Psychic TV Announces Two Free Shows in December at Brooklyn Night Bazaar / New COUM Transmissions Album Out on Dais Records

In place of Psychic TV's annual December show at Europe, the band has announced two free shows in December at the new Brooklyn Night Bazaar space. The shows are Friday, Dec. 27th and Saturday, Dec. 28th and the shows start at 6PM. For Friday night's show, Psychic TV is supported by Heliotropes and House of Blondes. At Saturday night's show, PTV is supported by long-time Genesis P-Orridge collaborator Bryin Dall. Psychic TV fans will want to bring some extra cash as it is probably safe to assume that PTV will have some limited edition merchandise at this show as they have in previous years.

For those who remember Brooklyn Night Bazaar as a limited-time event, Daily News reported last Friday: "Modeled after similar markets found throughout the East, the Brooklyn Night Bazaar — an experimental offering the last three years — has settled down in permanent digs that allow for year-round shopping, drinking and eating every weekend night. The new permanent site of Aaron Broudo’s Brooklyn Night Bazaar at the corner of Banker St. and Norman Ave. Indie bands, local food, beers and even ping pong tables and a mini-golf course are in the offing at the 24,000-square-foot warehouse at 165 Banker St. in the midst of hipster heaven: the border of Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Beginning Nov. 1, the night market will run just north of its unrelated cousin, the successful Brooklyn Flea, a daytime weekend market."

Lastly, Dais Records just released a limited edition compilation from Genesis and Cosey Fanni Tutti's pre-Throbbing Gristle band COUM Transmissions. "The most recent installment of the rare & unheard archival recordings from the transgressive 70's performance art group COUM Transmissions. Founded in late 1969 by Genesis P-Orridge & Jesus Joheero, COUM Transmissions’s provocative performances mixed with visual art solidified the group as one of the most forward thinking breakthroughs within the 70′s conceptual art scene. Only in the past couple years has COUM’s recorded works seen the light of day. This release collects various selections spanning the years 1971 through 1975, including a rare live performance opening for Hawkwind, lost radio interview, obtuse poetry readings by early member Fizzey Peat, piano & violin compositions by Genesis P-Orridge and insightful field recordings. Limited to 1,000 vinyl copies."

This new LP, Home Ages and the 18 Month Hope, is available for $18 though Dais Records' website.

Links:
Genesis P-Orridge

Throbbing Gristle Members Announces New Disc / Genesis P-Orridge Disavows Release

New Throbbing Gristle always seems like a good reason to celebrate. Last month, Chris and Cosey announced the release of a new disc from the three remaining members of Throbbing Gristle, a 2CD set entitled Desertshore / The Final Report.

Desertshore
The ‘Desertshore’ project is a 're-imagined' cover version of Nico’s seminal 1970 album first conceived by the late Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson in Berlin 2006. In 2010 at his home in Bangkok, he refocussed his approach readying to record guest vocalists while Chris and Cosey prepared material in their UK studio for his return there in December. Sadly, Sleazy unexpectedly died in his sleep on the 25th November in Bangkok.

Chris and Cosey made a commitment to Sleazy to complete the ‘Desertshore’ project picking up from where they left off just prior to his untimely passing. With enthusiastic support and contributions from so many who were close to Sleazy, especially the guest artistes whose work he admired; Antony, Marc Almond, Blixa Bargeld, Sasha Grey and Gaspar Noé, the project is now complete.

The Final Report
Throughout their 36 year friendship Chris Carter, Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson and Cosey Fanni Tutti produced many pioneering and acclaimed collaborative works together.
These trio sessions were without exception always very productive; ideas that produced many hours of recordings, sound experiments, research in new performance possibilities, visuals, the ongoing design and building of new and innovative instruments; a constant restless exploration of new paths together.

The Final Report album has been completed from their final 2009/2010 sessions together at Chris and Cosey's studio in Norfolk. This album stands as the final report; a celebration, a loving remembrance of their unique partnership.

Available from 26th November 2012 in the following formats:
Double Vinyl - Gatefold cover with 12" booklet.
Double Vinyl 'Special Edition' - Details TBC
Double CD - in bespoke CD packaging, 12 page booklet, postcard & bonus track.
Digital Download - with pdf booklet and bonus track. - aac, mp3, flac etc.

'Desertshore / The Final Report' teaser 1 from Industrial Records on Vimeo.

Genesis P-Orridge, who parted ways with the other members of Throbbing Gristle in 2010, posted the following: "CHRIS & COSEY released the TG records without my consent & have kept all the money. We NEVER quit TG.That is UNTRUE.BOYCOTT their records." -Genesis's Vocal Tracks were deleted By Chris And Cosey for this forthcoming release.

Links:
Throbbing Gristle

Genesis P-Orridge Drops Off Throbbing Gristle Tour // Remaining Members Finish Tour as X-TG

These tracks are taken from the second X-TG show - at Porto Casa Musica in Portugal on November 5th 2010.

X-TG 'XVox' Live at Porto Casa Musica by Industrial Records

X-TG 'XPad' Live at Porto Casa Musica by Industrial Records

I'm glad the I had the opportunity to see Throbbing Gristle at Brooklyn Masonic as it doesn't sound as though the four members will be working together as an active group anytime in the near future. The following was posted to Throbbing Gristle's website a about a week ago:

IR STATEMENT

In the evening 27th October TG members and their associated managements received two emails from Genesis P-Orridge stating he was no longer willing to perform in Throbbing Gristle and returned to his home in New York.

Cosey, Sleazy & Chris have concluded that once more, and for the time being, Throbbing Gristle has Ceased to Exist, at least as a live entity.

Therefore, and with deepest apologies, TG canceled their scheduled performance at Archa Theatre, in Prague, Czech Republic on 30th October. It being too short notice to offer an alternative set.

In order not to disappoint fans of the old quartet, Cosey, Peter & Chris performed live under the name X-TG at Arena Del Sole, Bologna, Italy on 2nd November & at Casa Musica, Porto, Portugal on 5th November.

We hope fans will appreciate and enjoy this new project and the trio is looking forward to performing exciting new and radical electronic musics together.

Industrial Records Ltd, London. 29th October 2010



Links:
Throbbing Gristle
X-TG

Thee Majesty Play Disconcert at Issue Project Room in Brooklyn on May 23rd

After Throbbing Gristle's 2009 tour ended, Genesis P-Orridge reactivated his long-running side project Thee Majesty. The band originally formed in 1998 around the core group of Genesis, Lady Jaye, Bryin Dall (4th Sign of the Apocalypse) and has expanded at times to include a rotating cast of musicians. The band's music is similar to some of the more experimental work by Psychic TV and the live shows include a number of spoken word pieces by Genesis.

Genesis & Thee Majesty are playing an outdoor afternoon show at Issue Project Room (@ The Old American Can Factory, 232 3rd Street, Brooklyn) on May 23rd. According to the Issue Project Room site, the band now includes Morrison Edley (Psychic TV, Toilet Boys) on drums. Tickets are $9.00 and the show starts at 5PM.



Links:
Genesis P-Orridge

Throbbing Gristle: Review and Pictures from Brooklyn Masonic Temple, Brooklyn, NY 4-16-09

In reading some of the comments posted around the 'net, it seems that people either loved or hated this show. From my perspective, it was a brilliant show!

Throbbing Gristle started the night by playing a live soundtrack to Derek Jarman's 1974 film "In the Shadow of the Sun". According to Simon Ford (author of Wreckers of Civilization), the original soundtrack "revelled in distortion, chance, and formlessness". Throbbing Gristle's performance last Thursday held true to Ford's quote. Cosi, Peter and Chris all sat in front of computer workstations and radically reworked the soundtrack from its original 1980 release. Genesis didn't have a computer but he created a variety of sounds using a bass and other instruments.

Here is a brief clip of the live soundtrack that someone filmed from the crowd.



After this first set, Throbbing Gristle spent 60+ minutes doing a record signing. This is the first time that I've ever seen a band break up a set with a "meet & greet" but it was kind of cool. The band stayed until everyone got their merch signed. I've never been an autograph collector but I brought along my copy of the Fetish box set and it made my day getting it signed.



Continuing to reset traditional expectations for a live concert, there was an "opening" act - Bruce McClure - prior to Throbbing Gristle's second set. McClure's set was somewhat interesting but it went on for way too long and there wasn't much to watch. While there were some images being projected on the video screen, the only thing moving on stage was the security guard. It seemed a bit strange hearing all of the computer generated sounds but seeing no one. (I read a day or so ago on another blog that McClure was in the back of the house mixing the music live. )

Throbbing Gristle came back on for their second set just after 11PM and played for about 75 minutes. They started with a fairly straight-forward version of "Very Friendly" but the remainder of the set had a decidedly tribal feel. A number of the songs were significantly reworked so I didn't recognize all of the material but the set list included "Discipline", "Hamburger Lady" and "What A Day".

There are a couple of good quality live videos from the show posted to YouTube that did a great job of capturing the feel of the second set.

Throbbing Gristle - "Very Friendly"


Throbbing Gristle - "Discipline"


After playing playing some West Coast dates (which included Coachella Festival earlier today), Throbbing Gristle are coming back to Brooklyn Masonic Temple for a show on Tuesday, April 28th. The show is sold out but there are tickets currently selling for face value (and below) on eBay.

Links:
Throbbing Gristle
Mute Records

Throbbing Gristle - Tickets for a Second Show in Brooklyn Go On Sale Tomorrow (March 16th)

Throbbing Gristle have added one more show in Brooklyn on April 28th. Tickets for the show go onsale via TicketWeb tomorrow at Noon. Throbbing Gristle's first night in Brooklyn sold out fairly quickly so I wouldn't expect tickets for the second show to last long. The openers for this show are Alan Vega (Suicide) and Emeralds.

Here is the description of "Night One" from Throbbing Gristle's website and I would assume that the second night will follow a similar set.

"TG will play TWO sets: A new live soundtrack to Derek Jarman’s 60min alchemical film 'In The Shadow of The Sun' ( filmwork 1974, TG soundtrack 1980 & 2006) PLUS a second set of material from across TG’s history. There willl also be included in the event a TG signing: to which you are welcome to bring along ONE ITEM from your collection for them to sign. There will also be for sale special 'TG USA 2009' merchandising(all new TG CD album, TG T-shirt specific to this event, TG Tour Enamel Badge, TG Tour Embroidered Patch)"

Throbbing Gristle Release Ltd. Edition LP of Live Performance of 'Second Annual Report'

As much as I would love to own this on LP, I don't think Santa is going to be bringing me a $200 record this year.

Throbbing Gristle recently released a special limited edition live LP in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the band's first album, The Second Annual Report. This LP is limited to 777 copies and it was recorded at Throbbing Gristle's live demonstration at La Villette in Paris on 6th June 2008 at which they performed a reinterpretation of The Second Annual Report.

This album is pre-framed in high-quality white gloss acrylic with an easy access clear window for removal of the record/sleeve and ready to hang. Purchasers of this record will also receive a special 'black' extended CD version, which includes extra tracks that would not fit on the vinyl format. In addition, all buyers of the framed edition will have access to a free digital download of the extended version and a PDF booklet of text and photos.

If it wasn't such a bad economic time, I'd be all over this. Instead, I'll probably buy this on iTunes for $10.

Links:
Throbbing Gristle's Website

Psychic TV - First Live Performance in Over A Year Streaming on NPR

Psychic TV returned to action last week and played a live set in NPR's World Cafe Studios. Genesis (P-Orridge) also speaks with the interviewer between tracks and he, as always, gives a facinsting interview.

Tracks played were "No Good Trying", "Papal Breakdance" and "Foggy Notion" (yes, this is the Velevet Underground song) and here is a link to Psychic TV's live performance and interview.

PTV3 is touring Europe in May and, unfortunately, no US dates have been announced.

Links:
Genesis P-Orridge's Website

Throbbing Gristle Release Ulta-Limited Merchandise Through New Webstore

It is tough to be a Throbbing Gristle fan as concerts are few and far between and releases generally come out in very limited formats. There are a couple of new items added to band's new online store that are sure to get both fans and collectors drooling.

BOUND FIVE CD TOTEM SET
In addition to the 4 Totem Editions from Mute, there is a Japanese release of the Endless Not which contains a fifth Totemic Gift item, in stainless steel.

For the avid collector we have gathered and bound in brass and jute string (which can be re-tied) a very small number of Sets of all five cds containing one of each of the five Totems.

This set is $100 GBP (currently $198.45 US)

Gold Totem CD
Peter Christopherson has produced a sixth Totemic Gift in hand-beaten 23-carat gold, of which at present only one exists. For the collector who craves a truly unique art object, it can be purchased here.

(Notes: The majority of this price is the value of the gold itself. If we receive more than a single order, we reserve the right to extend the edition to a maximum of 7 copies, of which 4 will remain in the permanent archives of members of TG.)

This set is $777 GBP (currently $1,045.54 US)

The Desertshore Installation 12 Cd Wallet
As you may have seen, TG will be presenting an Installation at London's ICA, on June 1-3, 2007 during which they will be recording the initial parts for a new album which is based on their interpretation of Nico's classic Desertshore album, which we hope after final production, to release in 2008.

These six two-hour sessions will be recorded in full on a Soundfield microphone, then a small number pressed onto 12 discs in cd-r format, the size of the edition being based largely on the number of pre-orders received.

The resulting set of 12 cd-rs, housed in a 12 page stamped cd wallet, will be available from this store only - a must for interested parties unable to attend in person, and for all serious collectors of TG Art.

This set is $100 GBP (currently $198.45 US)

As is the case with most Throbbing Gristle rarities -- buy now before these items disappear. eBay may not be an option to acquire these pieces at a later date. Think about the last time you have seen the original 24 Hours cassette suitcase for sale. I haven't personally seen this since the early 90s.