Diamanda Galás, internationally acclaimed vocalist, pianist, composer and poet has performed worldwide since 1978. She is the creator of the theatrical performances 'The Plague Mass', 'Vena Cava' and 'Schrei X', as well as the concerts / recordings of 'Malediction and Prayer', 'Judgement Day' and 'Masque Of The Red Death'. An extraordinary singer of unparalleled emotional intensity, she performs with a purity of intent which leaves her listeners breathless.
Her voice is one moment serpentine, the next a juggernaut. The subjects she addresses are profound and terrible; her response - rage and grief - beautiful and cathartic.
In 1996, Serpents Tail published 'The Shit Of God', a compilation of Galás' original performance texts and writing. In September 1999, she gave the world premiere of 'Defixiones, Will and Testament' at the Gravensteen Castle in Ghent, Belgium.
Nicole Blackman, a spoken-word performer from New York has been involved with a wide variety of musical projects, most notably supplying vocals on the darkly disturbing Golden Palominos album 'Dead Inside', in addition to recording with Bill Laswell, Scanner and KMFDM. Her edgy work straddles the uncharted territory between page and performance, leaving the audience sometimes amused, more often unsettled, with pieces that are funny, poignant, edgy and disturbing - sometimes all at once.
"Everything I write is a bit burnt around the edges" she explains, "and I'm most intrigued by stories of people with strange attractions."
Blackman has produced four books - 'Pretty', 'Sweet' and 'Nice' published in 1997, rounding off a trilogy of works she says are "back-handed compliments for women". She has also recently published, 'Blood Sugar'.
Samantha Coerbell, a writer and spoken word performer, is a native New Yorker with Trinidadian roots. She has been active on the NY poetry scene since 1991 and has performed with numerous musicians and writers. She holds a BFA in English•Literature & Creative Writing from Brooklyn College.
In addition to providing guest vocals on various musical compilations, Sam also teaches creativity and performance workshops and has been a featured performer with Real Live Poetry in the U.S. and Apples & Snakes in the UK.
The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet were the pioneer gospel/pop group of the 30's and 40's. Propelled by Willie Johnson (baritone) and William Langford (first tenor), they enjoyed massive acceptance far outside the church, and their smooth Mills Brothers-influenced harmonies made them naturals for pop crossover success.
Together with Henry Owens (second tenor) and Orlandus Wilson (bass), they began recording for Victor in 1937 followed by National radio broadcasts and an appearance on John Hammond's 1938 'Spirituals To Swing' concert at Carnegie Hall. By 1941, the 'Gates' were recording for Columbia (minus Langford) and movie appearances were frequent: 'Star Spangled Rhythm', 'Hollywood Canteen' and 'Hit Parade' during 1943, to name a few. When experiments with R&B material didn't pan out during the late 40's, Johnson defected to the Jubilaires (in 1948). The group eventually emigrated to France in 1959. Of the four original members, William Langford and Henry Owens died in 1970 while Willie Johnson became a Los Angeles bus driver, occasionally fronting a backup group for Phil Harris in Las Vegas.
Incredibly, it is still possible to see The Golden Gate Quartet today! Original member Orlandus Wilson anchors the group, still singing with his beautiful bass voice at the age of 83.
Recordings by The Golden Gate Quartet go in and out of print with frustrating regularity. The best are often available only on import labels. An excellent introductory CD, 'Travelin' Shoes', contains 19 of the earliest recordings and is available from CD NOW.
Rosa M. Torras, a Recoil fan from Barcelona, came to work with Recoil after she responded to a request from Alan for anyone to send in a recording of themselves speaking in their native language. She is currently at university in Barcelona studying to be a translator.
Q. What is your track 'Vertigen' about?
A. I had in mind a situation where someone experiences an extremely painful loss - the loss of ignorance - which was somehow deliberate and inevitable at the same time. Suddenly, the narrator finds this atmosphere highly oppressive. Even though she had felt in heaven and had never even imagined a better state of mind, she now feels a void and an irrepressible urge to obtain something more. Her ambition leads to desperation and great fear as she realises there is no possible return to her previous state - she foresees no end to her suffering.
I think it's particularly interesting that the theme fits in so well with the overall aircrash concept of 'Liquid'. At the point in which 'Vertigen' occurs (in the middle of the album), the man, who has been re-living parts of his life, is suddenly jolted back into the present and aware of his impending death. The title, which means 'fear of falling' in Catalan, is therefore relevant to him at that precise moment and also in terms of his life and what has occured in the past. The track ends with the words "I have fear of falling forever."
Sonya Aurora Madan is the vocalist with UK band Echobelly who first came to prominence in the early '90's. Aside from Sonya, the band consists of Swedish co-writer and guitarist Glenn Johansson and Andy Henderson on drums.
Their first EP 'Bellyache' (released on the independent Pandemonium label) was a veritable revelation to a world starved of such blatant pop excess and was soon followed, in 1994, by their debut album, 'Everyone's Got One' (released on their own label, Fauve). The LP topped the independent charts in England, prompting former Smiths frontman Morrissey to pay Sonya a visit to encourage Echobelly to open for him on his US tour.
With their instant pop sensibility and unique, voyeuristic outlook, it was no surprise that the band managed to smartly bypass all the pitfalls laid before them by an over enthusiastic music press and end 1994 with a Top 10 UK album and an undeniably successful world tour.
The group could also count R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and Michael Stipe, and even Madonna among its growing fan base. The Material Girl also put her money where her mouth is, offering Echobelly a cool million to sign with her label, Maverick, but the band turned down the offer and opted for Sony's smaller, more personal label, 550.
Their next album, 'On' (produced by Shaun Slade and Paul Kolderie), made No. 1 on the indie charts. 'On' was an altogether different creation to 'Everyone's Got One', sounding more accomplished and confident. After more extensive touring, Echobelly's last LP, 'Lustra', was released on Epic in 1997. More recently, they have been back in the studio working on new material for a forthcoming LP. Sonya also tells us that a new official Echobelly website is in the pipeline.
CyberNoise
Nitzer Ebb Discography [PDF]