Seeing as C93 are visiting both Helsinki/Finland and Malmö/Sweden in the near future, how about talking about them for a while? Are people around here appreciative of David Tibet's works or not? Personally I have a bit of mixed feelings. I discovered them around Thunder Perfect Mind, an album I still like a lot and consider the pinnacle of the more folksy phase. From there I backtracked and explored their early experimental years which I had missed out on so far, and found gems like Nature Unveiled and Live at Bar Maldoror. I've also picked up new albums on a semi-regular basis; sometimes I regret it, sometimes not... e.g. Sleep Has His House from 2000 is a huge favorite that moved me immensely, and Aleph at Hallucinatory Mountain from the other year I found a refreshing "rock" album.
At the same time I despise Tibet for his strategies to milk the ultra-loyal C93 fanbase with countless compilations, live albums, alternative outtakes, remixes, and fuck knows all the collector gimmicks he's employed over the last decade. While I did travel to London for a C93 gig in the 90s, now I'd not even venture within Sweden to see them. Maybe I'd go if they played my hometown (Stockholm), but even that is stretching it.
Thunder Perfect Mind is where I stopped. Really liked their output until/including TPM. I do enjoy a couple since including Aleph at Hallucinatory Mountain.
I liked C93 very much. Especially his "Dog Blood Rising" (in my opinion his the best album). In case of compilations, I recommend double cd "Emblems: The Menstrual Years". After "Bright Yellow Moon" from 2001, this project is shit.
It could be said that Current 93 peaked too early with their first 12" "LAShTAL". An excellent dark and eerie sound. I found "Nature Unveiled" unlistenable so kind of left them alone. Other folk I knew bought Current 93 so I could pick and choose what I listened to and ask them to put it on tape for me. Tibet has a voice that sometimes grates but sometimes is great. I don't think it necessary to buy every C93 release, just dip your toes (and ears) in to his catalogue every few years...see how Current 93 is getting along.
"In Menstrual Night", "Earth Covers Earth", "In A Foriegn Land", "Baalstorm Sing Omega" are all great pieces and get regular plays and fill my needs. C93 also released a great single; "The Time Of The Last Persecution" - well worth hunting out.
I have seen Current 93 a couple of times, once I (Dieter Muh) was on the same "bill" at The October Gallery in London. That was a very personal appearance - the show in London Forum in 2010 was like a corporate rock gig from the mid 1970's...and probably what David Tibet wanted! It was bloody awful though and not worth the ticket price.
I think David knows that there are collectors out there and fills their desire, whether or not it is milking the fanbase? ... I don't know. I would love to have that Vinyl On Demand Box Set, but is far too much monies!
I would travel and see C93 live again (somehow I don't think Tibet would play in Torquay), just depends on venue really, and I'll keep listening.
Quote from: Steve on February 27, 2012, 10:03:04 AM
It could be said that Current 93 peaked too early with their first 12" "LAShTAL". An excellent dark and eerie sound.
Very well put. I use to listen a lot to the early C93 records and then one day I had enough of his voice. I just couldn't stand it. Today I can listen to it for short while like when there is one song on the first Nature & Organisation record.
I tried to listen to the new stuff for a while since we had C93 charming violinist Maja Elliot as neighbour but I just couldn't get into it.
dog blood rising is my fave.
and probably one of the records that really got me into industrial oriented sounds.
I also like nature unveiled a lot and thunder perfect mind...
the rest not my cup of tea
I have a soft spot for the first side of the "Imperium" LP and "Earth covers earth" in full. I have no problem with Tibet's out-of-tune singing actually, if the atmosphere is right. "Of ruine and some blazing starre" is my favourite of the eh... "later" ones.
Quote from: bogskaggmannen on February 27, 2012, 02:31:11 PM
I have a soft spot for the first side of the "Imperium" LP and "Earth covers earth" in full.
Incidentally the two C93 albums that I have owned only to later get rid of.
A project with great highs, terrible lows and a great deal of competent mediocrity in between it seems to me.
I love Swastikas For Noddy (and the remix Crooked Crosses version, but the original is the best) so much. You can almost smell the speed psychosis. So intense, so disturbed, musically so daring and unusual. The cover of the original Laylah LP is an all-time classic 80s image alongside Sonic Youth 'Bad Moon Rising' cover for me.
From the 90s: well I think Tibet himself knew at the time 'All The Pretty Little Horses' was the best record he would ever do. It's beautiful, sincere, very moving and amazingly recorded. 10 out of 10, really couldn't do better. Perfection of a kind.
In more recent years I thought Black Ships Ate The Sky was an OK listen. Pretty funny and adventurous.
Whole swathes of the back catalogue are either badly done or just plain boring. The only time I saw Current 93 live, 2004-ish at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, was one of the most disappointing live shows I have ever seen and the audience was full of horrible wankers as well. I hated Chris and Cosey as Carter-Tutti that night too.
While Mr Tibet's public persona can be rather irritating to say the least I have heard nothing but good things about him as a person from people whose judgement I trust and who are not C93 fans. So "God bless him" and all that.
Quote from: HongKongGoolagong on January 31, 2013, 06:43:48 AM
I love Swastikas For Noddy (and the remix Crooked Crosses version, but the original is the best) so much. You can almost smell the speed psychosis. So intense, so disturbed, musically so daring and unusual. The cover of the original Laylah LP is an all-time classic 80s image alongside Sonic Youth 'Bad Moon Rising' cover for me.
From the 90s: well I think Tibet himself knew at the time 'All The Pretty Little Horses' was the best record he would ever do. It's beautiful, sincere, very moving and amazingly recorded. 10 out of 10, really couldn't do better. Perfection of a kind.
I really like Current 93, in all the weird aspects... from noisy dark stuff with NWW, to the twee folk revery. I can't stand the recent stuff (since mid-2000's). Seriously don't need Ben Chasney, etc. guesting on everything.
I like almost every record by C93. Especially the later ones to be honest. I got into the early records (like mentioned "Dog's blood...") and that helped me into harsher territories. i thought it sounded incredibly caustic at the time and now, well not so much... Anyway. I'm not into the "apocalyptic folk"-era, i.e. Swastikkas for Noddy, Imperium, earth covers earth etc which i think have some good songs but are conceptually weak and far from perfection. I think the melodic sound found its first honestly superb version in Thunder Perfect mind (though Hitler as Kalki is better in the official live version - truly epic piece of music there). Horsey (which isn't a proper album I recall) is also a great collection of songs from the folksy era. Then All the pretty little horses is also a masterpiece. But despite having listened to them years before I think the band reached its full potential when they became a major "alternative"band. From Black Ships Ate the Sky I think all the records have been fantastic again. The big band format is truly fitting.
I must say, I thought 'Black Ships' was superb, but unfortunately, their last 'masterpiece'. After that, the albums have had one or two good tracks, and that's about it. 'Earth Covers Earth' is probably one of my favourite albums ever, while I also rate highly 'All the Pretty Little Horses', and 'Sleep has his House' (especially the harmonium drone of the title track). However, I do concur w/ others who feel they've gone off the boil a bit lately.
Actually I really liked the live versions of Black Ships. Maybe I'd like that album more now.
I thought that "Aleph" was a nice rock album. I thought it was a nice idea to mix Tibets vocal/lyrical style to write prog rock. "Baalstorm" I found completely mindblowing. Excellent in every way. The one after that (what's its name?) - Honeysuckle aeons? I thought had nice parts but nopthing really blew me away.
I know this is an old thread but, " In Menstrual Night" is a masterpiece and in my opinion the best material they've released in all those years. My second favorite would be "Swastikas for Goddy", also the works with Thomas Ligotti are totally amazing.
Dogs blood rising, once my favorite. I don't really enjoy listening to it now a days, didn't seem to age well with me.
drunken surfing the Si boards and found this.
early loop based c93are still regular listens-notably nature unveiled and dogs blood...
earth covers earth and swastikas.. still entrance, though later stuff less soand swastikas is so very long ago..
The two tracks on "Dawn" LP are excellent; "Great Black Time" and "Maldoror Er Daudur" are on C93's bandcamp as remixes. I'd love to hear the originals again. The loops that run through the tracks have stuck in my memory all of these years. Great feedback on "G.B.T.", too.
"I'm the One" is a classic track from a classic compilation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnQs0BllD3c
Quote from: bitewerksMTB on March 20, 2017, 08:27:45 PM
The two tracks on "Dawn" LP are excellent; "Great Black Time" and "Maldoror Er Daudur" are on C93's bandcamp as remixes. I'd love to hear the originals again. The loops that run through the tracks have stuck in my memory all of these years. Great feedback on "G.B.T.", too.
"I'm the One" is a classic track from a classic compilation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnQs0BllD3c
several of the 'old c93albums were reissued a few years back with remixes of the original tracks-all the same person, budgeted if I can remember who.
all good to really good as memory serves.
I only like the dark/ritual ambient material of Current 93. His voice is bloody awful. I even have a hard time sitting through the Death In June songs he is featured on. "Nature Unveiled", "Dogs Blood Rising", and "Faust" are all excellent albums. Creepy and disturbing stuff!
If you like his early dark ambient stuff I'd recommend the Nekrophile Records stuff like Zero Kama and Ain Soph.
(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/lyricwiki/images/2/2f/Current_93_-_Island.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130324094532)
Mystical Experience
Quote from: david lloyd jones on March 22, 2017, 07:40:13 PMseveral of the 'old c93albums were reissued a few years back with remixes of the original tracks-all the same person, budgeted if I can remember who.
all good to really good as memory serves.
Andrew Liles. They were originally available with the C93 reissues on CD but were later collected as a vinyl set. Found all of them to be quite enjoyable and brought some new life to the work after so many decades and, perhaps, improvement here and there.
https://www.discogs.com/Current-93-Like-Swallowing-Eclipses-Current-93-Dreamt-By-Andrew-Liles/master/287797
Quote from: ANDROPHILIA on March 27, 2017, 01:34:48 AM
(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/lyricwiki/images/2/2f/Current_93_-_Island.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130324094532)
Mystical Experience
can't say as I agree here, whatever drove the lp went tits up and synths of yesteryear sound too dated at moment to be retro.
My favorite is Lucifer Over London because it seems to blend the acoustic/folk elements of later releases with the haunting, looping atmosphere of the early work. I think Tibet's vocals are at their best in that album as well, though the backing vocals by the various others on the album add a lot too.
I also bought a copy of Faust when I found it randomly at a record store. A very solid concept album full of eerie atmospheres.
Quote from: david lloyd jones on March 30, 2017, 06:24:52 PMsynths of yesteryear sound too dated at moment to be retro.
You say this like it's a bad thing.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on September 08, 2023, 06:59:33 AMMy favorite is Lucifer Over London because it seems to blend the acoustic/folk elements of later releases with the haunting, looping atmosphere of the early work. I think Tibet's vocals are at their best in that album as well, though the backing vocals by the various others on the album add a lot too.
I also bought a copy of Faust when I found it randomly at a record store. A very solid concept album full of eerie atmospheres.
I could not agree more, love Lucifer Over London. I think it's an incredibly beautiful piece of work by Current 93, unfortunately I'm not that big into Current 93 in general. I really wish they'd of done more stuff in the vein of Lucifer Over London or whatever that song is entitled about Death to Caesar? I cannot remember the exact title anymore, also good!
Quote from: Cranial Blast on September 09, 2024, 06:35:37 AMQuote from: Balor/SS1535 on September 08, 2023, 06:59:33 AMMy favorite is Lucifer Over London because it seems to blend the acoustic/folk elements of later releases with the haunting, looping atmosphere of the early work. I think Tibet's vocals are at their best in that album as well, though the backing vocals by the various others on the album add a lot too.
I also bought a copy of Faust when I found it randomly at a record store. A very solid concept album full of eerie atmospheres.
I could not agree more, love Lucifer Over London. I think it's an incredibly beautiful piece of work by Current 93, unfortunately I'm not that big into Current 93 in general. I really wish they'd of done more stuff in the vein of Lucifer Over London or whatever that song is entitled about Death to Caesar? I cannot remember the exact title anymore, also good!
I have not been able to decide whether I like the first or third track on
Lucifer Over London more. Both are so amazing--especially with the bells! I'm sure you know of it already, but this comp includes the
Lucifer Over London tracks plus some others from elsewhere that have some stylistic overlaps. https://current931.bandcamp.com/album/sixsixsix-sicksicksick-2
Since it has not been mentioned in the thread yet, I also want to say generally that the album/compilation/boxset/whatever looks visually beautiful and is actually quite interesting, music-wise. The whole thing is composed of long, nearly identical loop-tracks. It's not something that I will play all of the time, but I have the feeling that it will be perfectly suited for certain, meditative moments. The CD covers are some of the best of his entire discography, in my opinion. https://www.discogs.com/release/30802491-Current-93-The-Long-Shadow-Falls
I don't really care about what Tibet did after "All the pretty little horses" and "Soft Black Stars" but actually his recent albums "The light is leaving us all" and "If a city" are fucking masterpieces, as good as his legendary albums like "Thunder perfect mind" or the horses.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on September 09, 2024, 06:43:28 AMQuote from: Cranial Blast on September 09, 2024, 06:35:37 AMQuote from: Balor/SS1535 on September 08, 2023, 06:59:33 AMMy favorite is Lucifer Over London because it seems to blend the acoustic/folk elements of later releases with the haunting, looping atmosphere of the early work. I think Tibet's vocals are at their best in that album as well, though the backing vocals by the various others on the album add a lot too.
I also bought a copy of Faust when I found it randomly at a record store. A very solid concept album full of eerie atmospheres.
I could not agree more, love Lucifer Over London. I think it's an incredibly beautiful piece of work by Current 93, unfortunately I'm not that big into Current 93 in general. I really wish they'd of done more stuff in the vein of Lucifer Over London or whatever that song is entitled about Death to Caesar? I cannot remember the exact title anymore, also good!
I have not been able to decide whether I like the first or third track on Lucifer Over London more. Both are so amazing--especially with the bells! I'm sure you know of it already, but this comp includes the Lucifer Over London tracks plus some others from elsewhere that have some stylistic overlaps. https://current931.bandcamp.com/album/sixsixsix-sicksicksick-2
Since it has not been mentioned in the thread yet, I also want to say generally that the album/compilation/boxset/whatever looks visually beautiful and is actually quite interesting, music-wise. The whole thing is composed of long, nearly identical loop-tracks. It's not something that I will play all of the time, but I have the feeling that it will be perfectly suited for certain, meditative moments. The CD covers are some of the best of his entire discography, in my opinion. https://www.discogs.com/release/30802491-Current-93-The-Long-Shadow-Falls
That sixsixsixsicksicksick comp compiles some nice tracks from various hard to find mini albums. You're right too, definitely has stylistic overlaps in regards to Lucifer Over London.
I've never known where to start with this shit. Lots of Neofolk is intimidating like that, though.
Quote from: VORACLE on October 23, 2024, 07:34:14 PMI've never known where to start with this shit. Lots of Neofolk is intimidating like that, though.
I would start at the beginning with Current 93. Starts on in noisier/industrial territory which for me at least was more familiar. Gets more folk influence after a few albums.
Quote from: VORACLE on October 23, 2024, 07:34:14 PMI've never known where to start with this shit. Lots of Neofolk is intimidating like that, though.
If you want the actual neofolk stuff, start with Earth Covers Earth through to Thunder Perfect Mind. If you like Thunder Perfect Mind just keep going from there.
Quote from: absurdexposition on October 24, 2024, 06:07:01 AMQuote from: VORACLE on October 23, 2024, 07:34:14 PMI've never known where to start with this shit. Lots of Neofolk is intimidating like that, though.
If you want the actual neofolk stuff, start with Earth Covers Earth through to Thunder Perfect Mind. If you like Thunder Perfect Mind just keep going from there.
Agree with this, but try at least
Dogs Blood Rising and
Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in Sorrow... wonderful albums, and they would also help to better understand the evolution of Tibet's musical vision.
I'd recommend one of the good compilations such as Emblems or Calling For Vanished Faces. They cover most of the essential releases and give a good career overview. Thunder Perfect Mind would probably be THE essential and defining Current 93 album.
Don't dick about - go for 'Swastikas for Noddy'. If you like that album there are bits of it that look back to and project forward to all of his other work that you will notice.
Quote from: cantle on October 25, 2024, 08:05:29 PMDon't dick about - go for 'Swastikas for Noddy'. If you like that album there are bits of it that look back to and project forward to all of his other work that you will notice.
This is a fair point. Spun it a few days ago.
Quote from: VORACLE on October 23, 2024, 07:34:14 PMI've never known where to start with this shit. Lots of Neofolk is intimidating like that, though.
Lucifer Over London---it encapsulates a lot of their sound, ranging from the emphasis on loops/repetition, occult thematics, and even more experimental passages.
Thunder Perfect Mind is also a masterwork.
Otherwise, I would suggest just checking out their Bandcamp and clicking through a few albums. You'll find the strands that are most interesting to you pretty quickly.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on October 26, 2024, 04:48:50 AMQuote from: VORACLE on October 23, 2024, 07:34:14 PMI've never known where to start with this shit. Lots of Neofolk is intimidating like that, though.
Lucifer Over London---it encapsulates a lot of their sound, ranging from the emphasis on loops/repetition, occult thematics, and even more experimental passages.
Thunder Perfect Mind is also a masterwork.
Otherwise, I would suggest just checking out their Bandcamp and clicking through a few albums. You'll find the strands that are most interesting to you pretty quickly.
Absolutely! I think it's imperative for people who have any mild interest at all into Current 93, to just explore their discography a bit and go from there. Lucifer Over London is a great one, but not a "good" representation of Current 93 as a whole, but if that's your liking, like it is mine, then I'd highly recommend that SixSixSix SickSickSick comp, as it gives a nod to the more guitar experimentation. It's kind of like that with a lot of bands and projects. Like if someone asked me what's the go to Iron Maiden album, my answer all day is going to be Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son...that album got a lot of hate in it's day from what I've gathered, however it's by far the most interesting Iron Maiden album in my opinion, despite it's progressive tendencies. I think Current 93 could be viewed that way kind of the same, maybe some people like one side of the project and others like another. It's best to dissect them at your own discretion and find what it is you can like or appreciate.
Quote from: Cranial Blast on October 26, 2024, 05:31:02 AMQuote from: Balor/SS1535 on October 26, 2024, 04:48:50 AMQuote from: VORACLE on October 23, 2024, 07:34:14 PMI've never known where to start with this shit. Lots of Neofolk is intimidating like that, though.
Lucifer Over London---it encapsulates a lot of their sound, ranging from the emphasis on loops/repetition, occult thematics, and even more experimental passages.
Thunder Perfect Mind is also a masterwork.
Otherwise, I would suggest just checking out their Bandcamp and clicking through a few albums. You'll find the strands that are most interesting to you pretty quickly.
Absolutely! I think it's imperative for people who have any mild interest at all into Current 93, to just explore their discography a bit and go from there. Lucifer Over London is a great one, but not a "good" representation of Current 93 as a whole, but if that's your liking, like it is mine, then I'd highly recommend that SixSixSix SickSickSick comp, as it gives a nod to the more guitar experimentation. It's kind of like that with a lot of bands and projects. Like if someone asked me what's the go to Iron Maiden album, my answer all day is going to be Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son...that album got a lot of hate in it's day from what I've gathered, however it's by far the most interesting Iron Maiden album in my opinion, despite it's progressive tendencies. I think Current 93 could be viewed that way kind of the same, maybe some people like one side of the project and others like another. It's best to dissect them at your own discretion and find what it is you can like or appreciate.
SixSixSix SickSickSick is definitely more bang for your buck, so to speak. The whole of
Lucifer Over London---and more!