PRESS REVIEWS Fontain's M.U.S.E.

NEW AGE REPORTER september chart > NEW AGE REPORTER CHARTS #36

Fontain's M.U.S.E. dedebuted in the top 40 at # 36www.newagereporter.com Fontain's M.U.S.E. is now listed in the NAR master artist directory with a link to the beatmagic.org website ;

MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS:

Facing North review by Lisa Mc Sherry ~This 13 song collection is wonderful! So much Pagan music is pretentious or has one good thing (like lyrics, or a beat) but not the whole package. Mystic Kiss is great from beginning to end. Blending alternative and Eastern music innovatively, each song is catchy, whether slow and introspective or a swirling mix conjuring images of belly dancers around a fire in the desert. Fontain Riddle is the singer and primary force behind this duo. Joined by Farhan Khan, Ms. Riddle uses the inspirations of eastern philosophy, politics, dancing, jazz, friends, books, and love to create her music and lyrics. “Witch Fire” for example sounds like a love song (I feel something burning… I’m on fire) but the liner notes reveal that this is a story of three generations of witches being burned at the stake. (I almost wish I hadn’t read that.) My least favorite song was Ghost. But even then, it has a good rhythm and would be fine as a ‘breather’ song to just hang out in and relax. The other member of the duo is Farhan Khan, originally from Karachi, Pakistan. He plays sitar, guitar and bass guitar fluently and adds a perfect counterpoint with his captivating sitar playing. I am not normally a fan of the sitar. Khan has converted me. I really enjoyed this album and am looking forward to getting the others. www.facingnorth.net

Sea of Tranquility www.seaoftranquility.org (Progressive Rock and Fusion site) Fontain's M.U.S.E. Mystic Kiss: Think of Fontain's M.U.S.E. as a union of eastern and western music - with an emphasis on the latter. Fontain Riddle contributes the album's lyrics, arrangements, lead vocals, some bass, some guitar work, and "E-sitar". She has traveled to Singapore, Malaysia and Europe to research her music, and per her personal influences, there are numerous elements of Indian music in Mystic Kiss. The most pleasing aspect of the music is Riddle's pretty, melodic vocals, sometimes nicely layered, that dominate most songs. And with 13 songs in 52 minutes, this is a fairly linear, song-oriented piece. A synth-pop beat underlines many songs, but it always leans in the direction of those Indian rhythms so many of us learned from the early Ravi Shankar records. The sitar appears on many tracks also, and it's unique to hear the clearly occidental vocals and lyrics underscored by those eastern themes. It's not prog-rock at all, though - think of a sort of new-agey, world-music instrumentation, with pretty songs layered over the top. The title song, "Mystic Kiss" is probably the standout piece here, in which the melody and the ambience of the vocals have a moody, almost Celtic feel. Riddle describes her music as "eclectic grooves, world tribe, rocken raga, sensuous dance beats, vocals in many tongues. sitars, guitars, percussion..." Sounds like a pretty good description. Added: December 9th 2006 Reviewer: Duncan Glenday

Night Flying Magazine Mystic Kiss Fontain’s M.U.S.E. Yes, she is indeed a riddle, Fontain Riddle, masked with mystery and perhaps wrapped in a conundrum. This reminds me very much of the music I heard when I was stationed in Adana, Turkey back in the early 1960s, except that a couple of the sidemen, Khan and Singh on sitar and tabla respectively, tells me it comes from a little east and south on the subcontinent, and she has a much better voice than any I ever heard over there. If you like so-called world music, you will most likely enjoy this. If you were unfamiliar with that genre, perhaps this would be a welcome introduction.

Ambient Visions www.ambientvisions.com comments: "very cool cover and the music appears to be right up our alley." The mission of this popular website: is to offer a place where those interested in ambient, new age, electronica, electronic, space, world and experimental music might come to and learn the latest news.

Critical Review A. Canales "Mystic Kiss" Fontain's M.U.S.E. www.fontainsmuse.com Vocalist, songwriter, and instrumentalist Fontain Riddle joined by sitar and bass player Farhan Khan weave a magical tapestry of exotic music. Joined by other artists they deliver in a magical sense, a blend of Mid-eastern beats with a World Music sense. This creates a meld of Eastern and Western music with an accessible groove. The lyrics are of love, passion, magic, and mystery-the music conjures up images of belly dancers around a fire...and in other places one is invited towards contemplation. The mix can go from slow to frenzied. The album has 13 short but powerful tracks. It is truly an interesting listening experience! Copyright 2006 A. Canales - Critical Review

Mystic Pop Magazine www.mysticpopmagazine.com comments: "I enjoyed "Mystic Kiss" and have forwarded it to one of our staff writers." ~high gloss publication and detailed website covering music and books. mystic pop magazine can be found at a variety of locations including borders books & music as well as Barnes & Noble.

chickenfish magazine www.thechickenfishspeaks.com Fontain's M.U.S.E. - Mystic Kiss - CD (Massive Music) Very Exotic looking packaging and musicians a hint of genre/gender blending world music. They bring together Indian, electronica and pop into one sound. On a few songs such as "Tatu" and the french "Le Miroir” the songs shine through and the lyrics fit right in. Lots of potential!-- Grog Mutant (2006)

Amazing Sounds: www.amazings.com FONTAIN'S M.U.S.E.: "MYSTIC KISS" This is a daring, fresh release by the duo Fontain's M.U.S.E., merging World Music with Pop and Folk influences. Fontain Riddle and Farhan Khan prove that there are no stylistic barriers for creativity, and they contribute their musical skills to achieve a fresh, emotive sonic journey. The expressivity that Fontain Riddle achieves with her voice is remarkable indeed. DEREK DOARN http://www.fontainsmuse.com

RADIO QUOTES:

“WE’VE RECEIVED IT AND ADDED IT TO OUR AIRPLAY LIST. VERY UNIQUE - IN A GOOD WAY!” KMAU 90.9 FM. comments: - RICK HOWARD, PROGRAM DIRECTOR status: ADD website: www.kamu.edu market area: AUSTIN market rank: 54 wattage: "32,000 WATTS" NPR AFFILIATE. city: COLLEGE STATION state: TX

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“WE’VE RECEIVED IT AND WE ARE USING IT! WONDERFUL RECORD!” KENW/KMTH 89.5 FM comments: - DUANE RYAN, MUSIC DIRECTORWWW.KENW.ORG status: ADD market area: CLOVIS/PORTALES market rank: UNRANKED wattage: 100000 "NPR AFFILIATE. HAS 14 REPEATERS WHICH BROADCAST INTO COLORADO, TEXAS, AND NM." city: PORTALES state: NM

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“WE’VE ADDED SEVERAL TRACKS FROM MYSTIC KISS TO OUR PLAYLIST. NEAT RECORDING!” KASU 91.9 FM comments: status: ADD website: HTTP://KASU.ASTATE.EDU market area: JONESBORO market rank: 280 wattage: 100,000 NPR AFFILIATE. COVERS JONESBORO, ARKANSAS (100,000 WATT STATION REACHING NORTHEAST ARKANSAS, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND WEST TENNESSEE) STATE UNIVERSITY AR ~

“SOUNDS GOOD- I'LL BE AIRING IT ON MY SHOW THIS FALL.” WSCS frequency: 90.9 FM comments: - BRAD HARTWELL, HOST OF MUSIC FROM THE COSMIC WHEEL website:WWW.COLBY-SAWYER. EDU/ATCSC/CLUBS/WSCS status: ADD market area: LACONIA/FRANKLIN/PLYM market rank: UNRANKED wattage: 250 WATTS COMMUNITY RADIO. STATION IS IN NEW LONDON, NH. city: EAST ANDOVER state: NH

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"LOOKS NEAT! Sounds even better! let's taste it” WXDU fm 88.7 comments: DJ night crawler WWW.WXDU.DUKE.EDU market area: DURHAM market rank: 43 wattage: 2150 city: DURHAM state: NC

JUST RECEIVED THE COPY OF THE ALBUM MYSTIC KISS BY FONTAIN'S M.U.S.E. YOU SO KINDLY SENT ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I AM GOING TO ADD IT TO THE STATION LIBRARY FOR PLAYING ON LA OTRA ORILLA AND SHARING THE MUSIC WITH MY LISTENERS” FRANCISCO M LOPEZ HERRERO, HOST OF LA OTRA ORILLA KRCL~ RADIO DESPI 107.2 www.RADIODESPI.COM BARCELONA, SPAIN. “I'VE -

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“VERY UNIQUE! I ENJOYED THE INSTRUMENTATION!” KRCL 90.9 FM WWW.KRCL.ORG market area: SALT LAKE COMMUNITY RADIO. STATION IN SALT LAKE City, Utah. status: ADD

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“PLAYED IT LAST SUNDAY AND WE GOT A GOOD RESPONSE.” KZUM 89.3 FM www.kzum.org THIS IS KZUM LINCOLN, POWERED BY THE COMMUNITY" comments: status: ADD to library in rotation city: LINCOLN state: NE

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“WONDERFULY ENERGETIC!” WICN 90.5 FM HTTP://WWW.WICN.ORG market area: BOSTON market rank: wattage: 8,500 NPR STATION. comments: status: ADD city: WORCESTER state: MA

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Solstice-A Winter Celebration On Thursday, December 6, approximately 1,500 people braved the cold night air and crowded City Hall Plaza to enjoy our brand new holiday event, "Solstice-A Winter Celebration." Building from the word "solstice" itself ('sol' meaning sun, its ending in 'ice') this free family community event featured optical illusions by Majinga the Magician, live fire dancing and fire eating, and world music by Fontain's M.U.S.E.. Jack Frost and Suzy Snowflake entertained the children with their elaborate costumes. All ages participated in arts and crafts activities, such as Sun Tambourines and Ice Crowns, and a variety of carnival games, including Stone Hedge Scatter and Polar Ping Pong. The Teen Dance Company amazed the crowd with a few hit dance numbers incorporating the event's theme. The weather report called for no snow this year in Palo Alto, but with a little help from our friends at Musson Theatrical, we were able to create a few flurries for the crowd. This new holiday event has replaced the old Snowmen & Sleigh rides, and hopefully will become a highly anticipated annual community event. We have received positive feedback and praise from those who attended. Thank you to the Palo Alto Weekly, Whole Foods Market, the Cardinal Hotel and the Palo Alto Host Lions Club and all of our wonderful volunteers for helping to make this event possible.

SiWire:Volume 4, Number 5 Oct 7, 2007 San Jose, California It seemed like a good idea at the time. A Middle Eastern Musical Feast On Saturday, fans were delighted by Fontain’s M.U.S.E., a local Middle Eastern/World Beat band. Singer Fontain Riddle seemed more priestess than mere performer: her soaring vocals, backed by lush instrumental work, gave many listeners a sensation of floating or flying. A highlight of the concert was the song “Sacred Geometry,” with its imagery of numerologists, astrologers, Qabalistic magicians, and philosophers seeking the underlying patterns in the nature of the Universe. The many fans left wanting more are in luck: Fontain’s M.U.S.E. will be playing at the Samhain All Hallows Masquerade in Berkeley on November 3rd. They will also play in the “Girls with Guitars” concert in Redwood City on November 15. This concert is a benefit for the nonprofit Guitars Not Guns, which promotes musical involvement for children and teens as an alternative to violence. Information about these concerts, and about the band’s three CDs, can be found at www.beatmagic.org.

by Valery Voigt

Steps for Peace by Dayna Davis On April 9th the Lake Merritt United Methodist Church was brimming with peacemakers in high spirits. They had gathered for “Steps for Peace: A Celebration for Peace and Peacemakers in Oakland and the Greater Bay Area,” a tribute to the many organizations whose single goal it is to promote world peace. Music being a very strong component in promoting peace, the ceremony was graced with musical presentations, ranging from original piano scores by Paul Ramana Das Sibley to Sacred Peace drumming by Kokomon Glottey of Ghana. Fontain Riddle of M.U.S.E had the whole place singing along, as well as Gregory Joe Bledsoe, who is the creator of the Oakland Street Peace Festival. Michael Nagler, chairperson of the UC Berkeley's Peace and Conflict Studies program was presented a peace award for his work in perpetuating Gandhi's work outside of India. He is the author of Is There No Other Way: The Search for a Nonviolent Future. Other awards went to congresswoman Barbara Lee and the Ella Baker Center for their grassroots work in “fighting for the rights of all people.” Following the ceremony, a larger than life puppet of Gandhi was hoisted up, joining the procession of the Peace Doves on their walk around Lake Merritt, to rededicate the lake as a center for peace and happiness. The Gandhi peace brigade mascot, handmade by artist Jes Richardson, is a reminder to those who have dedicated their lives to the dream of a non-violent world. He also accompanies a weekly group, called Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace (LMNOP), who walk around the lake every Sunday at 3pm. If you are interested in participating in the Oakland Street Peace Festival please contact Gregory Joe Bledsoe at 510-763-6304.