds of imagined times and places nearly bringing synesthesia to the listener. Get out the popcorn, settle down, and watch the movie in your mind: THE KISSING TREE


The Musicians:
    •Preston Klik: songs, samples, keys, harmonica (My Scarlet Life: DivaNation Records)
    •Fareed Haque: sitar-guitar (Fareed Haque Quartet: Blue Note Records)
    •Todd Kelsey: flute (Sister Soleil: Universal Records)
    •Mera Roberts: cello, voice (Oblivia: DivaNation Records; Faith & The Muse; black tape for a blue girl: Projekt Records)
    •Julie Schreiber: voice (My Scarlet Life, Jute: DivaNation Records)
    •Laura Good: cello (The Twigs: Whirl-i-gig Records; Lover Mi Lou)
    •Yvonne Bruner: voice (X-Feline; Big Hat: March Records)
    •Lisa Feuer: flute (black tape for a blue girl: Projekt Records)
    •Amy Spina: acoustic guitar (My Scarlet Life: DivaNation Records)
    •Char Cole Malloy: violin (Big Hat: March Records)
    •Paul Infiniti: feedback and percussion (My Scarlet Life: DivaNation Records)
    •Sean Wolfe: noise-tables and electronic guitar (Is.U.Is; the AKIRA project)
    •TheImmortalSavant: rap and lyrics (DivaNation Records)
Related Web Sites:
My Scarlet Life
Fareed Haque Official Home Page
Projekt Records
The Twigs


The 10 pieces of THE KISSING TREE:

1) The Attic That Is My Mind 7:09
Fareed Haque: sitar-gtr
Sean Wolfe: noise tables, e gtr
Laura Good: cello
Preston Klik: piano, samples


2) Melting The Heart Of The Stone Buddha 5:46
Paul Infiniti: feedback gtr, percussion
Amy Spina: a gtr
Rupert Ghostswami: chant
Preston Klik: harmonica, wind, samples


3) The Merry Spinster 6:19
Char Cole Malloy: violin
Amy Spina: a gtr
Sean Wolfe: electronic gtr
Fareed Haque: sitar-gtr
Preston Klik: organ, piano, samples


4) Pale White Dove 4:35
Yvonne Bruner: voice
Laura Good: cello
Char Cole Malloy: violin
Mera Roberts: cello
Preston Klik: samples


5) It Glows In My Hand 4:13
TheImmortalSavant: rap
Mera Roberts: plucked cello
Fareed Haque: sitar-gtr
Laura Good: cello
Rupert Ghostswami: chant
Preston Klik: samples


6) The Kissing Tree 4:34
Mera Roberts: voice, laughter
TheImmortalSavant: treatments
Preston Klik: piano, samples


(the thunder suite):


7) Wax Moon 5:13
Amy Spina: a gtr
Sean Wolfe: noise tables, e gtr
TheImmortalSavant: treatments
Luis El Norte: whoops & hollers
Fate: thunder and rain
Preston Klik: samples


8) Spectre 5:36
Flute Loop: flute, echo
Julie Schreiber: voice
Old Man Brigham: spoken word
Mother Earth: weather
Preston Klik: piano, melodica, samples


9) The Ghost Of Mr Muir 6:30
Lisa Feuer: flute
Yvonne Bruner: voice
Laura Good: cello
Fareed Haque: sitar-gtr
God: atmosphere
Parakeets: chirps
Preston Klik: piano, samples


10) . . .

PK's Notes on recording:

• It was a dark & stormy night . . . it was, really! The proof is on the last third of this CD, when, while recording, I went to my open window & laid the microphone on the windowsill, catching the (mostly) soft thunder of a storm & the gentle whoosh of a light rain. I kept the tapes rolling for the last 3 songs, & more, recording atmosphere, literally.

• Flute Loop had just laid down his "whisper tones"on flute, & he couldn't stop giggling 'cuz something he'd said had accidentally got caught on the echo machine & it kept repeating his words in his headphones, which I couldn't hear! That "happy accident" became the intro to "SPECTRE".

• Just days later, Char, Yvonne & I --the surviving members of BIG HAT-- laid down violin & vocals, separately. It was good to hear them & work with them again. Char is such an intuitively beautiful violin player!

• Laura & Mera brought their cellos over, these huge cases hiding their beautiful carved wood from curious eyes. If I were a tree, I'd die to become a cello! (Just the week before I'd made an artpiece by sticking a mannequinn's head onto a cello's body, & attaching a heart: cello-woman). My parakeets & finchs can be heard singing along in the background as the cellists bowed & scraped, the rosin causing the strings to sing in their often deep voice.

• Sean was actually the 1st friend to record. He set up his turntable with it's cables running from one FX pedal to another. As I played my tracks, he pulled out old LPs & dropped the needle here & there, caressing the big black discs with his fingertips & palm --faster, slower, yet not really "scratching" -- while his other hand manipulated the FX knobs. He'd slap on a new disc: I'd document his search for meaningful randomness, for Happy Accidents.

• Julie improvised her vocals, lounging in my closet with the small candle-lit shrine keeping her sensuous voice company.

• Lisa came at midnight with her flute, & Paul played feedback-drenched guitar on a sunny Sunday. TheImmortalSavant made up his "rap" on the spot.

• Amy warmed up on acoustic guitar, playing a figure over & over. I said "Don't stop!" She'd not yet heard the song she was to record with, & while I could hear my music through headphones, she could not. I simply brought the level up & down to record her fading in & out. It worked out great: she "walks" across the music, playing her guitar, right in the middle of "WAX MOON"! Serendipity.

• When Fareed unpacked his guitar, it had no strings! He'd forgotten he'd ripped them off the night before! Luck provided us a sitar-guitar, & we went about cutting up match-book covers to stick between his strings. We laid some chain across them, too, just to invoke a Happy Accident. He played sitar-guitar-kalimba that night!

• Most of the musicians I worked with are, like me, not world-class players. But they need to express themselves, & I kept some of the warts of their --& my-- performances. I like the character, the roughness, the sense of fragility & spontaneity, the feeling of aspiration & the struggle. I like what my friends recorded.

• Weeks later, as I listened to the soft storm I'd taped while recording the 3 songs that instantly became "The Thunder Suite", I realized that the lightning strikes always happened at "just the right time" (BTW: none of them were manipulated). Like I said, Serendipity & Happy Accidents. That's how much of this CD happened.

     --Preston Klik



All songs written, produced & recorded by Preston Klik for Bed Of Roses
@ KlikTrax Studio, Chicago (©1998 KlikTrax, DivaNation Records)
published by KlikTrax (ASCAP).
contact: kliktrax@aol.com
CD art/design by Preston Klik
Mastered by Chris Greene @ AlienSoundscapes, Inc. Manufactured by TST CDs,Tapes, Graphic Design