Santigold – Spirituals

Santigold is back and ready to shake things up with a sharp left turn into darkness and mysticism

Album Review by Anita Bhadani | 05 Sep 2022
  • Santigold - Spirituals
Album title: Spirituals
Artist: Santigold
Label: Little Jerk Records
Release date: 9 Sep

Following a four-year musical hiatus, Santigold is back and ready to shake things up. Spirituals sees the artist take a sharp left turn into themes of darkness and mysticism, spirituality and new horizons. The title takes its name from Black spirituals, songs that merge African cultural heritage with extreme hardships faced by Black American communities. 

The darkness of themes and aesthetics contrasted with Santigold’s bouncing, fresh delivery alludes to this sense of perseverance and boundlessness, amid often crushing despair and unknowns. The cavernous, echoing eeriness of track Witness melds into the jazz-infused melodies of track Shake. 'You’ve got to keep on moving,' her voice dances across the track. 

Elsewhere, Santigold channels the mystic figure of the High Priestess as she bitingly asks of us: ‘Hey pretty / Oh you really want my thunder?’ Her mastery in interweaving a range of genres is evident throughout, as influences from rap to soul to punk converge effortlessly, helped by collaborations from contributors ranging from Rostam to Boys Noize. Sweetly haunting, melodic and defiant, Santigold has created the perfect album to guide listeners from hazy summer nights into the cold light of new days ahead.

Listen to: My Horror, Shake

http://santigold.com