The Litanies of Satan
| The Litanies of Satan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Diamanda Galás | ||||
| Released | 25 February 1982 | |||
| Recorded | September 1981–1982 | |||
| Studio | Nadir Studios, London, England and San Diego, CA | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 29:51 | |||
| Label | Y | |||
| Producer | Dave Hunt | |||
| Diamanda Galás chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Litanies of Satan is the debut album by American avant-garde artist Diamanda Galás, released in the United Kingdom by Y Records in 1982; it was released in her home country in 1989. In some issues, the vinyl sides are oppositely labeled, while some compact disc reissues also presents the tracks in the incorrect order.
Content
The text for "The Litanies of Satan" is taken from a section of Les Fleurs du Mal by Charles Baudelaire. According to the album liner notes, the piece "devotes itself to the emeraldine perversity of the life struggle in Hell." The notes go on to state that "Wild Women with Steak-Knives," from the tragedy-grotesque by Diamanda Galás Eyes Without Blood, is "a cold examination of unrepentant monomania, the devoration instinct, for which the naive notion of filial mercy will only cock a vestigial grin."
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
Trouser Press described it as "a disturbing and provocative piece."[3]
Track listing
| Side one | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
| 1. | "The Litanies of Satan" | Charles Baudelaire | Diamanda Galás | 17:48 |
| Side two | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
| 1. | "Wild Women with Steak-Knives (The Homicidal Love Song for Solo Scream)" | Diamanda Galás | Diamanda Galás | 12:04 |
Personnel
- Diamanda Galás — vocals; tape and electronics on side one
- Production personnel
- Dick O’Dell — executive production
- Dave Hunt — production, engineering on side one
- Durand Rene Legault — recording, engineering assistant on side two
- Richard Zvonar — engineering on side two
- Will Gullette — photography
- Martyn Lambert — design
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1982 | Y | LP | Y 18 |
| United States | 1989 | Mute | CD, LP | ISO 1 |
| Restless | 71419 |
References
- ↑ Rojek, Chris (2011). "Theoretical Perspectives". Pop Music, Pop Culture. Polity. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-7456-4264-2.
- ↑ Olewnick, Brian. "The Litanies of Satan". Allmusic. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
- ↑
External links
- The Litanies of Satan at Discogs (list of releases)