Ian Gittins 

Santigold – review

The artist formerly known as Santogold needs to get a move in if she wants to hit the big time, says Ian Gittins
  
  


Timing is everything in pop, and Santigold's has gone awry. When the New York electropop diva born Santi White emerged in 2008 – then trading as Santogold – with a striking debut album and a sound, look and attitude all apparently fully formed, her domination of the music world seemed imminent.

There followed a four-year hiatus, during which Santigold has seemingly done little except fiddle with her name and indulge in a slew of collaborations with everyone from Amadou & Mariam to the Beastie Boys. The emergence in the interim of similarly minded stars such as Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj has left the hapless White playing catch-up. Compounding her problems, her comeback album Master of My Make-Believe lacks the crucial game-changing melodies.

This defect hasn't prevented her loyal demographic of hipsters and fashionistas turning this venue into a sweatbox. They are rewarded with a spectacular performance in which the vivacious Santigold, a vision in kaleidoscopic Day-Glo, almost does enough to distract you from the fact that her tunes aren't all that. An album non-song such as God from the Machine fades even further into the background as the costume changes range from Hawaiian beach party to sci-fi camp to pantomime horse.

Recent single Disparate Youth has a piquant melancholy, and old favourite Creator incites a stage invasion, with Santigold's full approval, but she has been a star in waiting too long. If it is really going to happen for Santigold, it had better start very soon.

 

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