Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Genesis P-Orridge. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Genesis P-Orridge. Mostrar todas las entradas

sábado, 24 de diciembre de 2011

CLVI. Psychic TV | Pagan Day



















Pagan Day
©Cleopatra. US, 1994.


This recording was first ever released as catalogue number TOPY 003 on thee 23rd december 1984 as a Picture Disc limited edition ov 999 copies. One side was a full colour photograph ov Caresse P-Orridge as a baby, thee other side had text in red on white. It was only available to shops and distributors between 11am and 12am on that actual day! Rough Trade co-ordinated this through their telex lines for us. All thee music was recorded on a 4 track cassette machine under thee guidance of Alex Fergusson, thee original co-founder and partner, with Genesis P-Orridge, ov Psychic TV. "Pagan Day" was subtitled "Pages From A Notebook" because that is precisely what it was. Thee revealing ov thee process itself. Most PTV songs in their earliest era began life as these kinds ov cassette sketches often recorded in Alex's room at thee YMCA over coffee. "Pagan Day" is not therefore a "finished" recording in thee commonly accepted sense, it is an intimate glimpse into a place where "Source Are Rare". However, thee simplicity and privacy of it's evolution onto a record makes it appealing in quite a special way. Some songs were never intended to be heard outside our own living rooms but to conceal thee frailties would we felt, compromise thee integrity and honesty ov this chronicle. Due to popular interest, and extremely high "collector" prices being paid for thee original Picture Disc, "Pagan Day" was re-issued on normal vinyl, in a card sleeve as part ov Temple Records Library Series as a matter ov completeness, and as a matter ov fact.









 

viernes, 2 de diciembre de 2011

CXXXVII. Genesis P-Orridge & Column One | Vis Spei





















Vis Spei
©Cut-Up-Construction Rec. Deutschland, 1995.


Notes:
words by Genesis P-Orridge
For synchronization column one was:
Tom Gruschwitz – bass guitar
Silke Volland – violin
Rene Lamp – keyboard, drum, organ whistle
Ulrike Grittner – flute, Tibetan bell
Hilke Schalinski – flute
Robert Schalinski – tape, voice, keyboard, drum,
sample, xylophone, organ whistle, hohner-imp.,
piano
H-Exile was recorded in “dark room” in 1993
and in “library” in 1994 / mixed and produced
by R.Schalinski and Column one.
 
 



lunes, 22 de agosto de 2011

LVIII. Throbbing Gristle | 20 Jazz Funk Greats



















  
20 Jazz Funk Greats
©Industrial Records. UK, 1979.


20 Jazz Funk Greats is a transitional album for Throbbing Gristle the band and a deep ripple of impression for musical attitudes all over. Often suggested as a starting point for the band, its a bit of a conundrum in that it is also the least representative of their live sound and philosophy. This results in its being a sort of testing ground for initiates, who either like what they hear and seek out the rough-edges of DoA or savage the album for its 'unmusical' pathos - though what that means evades me. Whereas the previous album proper was a collage/barrage of live/in-studio/industrial howl/dark-ambient/electronic sounds, this one is a bit less disquieting, though its best moments are exactly that. Early techno rhythms, dark-electro-ambient pieces, psychotic sing-speak and even some processed trumpet alluded to in the 'jazz' of the not-so-ironic title.

It stands on its own and that's what counts. The second side is nearly perfect. 'Walkabout' is beautiful pop, 'What a Day' is subverted techno before techno even had a chance to be straight-laced and 'Persuasion' sets a claustrophobic mood of perversion like no other. The first side tends more towards 'dark ambient' pieces such as 'Beachy Head' or the laidback, vibraphone-touched 'Tanith'. 'Convincing People' is a personal favorite, as it swings to a simple grungebox guitar lick and the repetition of Genesis' voice (which is always instantly recognizable and kind of soothing to me, oddly enough).

I have difficulty rating it as of yet - Throbbing Gristle albums are always more rewarding once digested and they're always a composite of conundrums, so I'll give it more time to grow - but expect a high number.

If you let the album stand alone for what it is and don't compare it to their earlier releases, you'll see that the group were open-minded enough to pursue this direction - and it's one that influenced countless Industrial, EBM, Dark Ambient, Minimal Wave and Coldwave artists to do what they do best. Reflect on the influences around them and then progress things a little further.

7 AA 1KS