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David Tibet of Current 93 is a man on a perpetual
spiritual journey, and the music of his group has also progressed
from its industrial-experimental origins to become a pivotal exemplar
of the dark folk genre.
ALL THE PRETTY LITTLE HORSES
Current's All The Pretty Little Horses (The Inmost Light)
(1996 DURTRO 030CD), was devoted to the theme of childhood...but
death follows close behind. The CD is in fact dedicated to the late
English traditional folk-singer, Dolly Collins, and to a
baby born in the same year as she died (1995).
The lyrics employ a lot of verbal tricks with alliteration and
disjointed phrases. The resulting meaning is not always clear but
the words still contrive to be evocative. The music is very gentle,
acoustic, folky and lullaby-like, but the words convey darker, nightmarish
suggestions here and there.
David Tibet is joined on the album by John Balance,
Michael Cashmore, Steven Stapleton, Nick Cave
and others, and photos of them as children, including one of Tibet's
Peter Pan-like features, appear in the CD booklet.
HORSEY
Current's latest offering is Horsey (1997 DURTRO 032 CD),
three tracks of which were previously released on the Horse
12" LP which made up the historic three-album boxed set with
Sol Invictus' Lex Talionis
and Nurse With Wound's Lumbs Sister (1990 CERNE 00123). Steven
Stapleton of NWW, Tony Wakeford of Sol and Douglas P of Death
in June participate on three of these tracks, while the others
feature Tibet with some Japanese musicians.
I just love the looped violin backing which saws away with a disturbing
Nymanesque quality on 'Diana' (track 1). 'The Death of the Corn'
(track 2) is more lyrical and has rightly become a C93 classic.
'Tree' (track 3) betrays the groups more industrial origins. I have
to admit that I found the rest of the album rather monotonous, but
it will nevertheless be a must for Current completists.
Rik - 5 March 1996. Updated 13 March 1997.
Current 93 are with World Serpent Distribution, Unit 717,
Seagar Building, Brookmill Road, London SE8 4HL. Tel 0181 - 694
2000. Fax 0181 - 694 2677.
