CXXXIII. Current 93 | Earth Covers Earth

CURRENT 93

Earth Covers Earth

©Durtro. UK, 1992.

‟As most of you know by now, I'm a wee bit of a C93 obsessive.  Well this album is to blame for that I'm afraid, this was my introduction to their warped and twisted world.  Not an album I'd recommend as a starting point, but a damn fine listen nonetheless, this album was released when C93 were still trying to find their folky feet, and David Tibet was trying to discover his true voice.

The original release is only 6 tracks long, starting with versions of "The Dilly Song", a simple nursery rhyme, sung unaccompanied.  "Hourglass" makes two appearances, one narrated/sung by David Tibet, one narrated by a child's voice.  The lyrics are from a 17th century poem by John Hall, showing that Tibet yet wasn't really confident in using his own poetry, but also using Hall's words perfectly to deliver his message.  The only genuine C93 classic from this original set of tracks, is "Rome (for Douglas P)", a live favourite still, a folky singalong of a song, which would have graced an album such as Thunder Perfect Mind.

The additional tracks on the CD version, really make this release the 5 star release that it is.  The two versions of "At the Blue Gates of Death" are both essential, beautiful recordings.  One version is a shorter, paranoid vision of a song, with grinding backwards bass, the other, a gorgeous happy ode to a life well lived, you can feel the sun shining on your face as Rose McDowall's backing vocals perfectly complement Tibet's relaxed delivery.  "God Has Three Faces and Wood Has no Name", "She is Dead and all Fall Down" are two more slightly bonkers tracks, which would both fit perfectly on TPM.
Final track "The Dream Moves of the Sleeping King" really has no place on this, or any other C93 album.  That's not to say it's worthless, far from it, but it really is a Nurse with Wound style track, a long surreal melange of sounds, I can't see Tibet having had much input on it, it sounds practically all Stapleton to me.‟

DarknessFish



 

CXXIII. Boyd Rice And Friends | Music, Martinis, And Misanthropy

BOYD RICE AND FRIENDS

Music, Martinis, And Misanthropy

©NER. UK, 1990.

‟I’ve been amused, confused and infused with the works and ideology of Boyd Rice. I’ve never been able to decide if Mr. Rice was as dark as the character he presents himself or if he was simply playing devil’s advocate, but I’d like believe that within all his proclamations that he was being honest, and that I wasn’t wrong for agreeing with him. I’ve always enjoyed his spoken-word messages because it wasn’t free-love hipsters preaching socialism. Combined with the moody, beautiful guitar ambience of Douglas P., Boyd Rice is given the chance to  really bring sense of calmness to the ears, allowing full hypnosis while his gentle voice encourages you to indulge on hate, take notice at life’s ugliness and except that most people are useless. The perfect example of this method at use is the track people. As well as being a ‘Boyd Rice and Friends’ classic, this song really exemplifies the subject matter, the intent, and the methods of this instigating poet. Along with help by Michael Moynihan, and the angelic vocals of Rose McDowall this is truly an intriguing record with infectious sounds capes, provocative commentary, and a sense of taboo enjoyment that anyone can love to hate. Boyd Rice and Friends is a classic example of what happens when you bring together a bunch or angry men sporting facist wardrobes, dark music and apparently hate everybody.‟

Deathmetaltyler 

LXIX. Sol Invictus | Trees In Winter

SOL INVICTUS

Trees In Winter

©Tursa. UK, 1990.

‟El mundo está lleno de dioses y bestias, esta frase expresa parte del pensamiento en que vive y siente Tony Wakeford - fundador de esta banda - y quien es conocido por haber integrado Crisis y Death In June.

En 1987 fue creado Sol Invictus. El nombre de este grupo proviene de uno de los cultos romanos paganos más importantes y difundidos en el instante en que el cristianismo se encontraba casi aniquilado. "El Inconquistado Sol" sería su traducción literal y se trataba de un ferviente entusiasmo por la pureza obtenida y preservada por la beligerancia, la que era responsibilidad de los soldados del Imperio.

La intervención de atmósferas calmas que luego desembocan en estruendosos sonidos - ya sea de guitarra o percusión - y una voz que recita los pesares de nuestra época. Acústica depresiva, presente desde los primeros trabajos de esta banda.

El materialismo, la falta de espiritualidad y el exceso de racionalismo son tres tópicos contra los que Sol Invictus lucha y denuncia. Wakeford piensa que hay que volver a buscar en la naturaleza la esencia de las cosas. La magia de las runas es otro camino que él señala, su interés por ellas nació mientras integraba Death In June y no las concibe como objetos de adivinación, sino por el contrario, como instrumentos de conocimiento personal. Junto a Wakeford, Sol Invictus lo componen Karl Blake en bajo y Sarah Bradshaw en cello, más ocasionales músicos invitados.‟

Marcelo Umaña.

XIII. Sol Invictus | The Death Of The West

SOL INVICTUS

The Death Of The West

©Tursa. UK, 1994.

‟Death of the West was initially meant to be a MCD containing a few re-recorded Sol Invictus songs. Apparently things got a little out of control while recording since some new songs were written and thus Death of the West became a full length album.
My first introduction to Sol Invictus was almost two years ago when the dark metal band Agalloch recorded a cover of the song ‘Kneel to the Cross.’ I really liked the cover, but it took me some time before I actually got my hands on some Sol Invictus albums. Hearing this original version of the song makes perfect sense as to why Agalloch decided to cover it. The song opens with a repeating chorus singing ‘summer is a coming arise, arise’ and then turns into a nice folky song. Kneel to the Cross-also has some of the best lyrics I’ve ever read. My interpretation of the lyrics is that its about pathetic people that beg to a cross because they think believing in the Christian God will make everything all right and perfect for them. I guess this proves Tony Wakeford isn’t too fond of Christianity.
Other standout tracks to be found here are ‘Sheath & Knife,’ ‘Our Lady of the Wild Flowers,’ and ‘Come Join the Dance. Sheath & Knife is a rather depressing tune with calm & faster moments telling an interesting story about two individuals. Our Lady of the Wild Flowers is a mostly slow acoustic song with some additional oboe in the background, but picks up quite dramatically during the chorus and takes a complete one hundred and eighty degree turn. Come join the Dance is another rather slow folky song with cello, oboe, and one heck of a catchy chorus. This song is easily my favorite on the album.
Despite the excessive use of the word ‘west’ in the song titles and the material being not nearly as elaborate as the recordings that would soon surface, ‘Death of the West’ still proves to be an enjoyable listen for fans of the band or neo folk music in general.‟

Cy66ota