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Although this site never started out to be a music related site, my delvings into the musical world of Queen Adreena have near forced me to tell the world about it. This London-based (I think) band are possibily the most innovative band I have ever heard, or seen. Watching them live was incredible, and even surpassing my beloved Tool at Ozzfest, their show at the Northampton Soundhaus was possibly the best gig i have been to. The jagged glam-rock esque guitar stylings of Crispin Gray set against the haunting/banshee screaming Faery vocals of Katie Jane Garside blew me away the first time i heard the band, and they continue to amaze me every time i hear them.
Their first album, "Taxidermy", was a theatrical masterpiece from the crunching opener of Cold Fish, to the reflective lullaby of Sleepwalking or the haunting folk tale of Pretty Polly, perhaps the best song on the album. The music had depth and Katie Jane's vocals seared high and guttered low, sending the recent wave of garage-rock or chugging nu-metal to cower in their self-imposed filth. I am amazed that this band are not bigger than they already are, although interest in the band is seemingly on the rise.
Unfortunately, it seems this new wave of Queen Adreena "fans" consist of socially retarded male teenagers who are interested only in Katie Jane Garside as a sex object. Before their set at the Soundhaus i listened to someone remark upon how they had found a "prime wanking spot" at the front of the crowd, which disgusted me.
This new "fan" base has caused intense distress to me, going beyond irritating to downright offensive. It has even caused the Best Queen Adreena/Katie Jane Garside website in existence (Ragdoll) to shut down. My commiserations to Polly Rain for this...you made a great effort Polly and a fantastic site. Your work will not be forgotten by those true fans amongst us. But more about the music of Queen Adreena...
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| Katie Jane Garside, circa Daisy Chainsaw |
"The world is watching as I fuck to applaud"
"Today I'm over seven stone"
"Rise Up My DarkStar"
"I'm afraid you mean to murder me"
"All cold and hungered"
"broken, got broke, was it good to smoke i'm not sure"
"Do I Look Alright?"
"I only Fuck God"
"Today the silent one does have her say"
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| Katie, fighting with Crispin |
"I do not know the answers to the universe my dear"
"I've been digging your grave for the best part of your life"
"I've seen more than you've ever dreamed possible"
"Taunt and Bait Me, Invalidate Me"
"Cut my heart out, eat me whole"
"You can have your children but I will never love again"
"Was it good to sing, was it right to laugh, was it wrong, this turning that I took?"
"Sonambulation, up and down the road"
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| Katie Jane Garside in Queen Adreena |
"The Great Divide is crossed for you by me"
"I'll eat from your hand as a bird with no fear"
"Protruding hips and skull and spine, rib cage cuts a clear outline"
"Let not your hold be so tight"
"Madraykin, is she suffering?"
"The world is watching as I get undressed"
"Today I ate myself for breakfast, I'm kissing my disgrace"
"I took her heart and kissed it clean but still she kicks against me"
"I got your secret and i sure ain't gonna KEEP IT"
"Shadowed faces reaching for me, pretending they know what's best for me"
"I will not change what I hate in you"
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| Crispin, looking beautiful. |
Queen Adreena's second offering, entitled Drink Me was much different to the first album. Perhaps more brutal, songs like Hotel Aftershow and Kitty Collar Tight really pushing the limit of Katie Jane's banshee wail. My Silent Undoing and Sleeping Pill also take the mellow side further, with Sleeping Pill almost Bjork inspired. The album is a 'joy' to listen to - to the uninitiated it could also be viewed as disturbing. A friend once had to stop listening to My Silent Undoing due to the fact the tinkling glockenspiel and Katie Jane's whispering, ghostly lullaby had begun to scare her. The song itself is the mellow highlight of the album, and the album follows in the pattern of its predecessor. The crunching, fiddly guitar intro of Pretty Like Drugs leads into a stomping riff and insane vocals, with the album ending on the saddened but self-affirming For I Am The Way. This album was probably the best £12 I have ever spent. It got me into this wonderful band, this wonderful music, these enigmatic, and charismatic, incredible people.
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