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Santigold's latest is testament to her multi-generic talent

"I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions"

Release date: 27 July 2018
8.5/10
Unnamed 17
27 July 2018, 11:30 Written by Steven Loftin
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Crafting a mixtape can be a risky affair.

Yet what Santi White, aka Santigold, has crafted on her fourth outing is nothing short of summer sun perfection. Her pop sensibilities are evident throughout, as well as a keenness to explore the sonic possibilities of reggae and dub.

I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions proves that White, for all her success, is a vastly underrated source of musical inspiration. Few artists could pull off a ten track mixtape that flurries through multiple stylistic territories while never being restrained by expectations. Having been plying her trade for over a decade, White has tried her hand at many genre tropes, but her passion has been consistent regardless of the presentation of her work.

The thing on this record, however, is the content. Surprise-releasing a summer-focused mixtape and still managing to make it relevant socially and politically is quite a feat. "Wha' You Feel Like" takes aim at male hubris, while "Crashing Your Party" incisively questions power structures.

As the tracks ebb and flow, the record provides the perfect accompaniment to the current heatwave we're all struggling to survive. Santigold has dropped this full-length artefact at exactly the right time, and she deserves all the recognition she gets.

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