Out now via Dark Vinyl is the all new album by Gitane Demone (Christian Death, Rozz Williams) in collaboration with Paul Roessler (45Grave, Gitane Demone Quartet). The classically inspired album tackles about death, mourning, transience and farewell. The release is dedicated to Rozz Williams (Christian Death) and Darby Crash (The Germs).

The origins for this release can be found in 2017, when Gitane asked Paul to write orchestral music for a tribute she was writing for Rozz Williams, starting with his early life and his rise to goth stardom. When she brought up his suicide, Paul said, “This is something personal to me now, as I lost my dear friend Darby Crash to suicide as well.”

Together, Paul and Gitane explored the suicides: how they were affected, what Rozz and Darby could have accomplished had they lived (with such creative brilliance), the opportunities in life they missed by ending their lives, and rebirth.

Some time later, seeing Holst’s “The Planets” at the Hollywood Bowl and hearing the debut of Daniel Bjarnason’s Violin Concerto, they both decided to write orchestral pieces that became “The New Young Kings of Midnight”.

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Genre/Influences: Gothic.

Background/Info: Gitane Demone (ex-Christian Death) is a legendary Goth artist I don’t have to introduce. “Past The Sun” is an album that has been composed as a ‘quartet’ featuring Paul Roessler, Deb Venom and Rikk Agnew (ex-Christian Death). “Past The Sun” is an album revealing 8 songs.

Content: Gitane Demone remains a unique experience. This Gothic diva has this particular, bewitching timbre of voice you’ll immediately recognize. She reflects passion, anger, sensuality and still has a kind of ritual expression. She’s a real blessing for a gothic formation.

And the music definitely sounds gothic-like. It’s filled with bombast and obscure atmospheres, but I also noticed some psychedelic passages. The last song is a surprising cover version of Suicide’s “Ghost Rider”. It’s meant as a bonus track while revealing more electronic arrangements.

+ + + : The main strength of this work definitely is to be the maturity of the production. Gitane Demone Quartet is a band driven by experienced and talented musicians fronted by one of the most charismatic singers in gothic history. The songs are particularly elaborate and reveal a kind of ‘free-goth’ expression. You’ll notice some experimental passages and other psychedelic parts. I also like the somewhat ritual approach on a few cuts (cf. “Circle Ov Air”, “Lorca”) and the totally crazy, but genius “Eva Braun” on, which Gitane Demone literally excels. Last, but not least the cover version of “Ghost Rider” is a pretty cool finale.

– – – : One of the only cuts that couldn’t totally convince me is the more experimental-minded “Standard Upright”.

Conclusion: “Past The Sun” is a passionate, diversified and fully accomplished production, which will for sure please all fans of Gitane Demone.

Best songs: “Eva Braun”, “Man Made God”, “Lorca”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.gitanedemone.net / www.facebook.com/gitanegdq

Label: www.darkvinyl.de / www.facebook.com/darkvinylrecords

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