 The Bells Shall Sound Forever
2003
CD
Sweet Farewell
Rik
13 November 2003 neofolk apocalyptic folk dark folk | This compilation of 15 European and American artists pays tribute to David Tibet's Current 93 which along with stablemates Death in June and Sol Invictus, founded apocalyptic folk as we know it. This tribute is acknowledged by Tibet himself who contributed to the CD artwork by providing an image of Ethereal City which is taken from his personal collection of paintings by the Outsider artist, Louis Wain.
Sensibly, the contributions to this tribute are not attempts to imitate but to cover C93 in the respective styles of the various artists. But such is the material that the spirit of Current inevitably shines through. Tibet's strange imagination and skills as a tunesmith are exemplified by 'Happy Birthday Pigface Christus', here covered by Engelsstaub, which has such a brilliant hook. Other C93 classics here include 'Death Of The Corn' (Sonne Hagal), 'A Sadness Song' (Dorien Campbell), and 'A Song For Douglas After He's Dead' (Cawatana).
Tributes are a time for reminiscence. I first met David when he was sharing a flat with Sol's Tony Wakeford in Stockwell, South London. He was already known as Tibet from his interest in Tibetan Buddhism. I think his Noddy cult was then on the wane. I remember his room being absolutely packed with a massive display of crucifixes and lit candles, and very little else. David is famed for the amiable eccentricities with which, I am pleased to say, he continues to both confront and amuse us. We will not forget him.
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