Current Ninety Three "Faust" Durtro 060CD 2000 (35:57)
(35:57)
As with the recent "I Have a Special Plan for this World", David Tibet and friends once again draw inspiration from a writer and his work. Count Eric Stenbock was one of London's finest writers of 'melancholy and suicidal verse' in the late 19th century and his interpretation of "Faust" was written near the end of his brief and troubled life. The 40 page booklet contains the text in it's entirety, a confusing tale filled with religious, ritual and magical imagery. Unlike "Special Plan", the music on "Faust" does not recite the text but rather serves as accompaniment. Tibet, Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound) and Andrea Degens (Pantaleimon) create a 36 minute shifting mass of muttering and drone set to a muffled church bell metronome. The constant chatter of overlapping whispered voices is the focal point ... the unintelligible words, moans, sighs and cries of multitudes seemingly trapped in purgatory. As the piece progresses the cacophony decreases unveiling more layers of singing, howling and the occasional bit of text spoken by a young female. "Faust" is hypnotic in it's otherworldly and unsettling eeriness. The story and music fit together nicely though I'm quite happy with the music by its self. The Babs Santini (Steven Stapleton) cover picture of a blurred apparition is also fitting. I'm sure Stenbock would be pleased with this tribute and also for Tibet's efforts to reprint his collected works, published and unpublished, via Durtro Press. The limited edition LP (1200 copies) version of the album comes on striking purple vinyl with a fold out poster signed by Tibet and Stapleton and a Stenbock post card. As with everything released by Current 93, this is a work of art and a labor of love. Next up is Current 93/Nurse With Wound "Purtle" due out in May ...
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via Forced Exposure.