Another Empowered Female – Santogold

by Andy Sosnowski in Album Reviews, New Releases, Song Reviews, bands to watch

Last time I reviewed MIA’s live concert. This time I review Santogold from Brooklyn, as a preview to a free concert that Santogold will be giving on Sunday July 20 in N.Y.C. as part of Central Park Summerstage (see www.summerstage.org). There are similarities in that both make powerful but not (usually) pretty electronica. Santogold has a strong song called Starstruck, M.I.A. has a strong song called Sunshowers. If anything Santogold’s music is more melodic and diverse.

Santogold is a collaboration between Santi White and former Stiffed bandmate John Hill. The CD cover has an image of Santi White with gold glitter coming out of her mouth. Santogold features production from sometime MIA collaborators Diplo and Switch. And like MIA, her music reportedly has elements of baile funk (dance music from Rio de Janeiro); perhaps it’s time to find out more directly about this stuff.

My favorite song of the CD is Creator (produced by Switch), probably the most original and the one that stays the freshest on repeated listening. She creates deep-resonating sounds not with instruments or electronics but with her voice. The lyrics twang too (you’ll need a crowbar to pry this song out from your inner resonating-chamber):

Me, I’m a creator, thrill is to make it up/The rules I break got me a place up on the radar

Me, I’m a Taker Know what the stakes are

I was chosen And I will deliver the explosion

Another strong song is “My Superman” about a liar “but I can’t count all the ways you woo me“.

L.E.S. Artistes showcases her voice. There must be a story behind this spelling of this title?

Say Aha has some unusual lyrics: Louder than they allow, Say Aha, Aha!

Unstoppable (produced by Diplo) has a jerky rhythm and an empowered attitude.

I prefer the remix by Switch and Sinden of You’ll find a way to the plain version.

Starstruck has the grunting male chorus that somehow really helps make this song for me.

The concert also features DJ Diplo, A-Trak and Kid Cudi.