Who is Santogold? An African-American 32 year old woman, singer, songwriter and record producer. Born Santi White and held out of the City of Brotherly Love known as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This talented woman got her start in the music industry by working for a major label Epic Records as an A&R representative, but left the position to write and produce a song "How I Do", the debut from the singer Res. She also was a singer for the Philadelphia-based punk rock band Stiffed. While in this band, she was offered a solo contract. Her self-titled debut album breaks through the commercial music charts in the US & the UK. Santogold's album is a comparison to the sound of new wave 80's and punk and ska/reggae. Heavy synthesizers takes the toll with a rhythmic beat. Santogold vocals and vocal arrangments is reminder of Terri Bozio from Missing Persons and Siouxsie Sioux from Siouxsie & The Banshees. Her voice concocts in a soft haunting and wailing style.

The song "L.E.S. Artistes" kicks the disc off. A track similarly to the brushing tone vibe of Missing Persons and Blondie. The remix version is also included on this album. Composed and mixed with a dancehall feel. We get "You'll Find A Way", a new wave & ska combination that gives you an idea of the similar sound by The B-52's and British ska band English Beat (aka The Beat). Going deep for a joyride in the dub/ska/reggae genre format form, a deliver of "Shove It" with a slap in your face groovy funky tight kick ass bassline. Take a journey on a plane to Jamaica to dance. This reminds me of the five young black British boys Musical Youth, formed out of Birmingham, England back in the early 80's, who spun a hit "Pass The Dutchie" and video received a heavy rotation on MTV. Santogold gives us a punk reggae on "Say Aha". The Clash fans will love this one.

Entering the portal of electronic music genre, the progressive quirky bleeps and noises sparks out in "Creator" as Santogold adds rap on top of it. This song was used for a Bud Light Lime beer commercial here in the U.S. The seductive vocals stands out in "My Superman", as if we're wandering back in Berlin era of their first album "Pleasure Victim". In the 80's, remember those days at school there was a time when teenagers was dancing to music playing by live bands, especially in movies? Imagine Santogold existed in that time. Her songs "Lights Out" and "I'm A Lady" will be absolutely perfect featuring on a couple of film soundtracks. "Lights Out" has appeared in VO5 hair products commercials in the UK. Everytime I listen to it, I think of the all girl band The Go-Go's. The song is very well written, the singing and the background humming harmony is a reflection of female bass player Jane Wiedlin. "I'm A Lady" is thought provoking that goes down the line of Chrissy Hines and her band The Pretenders.

Sliding back in the electronic & synth-pop genre, the melodic "Star Struck" follows in the dark and shadowy steps of Depeche Mode, their darkwave era. We proceed on to another British band sound we all know, Bananarama. A personality of the female trio and a Jamaican accent added to make "Unstoppable" a complex track to make. Santogold did a superb job by pulling it off. The song is about a woman who's dangerous and carries a gun and different kinds of flammable sprays that is used to spray any attacker in the face. Furthermore, on the run, especially from the police. Finally we're now engulfed in the darkness and the ghost of "Anne" gives us the gothic and haunting reminiscent sound of Siouxsie & The Banshees. On this track, Santogold does sound like Siouxsie. Soft gloomy vocals will pull you in. The song will get alot of attention at a club where everyone wears black.

Despite today's mainstream music sucks and making people dementia in this day & time in the 21st century, Santogold wants to bring back real music that everyone can relate to and feel. She is rated as one of the top ten artists to look out for this year of 2008. Her music has already been receiving heavy rotation in clubs and airplay in urban Afghanistan. Her professional music skills is a promising in the near future.

This is a video collection of The Psychedelic Furs on VHS format. Not on dvd yet. The band was formed in England. The group started out as a six piece and then later on 1982, it was down to four. The PFs made their mark in the 80's, which is known as the new wave/new romantic era. The video starts off with 1980 "Sister Europe". In the video, you see a statue of an African woman. 1981 "Pretty In Pink" follows, my favorite song and video. The band later also re-recorded the song for John Hughes 1986 movie with the same title that starred Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer and Andrew McCarthy. This gave the band alot of recognition. Next is the slow motion images of the band doing their thing in "Dumb Waiters". Who can forever get their unforgettable 1982 black and white video "Love My Way" with background and outstanding images. The video shows the band standing and performing and moving around on a waterglass platform. The video was directed by Tim Pope who have directed numerous of bands videos including The Cure, Soft Cell, Hall & Oates, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Talk Talk and Men Without Hats. And later moved on to direct tv series and movies. We see Richard Butler in the bed sleeping and turning and a woman playing a cello in "Sleep Comes Down". Next is their 1984 "Heaven", which shows the band enjoying themselves playing in the rain as Richard sings. This video is also directed by Tim Pope. As 1987 rolls in, the British lads is in the Big Apple, New York City, where they moved to and shot another black and white video for "Heartbreak Beat". The final video is "All That Money Wants", which is filmed in black and white also. A collection of memories that any 80's child can remember when seeing this band on MTV and had their own signature sound and Richard Butler singing in baritone and voice very distinctive with amazement. The only video that's missing on this memorable collection is "The Ghost In You". Hopefully it'll be on dvd along with the rest of the videos collection, if ever it get to that.

It's been five years now since After Chain release a cd. And now this one woman electronic/industrial act is back with a new cd ep featuring remixes. Aunia Kahn, the woman behind the music, sings with beauty and passion with animosity, but not too cold with it. Her voice glides smoothly effortless over the synths and electronic percussion. This talented Detroit native who resides in Chicago is definitely a flashy new born rising star. She's the brainstorm child of industrial music when making her own. The original track "Undisturbed" and a Renegade of Noise Remix track by Daniel Myer structured to parallel one will stop at nothing to let the other person to kill her. The female victim lets the killer know and to keep that in mind.

"Corporate Loss" is about the government and its agencies has lost its power. As we live in the US, our nation is sinking deeply in economy and financial crisis, banks filing bankruptcy and people are losing their homes and jobs. This track is an excellent theme for this situation we're suffering in. The track also includes a remix by Razed in Black. "Burnt Fuel" have two remixes; the infectious techno-ish groove style Zero S Mix by John Zero and the Neo Land Mix.

Then we come to the final song closing out the cd with an industrial harsh vocal track "You Broke It". A sheer of mild angry Aunia letting out her dramatic aggression format of emotions to get her point across. A can of whip ass appeal is what you will get if you think you're bad when messing with Ms. Kahn. Aunia is Aeon Flux in the 21st century who's very challenging, creative and motivated.

Scarlet Slipping new debut is a haunting and creepy dark album. Fantastic beautiful and ethereal that will torment the mind and soul to keep you awake in the darkness. One of the most best gothic album release in 2008. Dawn Wagner, a talented young woman who is behind the project will take you on a hellish ride on a road that's narrow and then a twisted dead end where death occurs. The synths layers on the tracks are dynamically soft. Each track maintains a slow beat accept one, but the melodies are the highlight of the cd. All 12 tracks sets the perfect pace for the album. I considered "Hound" to be a dramatic theme for a motion picture soundtrack. It sets a mood and create an intense dark atmosphere. A suspense thriller and horror combination. The way Dawn sings is ghostly enchanting with emotions by telling a story. This young female performer is original. No other artist come to mind when one listen to this album. And that's a good thing. For the record, melancholic and sadness interlocks, which describes at its best.

The track "Paralyzed" will heave up a cold chilling feel in your spine. My most favorite track "Slow Death" is a suicide song. A cello that's synthesized is played slowly with feeling. So beautifully enchanting and enticing and hypnotized, which is great to listen to while taking a walk through the cemetary. The lovely "Firefly" sounds like a carousel song. I can picture it being played in an animation film. Through the music, perfect vocal harmonies, well-versed lyricism, the listener is taken to the depths of darkness of Scarlet Slipping on a dark journey experience. All Goths must purchase this cd.

Tracklistings:
1. Forward, You, Me
2. Paralyzed
3. Transend Now To Nebula
4. Light Invades
5. Shock & Glow
6. Hound
7. Slow Death
8. Firefly
9. Sleeping Ghosts
10.House of Stone
11. Breathe
12. Death Melody

This is one of essential disc that's been archived. The early sound of Scarlet Slipping by Dawn Wagner with the collboration of Trance To The Sun member, Askelon Sain, began in 1995. Nine tracks that's worth a listen from start to finish. Lyrically emotional, death dyfying, bloody and horror. My kind of album I enjoyed listening to over and over again and again. "The Hallway" starts the disc off pure and innocent. "Snow White" have a cold feel. "My Friend" is a quiet low-key piece of work. Then Dawn starts to get real troublesome in "Masterpiece", but in a friendly way. She's everything you want her to be, only in a horrific hysterical twisted way. The track "Blood (v.1)" and "The Lie" gets heavily death defying and sinister. A totally chaos by ending up dead. Dawn will mess with your head and after she get you, she goes for the kill. A mastermind of a thinking tricky woman. She'll laugh when the victim is in her trap like in "The Lie". The track "Unclean" have an industrial feel. A rollercoaster ride to hell. Imagine walking into an old house or mansion and hear ghostly voices talking, screaming and echoing, this happens in "Greta Five". Final track "Alabaster Rose" is a beautiful brilliant composition. The similar sound and voice arrangement in the line of The Machine In The Garden. Another favorite gothic band I love and admired. Scarlet Slipping "Tradgedy In The Lions Den" will take you on a horrific fun-filled ride through scenes of horror and bloody mayhem. A nightmarish dream you'll never forget, if you live to tell.