The Thousands

While the western hemisphere is currently in the grips of an invisible economic tsunami, spare a thought for England’s Throbbing Gristle who came to fruition in a period of even greater political and economic rancour.  Their dark and disturbing vision was the result of oil price shock, the rise of conservatism, and the dismantling of the social utopianism of the 50s and 60s. What resulted were four very black albums made over a very brief period (1977-81) that spanned noise, minimalist electro, and outright anarchy.

Recently released from the grips of a crippling record contract, TG have finally been able to re-release their five landmark records on their original Industrial Records imprint: The Second Annual Report of Throbbing Gristle, D.O.A. The Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle, 20 Jazz Funk Greats, Heathen Earth, and The Greatest Hits of Throbbing Gristle.

What’s remarkable about these records was TG’s lithe ability to move from punk inspired noisy soundscapes with droned out guitar and heavily affected vocals to icy, minimalist electro. The murky ‘Zyklon B Zombie’ on The Second Annual Report of Throbbing Gristle is a long way from the harsh, arpeggiated synths of ‘Hot on the Heels of Love’ on 20 Jazz Funk Greats.

The string that tied TG’s albums and their fiercely independent members Gensis P-Orridge, Peter Christopherson, Cosey Fanni Tutti, and Chris Carter together was the perusal of a disturbed state of mind. Their aesthetic and cover art is a testament to this.  In particular 20 Jazz Funk Greats is one of the best record covers of the period with the band dressed as a mock 70s ‘folk’ act.

One of my favourite analogies about recent economic woes in Europe: Coyote (from Roadrunner) has been running along a long desert road at great speed and all of a sudden the road comes to a stop at a cliff. Coyote keeps running and for a couple of seconds he’s weightless. Then suddenly he stops, gravity takes hold, he drops, and with a puff of dust hits the canyon floor.

Somewhere in that puff of dust you’ll find the legacy of Throbbing Gristle.