Distorted Reality is the product of Martha M. Arce (formerly of Deep Red) from the United States and German electro-maestro Christian Kobusch. Although this album (produced by Bruno Kramm of Das Ich), Distorted Reality's debut, was just released in the United Stares in May, some of you may already own the German release from last year. Now, don't fret if you have the import, because you have several reasons to pick up the domestic version -- new remixes by Null Device, Assemblage 23, cut.rate.box, and Forma Tadre. Fifteen tracks in all with a little surprise at the end. What more could you ask for?

The music is both soothing and startling, a dichotomy not all together unexpected judging from the title of the disc. Martha's voice is resonant, sultry, emotional but edgy, and at times she seems to sing a lullaby until you're jolted back into your very own distorted reality with imperative and caustic songwriting. Although the album covers the typical emotional realm of love, loss and hope, the duo delivers it with precision, creativity and intensity. Martha's vocal intonations and accents on the beat work perfectly with the programming and the lyrics show a sophistication and maturity not often found in debut albums. The turn a few cliches on their heads, which is the mark of lyrical sweetness.

Fine Line effortlessly segues from gritty club tracks to melancholic synth dirges that Martha seems to navigate with extreme versatility and ease. Remixes from Noyce, Propaganda and Sabotage that appeared on the German version also appear on this release. The remixers both new and old, add a whole new dimension to the DR sound and are in general far more club-ready than the original tracks. But, that's expected.

It's an angry trip into the forlorn depths of the human psyche, but the sounds along the way are oh so beautiful.
-- Nick Garland