“Golly this is off its head. I don’t think you should listen to the opening track if you’ve had a shit week at work. After a conciliatory voice asks us about whether we have had any nightmares recently, a very comes into tell us that “Jesus loves us” all over a very threatening and fuzzy backdrop that threatens to turn into a form of drugged industrial dirge. I wonder if they are taking the piss. ”
“Golly this is off its head. I don’t think you should listen to the opening track if you’ve had a shit week at work. After a conciliatory voice asks us about whether we have had any nightmares recently, a very comes into tell us that “Jesus loves us” all over a very threatening and fuzzy backdrop that threatens to turn into a form of drugged industrial dirge. I wonder if they are taking the piss. “
The Legendary Pink Dots – Your Children Placate You from Premature Graves
Golly this is off its head. I don’t think you should listen to the opening track if you’ve had a shit week at work. After a conciliatory voice asks us about whether we have had any nightmares recently, a very comes into tell us that “Jesus loves us” all over a very threatening and fuzzy backdrop that threatens to turn into a form of drugged industrial dirge. I wonder if they are taking the piss. Ultimately (well, after 6 minutes or so), all the instruments and computer wizardry conspire to overwhelm us with their repeated cacophonous droning. I really like it and it’s called No Matter What you Do.
Stigmata (Pt 4) is a beautiful piano sequence and the much needed balm after the sonic assault of the opener. It’s very close to Spaceman 3 in tone and intent, its endless minimalism is an incredibly brave move so early in an LP. Following that, Feathers at Dawn is a very sinister cod-acoustic ballad which suddenly takes off at the utterance of the word “submission”. It’s quiet, self-satisfied cod-jollyness is very disturbing indeed. Please Don’t Get Me Wrong is a jail-house ballad (of sort) replete with found sounds, Tom Waits Bone Machine style. Suddenly things change into a strange amalgam of sitars, samples and a voice repeating the words “You have no choice”…
You are getting the picture aren’t you? Well, I mean you should, as the Pink Dots have been doing similar for over 20 years. Still, when you’re obsessed with death and Biblical & Gothic imagery as Edward Ka-Spel there’s no point denying it. This is a cracking album and worthy of purchase. Matters are pursued with the same quiet intensity throughout the LP. Behind all the sinister tales of woe and macabre suggestiveness there lies an incredible mastery of melody and texture (witness the Island of Our Dreams or the brilliant, Thighpaulsandra-esque Bad Hair) and a willingness to embrace virtually any musical structure that will allow Ka-Spel’s muse precedence. Yep, it’s pretty extraordinary stuff. Highly recommended stuff. Be warned though; listening will involve copious amounts of energy…
Words: Richard Foster.