La Serpenta Canta

Artist: Diamanda Galás
Label: EMI Int'l
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 2

UPC: 724359359106
EAN: 0724359359106
ASIN: B0000DG5NK

Release Date: 2003-12-11

La Serpenta Canta

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Tracks:

Intro
Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down
Burning Hell
Baby's Insane
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Lonely Woman
Frenzy

Tracks:

Blue Spirit Blues
My World Is Empty Without You
I Put A Spell On You
At The Dark End Of The Street
Dancing In The Dark
Dead Cat On The Line
See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
Burning Hhell

Album Description

2003 album from the avant-garde performer is a song recital recruiting blues, R&B, Motown, southern soul, country & western, & her own 'Baby's Insane' (from 'This Sporting Life' [1994]), her duo album with John Paul Jones). 15 tracks recorded between May 1999 & November 2002. Mute.

Album Details

'la Serpenta Canta" AKA the Serpent Sings, is a Song Recital Recruiting Blues, R&b, Motown, Southern Soul, Country and Western and her Own "Baby's Insane" (From this Sporting Life, her Duo Album with John Paul Jones) in Galás's Ongoing Campaign Against Forgetting. The Songs Are Render in her Own Inimitable Style Spanning Eastern Orthodox Liturgy, American Roots and the Rembetika Songs of Greece and Asia Minor.

Customer Reviews:

La Serpenta Canta ~ Diamanda Galas.......2004-09-08

Diamanda's music/performance art needs some time to grow on you. I bought this album a couple of months back and it's quite hard to get used to but when you do, it's such a powerful and heartbreaking album. This is a double album recorded live all over the world for her "La Serpenta Canta" tour. She mostly sings blues standards and a couple of her own songs. If you've never heard her before and are curious to check her out, this is a great starting point.

Diamanda Galas is a fierce and confrontational artist that delves deeper in the darker corners of the human soul that are quite often ignored because humans are afraid and don't want to be remembered by it. She has released albums since the early 80's and the topics differ from people with HIV/Aids or who are in a demented state of mind. At the same time this album was released she also released another double album about the armenian genocide earlier this century.

Her voice is something quite special and truly one of a kind. It's a sort of combination between opera and shrieking. On this album you can also hear some gospel influences. I can imagine that a lot of people are turned of by that because her voice can frighten the wits out of you, even me.

So, on this album a lot of blues standards and the lyrics of most of the songs fit her perfectly. Accompanied by a grand piano and some digital manipulation, she creates a disturbing but impressive atmosphere that definitely grows on you if you can approach this with an open mind and are not afraid of some more unconventional music. Not all the tracks are dark. She also sings a couple of songs with a sardonic snarl that always puts a smile on my face (Baby's Insane and Dead Cat On The Line) and that enlightens the overal dark atmosphere of her work on this album.

Disc one
1.Intro
2.Aint No Grave Can Hold My Body Down 5/5
3.Burning Hell 5/5
4.Baby's Insane 5/5
5.I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry 5/5
6.Lonely Woman 4/5
7.Frenzy 4/5
Disc Two
1.Blue Spirit Blues 4/5
2.My World Is Empty Without You 5/5
3.I Put A Spell On You 5/5
4.At The Dark End Of The Street 5/5
5.Dancing In The Dark 5/5
6.Dead Cat On The Line 5/5
7.See That My Grave Is Kept Clean 5/5
8.Burning Hell (Reprise) 5/5

I put a spell on you.......2004-07-13

"La Serpenta Canta" is my first Diamanda Galas cd. I have always wanted to check out her music but never got around to doing so. Over the past weekend, I found a used copy of "La Serpenta Canta" at my favorite record store. That was the perfect opportunity for me to expose myself to Diamanda's music. I must say that Diamanda is definitely a one of a kind artist. No one can wail like her. I wanted to let the music grow on me before I decided to review "La Serpenta Canta" because the first couple of listens were a bit overwhelming for my ears. After a few listens, the 2 cd set started to grow on me. The first time I listened to "Burning Hell", I thought I was in purgatory. Diamanda's wailing initially turned me off but eventually I grew to enjoy it. This woman really can sing the blues. Loved her interpretation of the Hank Williams' song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". It is a far cry from the original version and even Johnny Cash's haunting rendition. Same with the Screamin' Jay Hawkins' song "I Put a Spell On You". I have to admit that Diamanda Galas isn't for everyone. She is an acquired taste. Personally I liked what I heard on "La Serpenta Canta".

Diamanda is the queen of all serpents!.......2004-02-18

Diamanda Galas is a great unique vocalist!
This album is a plus for any real Diamanda fans!
Great blues...great sour notes that hits you right where it hurts...but in a good way.

The only bad thing I have to say about this one is that it wasn't necessary to make it a double album as I believe all the songs could've fit into one CD! And that would've been more convenient for us fans. But oh well.

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