A nice easy one to start off with!
Diamanda Galas - Malediction and Prayer
This is a stripped back solo live recording featuring just piano and vocals. If that sounds like a pleasant, easy listen then you are sorely mistaken. Diamanda Galas is a classically trained avant garde vocalist renowned for her range and politics.
The Thrill Is Gone is terrifying as she showcases her multi-octave range, delicate during the verse before transforming into a force of nature, howling and shrieking like a banshee. Abel Et Cain shows off her amazing vibrato. Her vocal gymnastics outdo the majority of diva vocalists yet the sometimes harsh and challenging sounds she creates will alienate most listeners. However, Diamanda's vocals suit the downbeat material very well. Hers is the voice of political dissent and doomed love. In short, it is the voice of struggle.
Given the piano and vocals format, most of the songs are standard blues but twisted and manipulated by the vocals into something much more experimental. Insane Asylum is the most extreme example of this. The vocals mangle the track beyond all recognition into something very challenging to listen to. Penultimate track, I'm Gonna Live The Life, is the most positive and uplifting track here, mainly due to the inspirational lyrics. The whole collection is suitably topped off with a straight rendition of one of the bleakest songs ever, Gloomy Sunday.
This is a worthwhile album although, admittedly, it won't be to everyone's taste so approach with caution. However, one question remains. Does this recording adequately capture the magic of a Diamanda Galas live performance? Probably not.
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