Gina X Performance – X-Traordinaire

One of the earliest proponents of chic, detached electro-pop, Gina X Performance (born Gina Kikoine) released a number of records throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s. A few of her songs, especially “No GDM” (a tribute to writer/actor Quentin Crisp) and “Nice Mover,” have remained popular at dance clubs and within DJ circles; as proof of her lengthy shelf life, the latter was featured on Andrew Weatherall’s Nine O’Clock Drop, a compilation of alternative dance tracks from the first half of the ’80s, in 2000. Her android-like voice recalled obscure disco singer Amanda Lear and — most significantly — fellow German Marlene Dietrich. Most of her work featured the production skills of Zeus B. Held, who included Kikoine in his early-’80s Fashion project. She also took part in a duet with Associates’ Billy Mackenzie during that group’s Perhaps sessions, but odds are very slim that the unreleased song (a version of “The Best of You”) will ever see the light of day. ~ Andy Kellman