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Foetus, "Damp"
A self-released compilation featuring lots of unreleased, rare, and reworked music, this is a must for even casual Foetus fans. I nearly dismissed this as another remix album but it is far from that (there is only one remix and it is not bad). It may be an odds-and-ends collection but it is impossible to tell while listening. This is one of the best things J.G. Thirlwell has ever put his name to.
This web-only release draws parallels with Einstuerzende Neubauten's Strategies Against Architecture series that Thirlwell helped kick start when he started spreading the news from Berlin to British labels in the '80s. Damp is a retrospective limited to Thirlwell's work as Foetus covering the last three years. Like Neubauten's own retrospectives, there is a huge emphasis on not including previously released material and instead offering new takes and versions of familiar tracks and as much brand new material as possible. This is perfect for a Foetus fan like myself, despite owning most of the albums, I do not feel the urge to buy every compilation, EP or collaboration and as such I only already own one song out of the dozen featured on Damp.
Many of the songs here continue the lounge, big band and film noir vibes that have always been staples of the Foetus repertoire. The more industrial sounding elements have been pushed aside; it is only when the Melvins provide the music on "Mine is no Disgrace" that it sounds like older Foetus releases but the Melvins make it far more evil. On a side note, it would be interesting to see a full album collaborating with the Melvins as they suit each other perfectly. Lyrically, Thirlwell still packs a solid punch as over the course of the disc he sings about hating, dirty sex and disease, andraping nuns: themes employed by lesser artists as cheap shock gimmicks but they feel like they have more weight to them on a Foetus record.
Damp acts extremely well as a sister album to 2005's Love, it's not surprising as a sizeable portion of Damp was recorded during the same sessions. Playing the two discs one after the other highlights the similarities between the two but this release is perfectly capable of standing on its own two feet. "I Hate You All," "Not in Your Hands," and the epic "Cold Shoulder" make it obvious that Thirlwell still has buckets of ideas and talent to use. By far the jewel in Damp’s crown is the gorgeously melancholic "Chimera," which is quickly becoming my favourite Foetus song. Considering how strong the pieces from recent years have been, I might review my Foetus purchasing arrangement as I normally concentrate on the main Foetus albums. Now I think I should be picking up any EPs or Thirlwell-related side projects that I come across.
As well as newer material, there is some reworked older material included. There is a new version of "Into the Light" from the Null EP as well as the cover of The The's "Shrunken Man," which appeared on the Shrunken Man Interpretations EP years ago.
To be honest, I am surprised that I enjoy this album as much as I do, even after I loved Love so much. Damp is a fantastic disc, showing that Foetus is not only still as strong as ever but I feel he is surpassing himself.
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