Eye watching vocal extravaganza from influential singer

"'SCREECHY GOTHIC DIVA?'
 EAT MY FUCKING ASS"

There will be few occasions when you'll be sitting in a prestigious concert hall hearing a classically trained musician inviting Time Out magazine to dine on her behind, but then there are very few people like Diamanda Galas.

One of the few true proponents of music without compromise, the San Diego singer has been clawing at the bounderies of music and performance for over 20 years now. Armed with little more than a staggering three-and-half octave voice, her recordings might have been touched upon genres of gothic and industrial but they've also included collaborations with Led Zepplin's John Paul Jones and traditional covers album. It would be far easier to identify their one uniting factor- that of an aural acid bath. It shouldn't be too much of surprise that both Dani Filth (of Cradle of Filth) and Marilyn Manson are long time fans (she was Manson's intro tape for his last tour). Less surprising still should be the patronage of Amen's Casey Chaos who name-checked her in one interview as being heavier than Deicide.

And guess what? He's right. After this, death metal will seem like a safe haven. Spotlit in a sparkly dress and with only a piano for company, Galas is a formidable sight. Her versatility at performing songs from all languages and all schools (including a Screeming Jay Hawkins cover!) makes for a performance as eerie as it is grosteque as it is alluring. And though you might not always like it, by simply watching her play (and she is an incredible peianist to boot), and hearing the sounds produced from vocal chords strectched into unimaginable shapes, you can see why she took umbrage at the aforementioned listings mag's lazy label - as she's none of these things. Rather, an example of originality in one of its purest, visceral and most POWERFUL forms.

Catherine Yates