I have the Litanies by Diamanda on CD from the 1988 re-issue. She has ripped me open and transformed me many times over, she performs here in Portland a few times a year.

You're joking right? No? OK-- this is the Diamanda Galas Tribe, right? "its mostly screaming with a recitation of a poem in french by Baudelaire."???? Awwwwww. How descriptive. "Has anyone heard the litanies of Satan?" Not to seem jaded or anything.........BUT!!!!!!!!!! WHAT THE FUCK?!! You know, I really miss the old Diamanda. I know not everyone was alive when her early stuff came out (I was introduced to it in the mid 80's) but, COME ON. Now her current stuff is truely awesome-don't get me wrong, but I grew up with the "mostly screaming...in french" Diamanda. Oh and also the "mostly screaming" in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, English, Pentacostal Tounges Diamanda..........THE LITANIES OF SATAN/ WILD WOMEN WITH STEAK KNIVES, THE DIVINE PUNISHMENT, THE SAINT OF THE PIT. If this "screaming" Diamanda is new to you, you need some sweet, sweet learnin. And apparently so does wikipedia. (I love wikipedia btw, but the article on Diamanda is a little lacking). Sorry if I seem like a snob, but I find it surprising that fans of this once-in-an-eternity voice would not have ravished themselves TO DEATH AND BACK AGAIN upon her prototypical early offerings. Lord? knows I've tortured many a neighboorhood with them blasting out my open windows. They may have been obscure in the 80's, but not now. But then, there must be a starting point for each of us, eh? and considering that The Litanies of Satan was her first released recording why not start there? Seems fitting.........

Wow, Yeah, I'm dating myself here, but I saw her for the first time on 120 Minutes on MTV in the late 80's. Fab video, just a shot of her beautiful face, and then she lifts the mic, upside down, of course, and lets forth the sounds of torment that only she can. I was like "Whoa, Momma!" I've played her at work, only a few times, and it cracks me up how many people are profoundly disturbed by hearing her. I, too, got the love going with Litanies, WWWSK and Plague Mass. I've got an old W magazine article/interview with her, and also a Wired mag arti/view. I love how open and honest she is, how pissy she gets about the stupid comments some pseudo-Goth "Satanist" fools say. And that she gets ranty about the hiv pandemic is gorgeous.
Yeah, she's a once in a lifetime experience, for real!
Before I lost my hearing, (I'm now profoundly deaf) I used to love hearing her pop up in soundtracks.( the only one I can think of right now is that stupid "Dracula" with Gary Oldman... but I know there are more.) There's this thing that she does where her voice slides a bit higher before she breaks into the grating, guttural shriek, that just chills me I love it! I've always loved a good soprano, and she is one of the best. Her vocal acrobatics remind me of early Kate Bush, with the ability to be so dark and wild at the same time. Like the soaring coloratura of Yma Sumak, but not constrained. Primal doesn't begin to describe it. But you know this...

BTW: You can find ample footage of the Old Diamanda in action on YOUTUBE.COM. There is a 10 min clip of her performing The Litanies Of Satan from the 80's. Her video for Double Barrel Prayer is Fantastique!!