Drone Records

PSYCHIC TV - Themes

Format: 6 x CD-BOX

Label & Cat.Number: Cold Spring Records CSR123B

Release Year: 2011

Note: massive boxset with 32p booklet collecting all THEMES-albums by the project of ex-THROBBING GRISTLE member GENESIS P.ORRIDGE: the legendary "Themes 1" LP from 1982 feat. PETER CHRISTOPHERSON & DAVID TIBET (!), "Themes 2" (re-issue of LP from 1985) feat. ZOS KIA members, "Themes 3" (re-issue of LP from 1986, feat MONTE CAZZAZA) plus Themes 3 live version (previously unreleased), "Themes 4" (brand new PTV album feat. LADY JAYE), + diverse bonus-tracks, the great UNCLEAN 12", etc.. A MUST HAVE !!

Price (incl. 19% VAT): €48.00

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More Info

"For the first time, all THEMES albums by PSYCHIC TV released together, in a sumptuous, matt laminate, spot-varnished box set. The music itself was designed not only as soundtrack but also for subsequent use by Initiates of The Temple Ov Psychick Youth in their rituals as Functional music intended only to aid in the process of making things happen. It is a practical tool. Thee essential collection of rare, archive and modern PTV ritual / esoteric musick!

Each CD has been carefully remastered and is presented in it's own matt laminate, spot-varnished mini-LP sleeve. The box also includes a 32-page booklet of rare photos and essays.

"Themes" was originally released in 1982 as a limited bonus LP with the first 5000 copies of the legendary PSYCHIC TV album "Force The Hand Of Chance". Musicians: Stan Bingo, Peter Christopherson (Coil, Throbbing Gristle, Soisong), Genesis P-Orridge, and David Tibet (Current 93).

"Themes 2" was originally released on LP in 1985 by Temple Records and subsequently reissued as an extended CD version by Cold Spring in 1997. Musicians: Genesis P-Orridge, Alex Fergusson, John Gosling (Zos Kia, Coil, Mekon). "Themes 2" is presented here as a 2 CD set, including the full vinyl version - plus the original "Unclean" 12" and it`s two B side tracks that were recorded in the same sessions.

"Themes 3" was originally released on LP in 1986 by Temple Records and is presented here for the first time on CD, completely remastered. Musicians: Genesis P-Orridge, John Gosling (Zos Kia, Coil, Mekon), Mark Sangerman, Monte Cazazza. "Themes 3" is presented here as a 2 CD set, with an unheard, yet legendary version performed in Boston, US by Genesis P-Orridge and John Gosling under the title of "Pagan Easter".

"Themes 4" is a brand new Psychic TV album, recorded by the late partner of Genesis P-Orridge, Lady Jaye and Psychic TV. Compiled by Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Ryan Martin and Bryin Dall. Musicians: Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge, Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Larry Thrasher, Bryin Dall." [label info]

www.coldspring.co.uk

"When you see see the line-up of Psychic TV, you know what to expect, even if you didn't know about this legendary project in the first place. The band was originally established by the true industrial-pioneering legend, Genesis P. Orridge of Throbbing Gristle, in company with Alex Ferguson from the early punk group Alternative TV in 1981. Shortly after the two some were joined by another Throbbing Gristle-member, Peter Christopherson who later has become an even bigger name thanks to his incredible Coil-project. Being a project that both dealt with audio and visual expressions, Psychic TV called itself a video group that create music rather than a music group creating videos. Considering the fact that Psychic TV was first of all exploring the sound world a human generation ago, a large number of experimental listeners of present time doesn't know anything about this important project. British label Cold Spring has dug into the historical archives of early industrial scene and assembled this amazing box of Psychic TV's Themes-series. The series consists of four inter-sections. First CD is exclusively based on acoustic sounds with a line-up counting Genesis P. Orridge, Peter Christopherson and David Tibet, another true legend known for his legendary project Current 93. As you might expect with a line-up including members of Coil and Current 93, there is a great ritual feeling on this first part. From the opening piece titled Part I : Piano and Clarinet being an almost classical piece of ritual piano to pieces based on various bell instruments. Also field recordings takes part of the show with among others recordings from Jonestown at the time where the infamous mass suicide ritual took place back in november 1978 led by Jim Jones. First part of "Themes" was originally released in 1982 as a limited bonus LP with the first 5000 copies of the legendary PSYCHIC TV album "Force The Hand Of Chance". Next part, "Themes 2" was originally released on LP in 1985 by Temple Records and subsequently reissued as an extended CD version by Cold Spring in 1997. The music on this double-disc album was composed to accompany the films and videos of experimental visual artist Derek Jarman. The music is slightly noisier with distorted guitars pushing drones into pieces that remains ritual in expression. "Themes 2" also contains the piece titled "The loops of mystical union". The piece was a dedication to classical composer Alexander Scriabin (1872 - 1915) who is considered as one of the important fathers to the contemporary avantgarde music scene. This piece was analogue looped edits from Scriabin's classic work "Poem of Ecstasy". The music is suggested to be heard painfully loud in a dark room. As is the case with most pieces in the box-set the tracks of "Themes 2" is lengthy giving plenty of room to develop a nice trance-inducing ritual character. "Themes 3" was originally released on LP in 1986 by Temple Records and is presented here for the first time on CD, completely remastered. Where the two first themes were studio recordings third theme was the only one recorded live. The album is suggested to be heard in a darkened room facing a TV with full contrast on a non-transmitting channel. The album was recorded live by Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth Sunday 22 April 1984 & Monday 23 April 1984 Club 950, Chicago U.S.A and the 22nd April 1984 at 'Eventworks', Boston Massachusetts College of Arts, Massachusetts, USA. Last chapter in the "Themes" is a new album created by Genesis P. Orridge in collaboration with his new line-up consisting of among others his daughter Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge and Larry Thrasher and Bryin Dall. Musically "Theme 4" separates from the others with a more up-to-date style though still with the cut-up-based expression of Psychic TV. Overall the album is musically more accessible compared to the more demanding sounds of the earlier Psychic TV. Opening track "I'm making a mirror" draws associations towar
ds Coil's beautiful album "Queen of the circulating library" but overall the album sounds like a mixture between experimental electronics and cabaret sounds. As a bonus disc comes a live recordings from Nottingham in 1986. The box also includes a 32-page booklet of rare photos and essays. An awesome guide to the world of Psychic TV and for everyone familiar with this milestone project this box is a superb addition. Highly recommended!" [NM/Vital Weekly]