Track Listing

1. Kindred Soul
2. Tie That Binds
3. Fade into You
4. Hold On
5. Intoxicate
6. Lost Command
7. Break Me Free
8. Does It Really Matter?
9. Sleep as a Metaphor
10. Abuse by Proxy
11. In Times of Misanthropy
12. Does It Really Matter? [Gencab Remix]
13. Kindred Soul [Mothboy Remix]
14. Does It Really Matter? [Keef Baker Remix]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #117255 in Music
• Released on: 2008-05-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

A different side to Erica Dunham
Anyone who is familiar with the work of Erica Dunham and her contributions to the industrial scene with Unter Null, you would know that she also has another project called Stray. ABUSE BY PROXY is Stray's first full length album. Stray showcases a different side to Erica Dunham. The music is similiar to Delerium but not so poppy. The music is a mix of ambient and pop. I definitely heard brief glimpses of Unter Null here and there throughout the album. The first ten tracks on ABUSE BY PROXY are orgiinal songs, the last three are remixes. I loved the first ten songs. The melodies are quite pretty. It is so nice to hear Erica create music that is a total contrast to Unter Null (which I adore as well). I don't know if the remixes were necessary although it was interesting to hear different versions of "Kindred Soul" and "Does it Really Matter?". The Keef Baker remix of "Does it Really Matter?" is the best of the three tracks.

After waiting over a year for Erica to release a full length album as Stray, the music was well worth the wait. I really recommend (if you have the money), to order the limited edition of ABUSE BY PROXY off Alfa-Matrix's website. It includes a bonus cd of bonus tracks and remixes. ABUSE BY PROXY is definitely one of this year's best releases.

Bleeding, Naked, Aggressive Femininity
Abuse by Proxy stands out as the first album by Erica as a true artist. Contrary to appearances, all of the aggression of Unter Null is here as well, but, inspired through experiences of sadness, loss, betrayal, and nihilism, is expressed in a naked, bleeding femininity that's honest, refreshing, and rare. You could look at Unter Null as Erica's stage face, her persona for playing with the boys, and this one as her real.

The production here is fantastic, with every song sounding rich and multidimensional. It conjures an overall feeling of delirium and loneliness, a solitary trip on acid and a face full of absinthe. Worth noting is this is an album completely bereft of filler. The drums in Intoxicate are surprising and intelligent. The melodies and bass lines in Lost Command are reminiscent of a Front Line Assembly instrumental, and the vocals in Break Me Free make it easily the best song on the album. I never would have guessed Erica has a vocal range like she demonstrates here...after hearing this another Unter Null album of straight growling and screaming would be f___ing criminal. I don't know who the hell Mothboy or Keef Baker are, but their remixes are as good or better than the originals, and compliment the album perfectly. Trip-hoppy indeed.

I mentioned the vocals, and it stands as the best part of the album throughout, growling convincingly, singing beautifully, and monotone when it needs to be to maintain the nihilistic feel and focus on lyrical meaning. It also stands as the only gripe, which is that it is always just a step too far in the background. Her voice deserves a professional recording studio.

My heart sings with...joyful things?
Unlike Unter Null's aggressive industrial beats and lyrics filled with rage and revenge, Stray showcases Erica Dunham's softer side with an intoxicating ambient trance sound. But there's still a sense of loss on the long anticipated ABUSE BY PROXY in songs like "Sleep As Metaphor" ('My life is nothing without you / With nothing left to hold. / I run away / I hide in shame / I don't want to feel this way.'). I especially love both versions of "Kindred Soul". The original is more of a love song while the "Mothboy Remix" has heavy basslines and seductive trip-hop beats, picking apart certain words to twist its meaning into what sounds to me like a song about obsession.

Her singing voice is more prevalent on Stray but I can definitely hear hints of Unter Null sprinkled throughout this album.

ABUSE BY PROXY took some time to grow on me but after several listens I appreciate it a lot more now, and it's a great CD for blaring in the car.