Santogold - Santogold

(Muso's Guide, January 15, 2009)

Album review

There’s nothing like a good crossover to mix it up a bit in the old reviews bag.

Too often, artists shy away from success, believing that it’ll make them less cool, less credible and, ultimately, less wealthy. So they stay on that straight and narrow route to Nowheresville with their nondescript sound because, hey, it’s them. Happily, Philadelphia-born Santi White holds with no such ideals. After singing with Philly punk band Stiffed, Santogold was unleashed on the world on her own, and she’s made it her mission to incorporate what she knew then into her new sound - which includes, but is not limited to, electro, dub, new wave and ska. That’s the secret of her success.

Despite myriad comparisons to M.I.A., Santogold portrays here the sort of genre-straddling nous that blows the London native out of the water. From the new-wave of ‘L.E.S. Artistes’ that owes more than a passing debit to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ grandiosity - think ‘Gold Lion’ for build-up and emotional pay-off - the album’s off to a flying start.

On ‘You’ll Find A Way’ and ‘Say Aha’, Santogold explores her own vein of ska - mercifully without the high-pitched nasal quality of some similar female-voiced forays - and harks back to the music of Stiffed, but with something altogether different and unique to add. Santogold’s explosive personality is best displayed on ‘Creator’ - best known for persuading you to purchase fashionable haircare - which packs a hell of a punch for a debut single.

As is standard, names of influences and soundalikes have plagued Santogold since the release of this record, but in truth, Santogold doesn’t sound like anyone else. Her lyrical poetry is, for the most part, angular and angrier, but then swathes of vulnerability come through, all the more exaggerated when voiced by this incredibly talented and strident woman.

It is eminently shameful that, as a black female artist, Santogold has been compared to other black female artists. This debut record takes the guts of any artist of any race and gender and makes it a great listen. Pop when it needs to be, stylishly cool and unfeasibly confident, it’s full-on gold.