Gitane Demone - Life After Death 3xdisc dvd.(Cult Epics)
This DVD is the perfect introduction to the career of someone who truly did it their way. Influenced by Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, Gitane realized that all her heroes were dead for many differing causes and life events. Gitane was drawn to the darker side of music and life and so it began…
As a child she spent many hours singing and wailing around the house. She won the first and only talent contest that she entered. Realizing then that the crippling stage fright she had would need to be overcome, Gitane set about finding a group of like minded individuals who could help her achieve her goal of forming a band.
Gitane’s first band, Pompeii 99 released a couple of records and toured around the US. One of the touring encounters was playing with Rozz William’s Christian Death, who had practically invented Goth in the US with their now seminal Only Theatre of Pain album. After the release of OTOP, Christian Death split. Williams chanced upon Gitane’s band again and as Pompeii 99 had lost a couple of members the idea was to form a new version of Christian Death.
The second version of Christian Death got offered an album deal by a French run label that also wanted the band to tour. Taking up the offer, Christian Death went to Rockfield studios in Wales to record the ground breaking second album ‘Catastrophe Ballet.” Gitane’s feminine touches added a wonderfully haunting beauty to this release. With OTOP, Christian Death created a blast of barbarous, eerie Gothic punk rock. The second release saw Williams and Demone’s (plus her wonderfully church like keyboards) vocals work together to great effect along with masterful guitar work from Valor Kand and percussive delicacy from David Glass. Gitane seemed at home and so did the rest of the band because "Catastrophe Ballet" is still regarded as one of the band’s finest hours and is also due for re-release this month, 25 years after its initial release..
Christian Death’s third album ‘Ashes’ saw Gitane perform a more upfront role for the first time on a CD record. "Lament Over the Shadows" has Demone in full flight being joined by Williams who makes the song that much more cabaret and Gitane’s powerful tones close the song with deft appeal. Rozz Williams left the band after this release and Gitane stayed on with Valor Kand now taking on vocal duties.
One of Gitane’s most memorable vocal performances came on Christian Death’s Atrocities album. ‘Tales of Innocence' was Gitane finding the confidence to let all of her emotions take solo flight on a song. The achingly beautiful power in Gitane’s voice fitted the song perfectly and gave fans a glimpse of what was to come from Gitane as a solo artist. 'Tales of Innocence' remains one of the most emotional songs I have ever heard.
Gitane stayed in Christian Death for a few more years before deciding the band was not going in a musical direction that suited her. Her first solo releases came in the form of danceable BDSM inspired vignettes. At times poppy, at others surreal, Demone never failed to push the boundaries of her own personal experience.
The early influences were now utilized to cathartic effect, too. Gitane was now on a blissfully spiraling path of free form jazz and dark cabaret.
Many songs utilizing the stripped down nature of her jazz influences, Demone embraced the ghosts of Billie Holliday and Cole Porter. The voice rose above smoky clouds of music that dealt with many subjects including sex, war and personal demons. The voice stops you dead in your tracks, as the confidence of a performer going beyond musical form and normal emotion takes you to the next level.
The DVD starts with a short documentary. Gitane explaining her inspirations and early years. Throughout we see an artist mature and deliver some of the most potent solo material this decade. From fetish events, jazz clubs and the rock stage, Gitane Demone makes chilling use of her most honed instrument, her voice. At times sultry and teasing, at others dominant and at others she submits to her demons and then expels them through song.
All the songs are captured live and create the feeling of the performer being in the room with you.
It’s cosy but feels prurient, like you are a voyeur being exposed to someone’s personal inner desires and for me, that makes the perfect performer.
Demone and Williams re-united in the mid 90’s. The tour and album from that period saw the two artists meet at just the right point. Williams played the Bryan Ferry to Gitane’s Billie Holliday and the two artists performed under candlelight with a slightly camp nod to all things vaudeville. it’s captured so fittingly here. Tinkling pianos, spoken word effigies and plenty of wine combined to create the live equivalent of the two artists inviting you into there homes and souls. Gitane is all smiles, enjoying every moment of the performance. Williams is morosely powerful, from the surreal to the bluntly desperate, he delivers every nuance with magical charm. Both artists had a wealth of material between them and the experience gained provided them with all the tools to pull of such an experimental idea.
We are also treated to a rare glimpse of Demone and Williams performing a few Christian Death numbers in 1996. Another example of the diversity that both artists possessed.
Rozz Williams committed suicide in 1998. He left behind a legacy of music that any music fan would take their hat off humbly to, Gitane included. Demone had lost one of her best and oldest friends and the music word had lost one of it’s most prolific artists. Williams influence can be heard in a wealth of bands to this day and this DVD gives a small insight to the huge amounts of genius that the man possessed.
The DVD takes us up to 1998 but Gitane went well beyond this period. She carried on the Jazz experimentation and provided backing vocals for several bands. There are more rock orientated numbers and today Gitane is in a band with her daughter, Zara. The Cystelles are a stripped down more tribal experience but are another evolution in the searing life of Gitane Demone.
Get yourself a bottle of red, a few candles and slide this DVD gently into the player and have the most evocative night in you can imagine.
9/10
http://www.cultepics.com
Reviewed by Nicky.
Special thanks to Nico B.