RFI: Diamanda Galas - Defixiones: Will and Testament, Orders from the Dead

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Anyone got this? Listened to it at the store and found it oddly compelling, although I suspect that it would not be played much at home..

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Thursday, 8 January 2004 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I have not heard it, and want to, but I do know it made some "best of 2003" lists (including here on ILM, I believe, though some people chose that other Serpent Cantata one, or whatever it's called).

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 8 January 2004 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm also tempted by Serpent Cantata, but I'm not sure how much it adds to Malediction & Prayer.

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Thursday, 8 January 2004 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, G brought it home the other night insisting that I listen to it because it was "draining." It's a phenomenally brilliant piece of work, better even than the Plague Mass (which does kind of tail off two-thirds of the way through); too heavy for regular listening but would definitely have been in my end-of-year list (possibly even in the top five) had I not been an idle slacker and heard it before Xmas.

The Serpent thing is a 2CD set of (mostly) blues covers. DG doesn't really work for me when she's doing "songs" but impatient PJ Harvey fans will probably love it.

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 8 January 2004 14:54 (twenty-two years ago)

It made my end of year list! Defixiones isn't as difficult as some of Diamanda's previous work, actually, though it's still phenomenally powerful (especially the 34-minute opener, "The Dance" - just her voice and some muffled electronics). What struck me about it is how beautifully she can sing when she wants - her soprano is a gorgeous, gorgeous thing. Even then the sheer intensity of it is draining, tough. La Serpenta Canta seems to be preferred by most, and it is very good, but doesn't really add to what she's done before.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 8 January 2004 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

re. Serpenta Canta - Are these covers in the same vein as those on Malediction and Prayer?

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Thursday, 8 January 2004 16:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I haven't heard Malediction but they are in the same vein as those on The Singer. Though to be honest I haven't listened to Serpenta that much, it's hard to listen to Diamanda when my housemates are at home because they get scared.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 8 January 2004 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

Good write-up on Galas (except for the typos in her name and Syrian poet Adonis's name) and her work in progress Defixiones:

http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0535,beghtol,67288,22.html

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Tuesday, 30 August 2005 17:19 (twenty years ago)

(Typos probably some sort of html diacritical issue.)

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Tuesday, 30 August 2005 17:46 (twenty years ago)

Hey, if any Voice person happens to see this: Galas's name is corrected, but the Syrian poet "Adonis" is still being referred to in this article as "Adon." I know "Adonis" is an odd name for an Arab poet, but it's his pen-name (and he is a bit avant-garde).

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 31 August 2005 00:49 (twenty years ago)

(Check her own web-site, where he is quoted and cited.)

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 31 August 2005 00:50 (twenty years ago)

NYC Defixiones shows Sept 8 and 10.

― Brian Turner (btwfmu), Wednesday, 31 August 2005 02:07 (twenty years ago)

I went last night. It was a lot to absorb. She's just tremendous. (Clearly, it left me uttering short, simple phrases.)

― Je4nne ƒur¥ (Je4nne Fury), Friday, 9 September 2005 13:24 (twenty years ago)

five years pass...

good place to start for someone who's never heard her...?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41py%2B2bTgoL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

― thank you ilxor for starting this much needed thread (ilxor), Saturday, 12 March 2011 02:25 (fifteen years ago)

yeah sure, that or Plague Mass. I love it all but my favorite blues-based one is the John Paul Jones collaboration.

― sleeve, Saturday, 12 March 2011 02:34 (fifteen years ago)

Best place to start is live, but I have to agree that Defixiones would be a fairly good place to start. (Not that I know her catalog inside out, but I know a fair amount of it, I think.)

― _Rudipherous_, Saturday, 12 March 2011 07:09 (fifteen years ago)

Live, if you are lucky enough to have the opportunity. I've only seen her perform twice.

― _Rudipherous_, Saturday, 12 March 2011 07:10 (fifteen years ago)

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