Current Ninety Three "Sleep Has His House" Durtro 051CD 2000 (63:02)
Love's Young Dream (3:02)
Good Morning, Great Moloch (3:29)
The Magical Bird in the Magical Woods (8:46)
Red Hawthorn Tree (4:33)
Immortal Bird (6:32)
Niemandswasser (6:08)
Lullaby (1:44)
Sleep Has His House (24:17)
The God of Sleep Has Made His House (4:31)
Current Ninety Three: Michael Cashmore (all instruments), David Tibet (vocals, harmonium), Steven Stapleton (the world, mixing) with Colin Potter (engineer) and Pantaleimon (help on "The Magical Bird in the Magical Woods").
"Sleep Has His House" is dedicated to David Tibet's father who passed away this past February. That helps explain the predominantly somber mood and, possibly, minimal sound of the album. Tibet's typical half spoken, half sung poems are accompanied almost solely by the warm melodic drones of his own harmonium (a type of reed organ) and Cashmore's subdued bass pluckings and electric guitar strummings. "Immortal Bird" (which first appeared earlier this year on a split single) is a pretty good indicator of what to expect from most of the other songs. Like "Immortal..", "The Magical Bird.." features a lengthy instrumental outro passage where the beautiful shimmering effects of Stapleton's influence seem to come into play. "Love's Young Dream" and "Lullaby" are also instrumentals. These songs are all well and good but maybe a bit too repetitive and 'same-y'. It's the epic 24+ minute title track that captures and defines the sullen nature and dedicative purpose of the album. Comprised simply of an eternal drone loop, Tibet's soft-spoken mantra "have pity for the dead ... sleep has his house" slowly fades away into the barren, hypnotic void then finally culminates with a desperately voiced list of attributes for his father. "Sleep Has His House" is a most personal album that is born of death and will live on as loving tribute for a departed loved one. The emotions contained within are entirely forthright and honest. The next Current 93 full length "Faust" is due out later this month ...
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via Riouxs Records.