DIAMANDA GALÁS WITH JOHN PAUL JONES: THE SPORTING LIFE

I have this album for years, but to be honest, I am listening it just one-two times every year. It doesn't mean that album isn't good enough. Possibly, it is just different from what I am expecting from great Diamanda Galas.

If you never heard Diamanda Galas songs, just imagine classically trained opera-singer using her voice for punkish, NY downtown avant screaming (yes, she sings, but you will be shocked by this way of singing for sure), playing acoustic piano and mixing in her songs all impossible combinations, usually blues standards, Greek, Spanish or other exotic folk songs, classic pieces and avant arrangements. This mix often sounds fantastic, mostly because of her charisma.

This album is a rare exception - she collaborates with ex-Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones (plus drummer Pete Thomas). So her crazy and magic singing is framed by bass pulsation and some drumming. She plays keyboards, but quite often it is synths, and they have very back plan line. And even if music is still enough minimalistic, some magic has gone.

Still very strong album, it could be interesting more for Diamanda fans. For newcomers or just usual listeners I can recommend any other of her real solo works: you possibly will love it or will hate it, but you will feel much better, what her music is all about.