Tracks:
- Lament
- Tales Of Innocence
- Gloomy Sunday
- 1983
- Golden Age
- Raw War
- Jesus, Where's The Sugar?
- Erection
- Incendiary Lover
- This Is Not Blasphemy
- Golden Age (Live)
- Erection (Live)
Few artists have had careers as stylistically broad as Gitane DeMone, whose disregard for genre restrictions has seen her shatter many presumed boundaries. She has fronted small groups and large groups, in musical backdrops as varied as cabaret, jazz, techno, and hard rock, often adding elements of performance art to the presentation. Admittedly, we live in a sound-bite world where the convenience of pigeon-holing an artist is preferred to the complete understanding of their capabilities and depth. Given that, it is Gitane's long affiliation with gothic rock's dark knights Christian Death that most people associate with the singer/keyboardist. Fair enough, but a listen through Gitane's solo work, reveals a much more complex picture.
DeMone's career stretches back to the early Eighties So-Cal punk/new wave scene with the group Pompeii 99. Along with drummer David Glass and guitarist Valor, the group was a fixture on the L.A. club circuit and garnered a significant following. By 1983, Pompeii 99 joined with Rozz Williams to form the second incarnation of Christian Death. The band toured Europe and lived in Wales for a time where they recorded the second Christian Death album, Catastrophe Ballet. The group returned to America to record the LP Ashes, and later the live collection The Decomposition of Violets. By 1985, Rozz had unfortunately left the group and Valor decided to carry on with Christian Death, much to Williams' displeasure. While still with the band, Gitane vacationed in Rotterdam, Netherlands, tending bar at a free jazz club called Thelonius. There, she sat in with various jazzmen such as Frank Wright and Woody Shaw. DeMone continued to record and perform with Christian Death until 1989, at which point she embarked on her solo career.
On the heels of various solo recordings, 1995's Dream Home Heartachereunited Gitane with Rozz Williams, and is a subtle, late-night cabaret set, produced by Ken Thomas. From this same period came Never Felt So Alive, a duet LP recorded with Mark Ickx under the name Demonix. Since recording Am I Wrong?, Gitane returned to Los Angeles and formed a brand new band. Specializing in harder-edged versions and reinterpretations of the new material ("Am I Wrong?" as a shuffle, for example!), and the new group crossed the Atlantic for a maiden European tour In May of '98.
Gitane's loyal followers have long awaited an anthology such as Life in Death, which for the first time compiles all of Gitane's vocal contributions to the Christian Death catalog. Included are key tracks from Ashes; Atrocities; The Scriptures; Sex, Drugs and Jesus Christ; and The Heretics Alive.
A review from inmusicwetrust.com | Dedicated to the life of Christian Death founder Rozz Williams, former Christian Death member Gitane DeMone offers up a collection of tracks that she sang lead vocals on; a collection of songs that are a "testament to those years ['85-'89] behind me. I'm glad I sang those songs." The disc opens with "Lament," a gothic carnival ride recorded in 1985; a duet between Rozz and Gitane, it helps set the mood for the "Life in Death" title of the disc and the entire tone for the CD. The rest of the album is what you'd expect from Gitane DeMone leading 'Christian Death.' It's very melancholy; dark and filled with angst, lust, sorrow, and hardship, the music vibrantly speaks for itself as Gitane's vocals lead the way. And though she didn't write a lot of the lyrics, her voice sings with such a passion, such experience, you can't help but feel as if she is living the words she sings. Powerful, intimate, and melancholy, this album is a gothic treasure. Gitane salutes the late Rozz Williams, pays tribute to his life, and gives her fans a collection of songs they won't soon forget (even if they've probably heard them on the various full-lengths and singles they came from). Here is Gitane in all her Christian Death glory on one disc, which fans will surely flock to. I'll give it a B-. - Alex Steininger