There is something fascinating, mysterious and rather charming about Karen Stever.

The music she writes is very Marilyn but with more clarity. Her style is more alike Lacuna Coil and there is an awesome feel to it all despite the darkness that accompanies it.

The Stever tracks I’ve heard certainly have a medlodic, goth, industrial essence but tweaking resemblances of Tori Amos, Kate Bush and more so Alanis Morisette and Evanescence. The happy-go-lucky intro and fill-ins on Funeral Mute add a quirkiness to a very full track being as it contains heavy distortion, anthemic keyboards and is almost too cluttered being a little “not knowing what it is” kind of number.

The rest of the tracks are great records. I persoanlly like the fact that her guitarist has down-tuned on Shame On Me, it adds a huge wedge of grit that is very suited to her vocals.

We need to hear more like that.

The effort, blood, sweat and tears that Karen has put into her work is highly commendable with her own artwork, her own material. It is all Stever. 5 Stars for that without doubt.

I do feel that the production of her work is a touch OTT which is spoiling some of the simplicity that is within the tracks. They don’t need to be full of everything and if they do, then the orchestration needs improvements.

Worth a look indeed. If you don’t then shame on you. Not shame on me because I have and I like her.