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Current 93's long awaited return to the world of apocalyptic folk is thee album of Summer '06! David Tibet brings together an extra special musical family overflowing with the talents of Marc Almond, Antony Johnson, Baby Dee and so many others.
Black Ships Ate The Sky, Current 93's long awaited new studio album, is a 76-minute opus exploring David Tibet's vision of the apocalypse as wrought by the ominous Black Ships.
For his latest studio enterprise, Tibet assembled perhaps the band's strongest line-up ever. Longtime C93 collaborator Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound) is joined by guitarist Michael Cashmore, cellist John Contreras, ambient sound composer William Basinski, William Breeze (Coil), Seattle artist Amy Phillips and newest member Ben Chasny (Six Organs Of Admittance).
The album also features contributions from an impressive array of vocal talent: Marc Almond (Soft Cell), Antony (Antony And The Johnsons), Bonnie 'Prince' Billie, British folk legend Shirley Collins, Clodagh Simonds (Mellow Candle), Cosey Fanni Tutti (Throbbing Gristle), and Durtro labelmates Baby Dee and Pantaleimon.
Strange Fortune listener reviews are a free space to share your impressions of the music.
Michael J. Salo says on 29 May 2006
David Tibet's Current 93 has followed such a fascinating evolution.
From the primitive droning of _Nature Unveiled_ (1984) to the apocalyptic-folk pioneering _Swastikas for Noddy_ (1987), to the enormous, epically orchestrated masterpiece _Thunder Perfect Mind_ (1992), it used to be the one thing you could expect from every new Current 93 release was it would be "bigger" than the last. Each album was more ambitious, more audacious, with more new ideas and more and better musicians than ever before.
Tibet & company were pursuing a "maximalist" path for the first era of their career – a little recklessly even – making for a very exciting first decade of Current 93. I still remember being astonished at the sheer size of the band lineup on releases such as _Thunder Perfect Mind_. How much bigger could they get, how much further could they go?
_Thunder Perfect Mind_ would prove to be a peak of sorts, as the following releases saw the band start to mellow out and strip away musical layers one by one. After a couple albums it was clear we were now following a "minimalist" path. Each new release was more stripped down than the last. Less variety, simpler instrumentation, fewer players.
Why turn around in this way? It's just my own observation & speculation but it seems clear that Tibet began to see the big dazzling musical accompaniment as a potential distraction to his art. Tibet has never claimed to be much of a "musician." He isn't necessarily out to make great music. He doesn't really sing or play any instruments. What he really has to offer is, words and ideas. Current 93's work was now getting closer to the center – David Tibet's words and ideas.
This minimalist direction would culminate in the release, _Soft Black Stars_ of 1998. By this point we are down to nothing but Tibet's spoken poetry and a gentle piano accompaniment. On the surface _Soft Black Stars_ is an absurdly simple album. On a musical level it is not particularly interesting at all.
The genius of _Soft Black Stars_ is the consideration that if this work stands as a success at all, then it has to be because of the core content – Tibet's words & ideas – because there is almost nothing else! He seems to be testing whether he can carry it on his own.
And in fact _Soft Black Stars_ holds up well. I won't claim I personally find it to be the most enjoyable Current 93 release, but it's a success of some level. Tibet has always maintained it is his favorite.
"armageddon music – eclipsed by words"
A major point established with _Soft Black Stars_, Tibet may have regained the confidence and willingness to start "building" again. Subsequent new recordings have been few and scattered but have shown Current 93 developing the sound of a full ensemble once again. The difference this time is the central vision radiates more effectively than ever – the minimalist exercise having strengthened Tibet's delivery (see the _Halo_ recording for striking demonstration of his new powers).
And now after four years of work, it's time at last for the next major studio album of Current 93.
_Black Ships Ate the Sky_ is no less than an epic masterpiece on the level of _Thunder Perfect Mind_. This album is enormous in every way. The band lineup is large and many-talented. There are two different lead guitarists, alongside cello, viola, harp, harmonium and electronics. There are vocals from eight star collaborators. It's 21 tracks, 75 minutes long.
Going by the liner notes it seems this album had something of a two phase development. It was begun four years ago with longtime guitarist Michael Cashmore as main collaborator, and finished later on with Ben Chasny of Six Organs of Admittance taking over his role.
Half the tracks of _Black Ships Ate the Sky_ have a "Cashmore" sound and half have a "Chasny" sound. Michael Cashmore has long ranked high among my personal favorite guitarists, with his refined classical style and a mesmerizing, chime-like quality. New-Wierd-American folk guitarist Ben Chasny offers a softer, more earthy style that sounds like it's coming from a cabin in the middle of the woods. It's impossible to decide which style I like better. Based on what I'm hearing here Chasny is likely to become another of my favorite players.
Another significant musical contribution comes from cellist John Contreras. His presence is noticeable through most of the album, always adding a welcome, rich element to the tracks, and the extra level of depth you can get from a string player who knows what he's doing. Contreras is listed as one of the five core members alongside Cashmore & Chasny, Tibet & Stapleton.
Further musical elements adding to the mix range from piano by Antony, to viola by the talented William Breeze (of Coil & Psychic TV), to electronics by William Basinski, to the usual sonic manipulation of Stephen Stapleton.
Eight guest vocalists appear on this album, for the most part delivering interpretations on an old apocalyptic hymn called "Idumaea" by Charles Wesley. Each one of their parts serves as a valuable contribution to the whole, with the opening rendition by Marc Almond ranking as particularly memorable. Further performances come from Antony, Baby Dee, Cosey Fanni Tutti and other guests of similar caliber. The recurring lyrical theme holds the work together in a similar way as the repeated lullaby of _All the Pretty Little Horses_ ten years ago.
The title of _Black Ships Ate the Sky_ is certainly over-the-top. If anyone else were to come up with such a title we would assume they had been watching too many bad science fiction movies. When Tibet comes up with this title, we figure he has a profound vision to relate, and indeed the lyrics are stirring throughout, from the soft pastoral innocence of the initial tracks to the apocalyptic wailing of the later tracks. As always there are definite way-over-the-top moments, and you won't get through this album without laughing out loud at least once. This is part of Tibet's charm. (As a side note _Black Ships Ate the Sky_ imparts new humor into Thomas Dolby's _Aliens Ate My Buick!_)
_Black Ships Ate the Sky_ is the long awaited next epic Current 93 album that can stand next to _Thunder Perfect Mind_ in every way, by a band reinvigorated by being rebuilt from scratch in more potent form.
It's the kind of awe-inspiring listen that makes me remember why I got into music like this in the first place, and ended up collecting almost every album of Current 93 & related projects. It's skillfully played music directed by creative ideas – a fusion that's more potent than the music on its own or the ideas on their own.
While such a "big" album could seem daunting, this music is of such quality that you sink in easily from the first notes – Marc Almond makes sure of it – and the 75 minutes go by like 15. It's the kind of album you'll realize quickly is worth 100 times what you paid for it.
_Black Ships Ate the Sky_ comes as a substantial boxed set including a book of liner notes. "Booklet" doesn't quite apply, it's more of a book, a big fat book. It's the kind of package that reminds us the role of liner notes in the first place, including all the lyrics and photos of all the players and giving an intimate feeling for the album.
This Current 93 release comes at a time of renewed interest in creative folk-inspired music in the larger indie music scene. While this album will be a big success within the usual fanbase, it'll also be interesting to watch how it's received by those whose interest is captured for the first time.
It would seem the sky's the limit!
Lee - Judas Kiss mag says on 9 Jun 2006
Current 93 – ‘Black Ships Ate the Sky’ CD
Durtro/Jnana
www.durtro.com
www.jnanarecords.com
Opening with his version of ‘Idumea’ a hymn written by Charles Wesley and accompanied solely by the delicately plucked stings of a guitar courtesy of Michael Cashmore, Marc Almond delivers a heart-moving and deeply passionate rendition the track that sets the tone and atmosphere for what is perhaps the most important and evocative Current 93 recording to date. Four years in the making ‘Black Ships Ate the Sky’ has set high expectations for itself and from the subtle narrative flow of the album over it’s twenty-one tracks, it meets each and everyone of these and far surpasses what could ever be expected.
Based around a re-occurring dream of David Tibet, of blacks ships invading the sky and acting a catalyst for the coming of the Anti-Christ and the second coming of Christ. The album takes on a very personal and intense nature that is projected superbly through an array of lovingly structured tracks and vocals that pricks at the very essence of the listener. It finally seems that through sheer, unequivocal devotion and constant hard work David Tibet and the stunning array of talent artists that accompany him on the album, have managed to produce the definitive Current 93 album, that is not only superbly written and recorded but is presented perfectly. So much so that if this where to be, god forbid, the finally Current 93 album, the 25 long years Tibet has put into his project would have been worth every second, as every thing he’s set out to achieve with Current has come into fruition through this albums release. Initially seeming to take in it’s queue musically from the ‘folk-esque’ nature of ‘All the Pretty Little Horses’, it soon becomes evident that this is just the very tip of the iceberg as the layers of instrumentations, sounds and vocals contain a depth and almost organic nature that has only been touched upon by Current’s pervious work and is displayed with such compassion and vigour that it soon becomes evident that the four years spent on recording and releasing this album haven’t been in vain.
Dream-like in parts, haunting and reoccurring, ‘Black Ships..’ offers up a cavalcade of thought-proving and image drenched songs that fit together like pieces of a hand-crafted jigsaw. Each piece in fitting in place perfectly, complimenting the next and adding a vital element to the overall finished puzzle.
Although, the album does contain a very personal message and set of ideas the way that it is presented and the structures the individual tracks take, makes ‘Black Ship..’ unquestionably accessible and therefore open for interpretation by the listener, even if its not the same degree as that of Tibet. It’s this personal approach to Current’s work, which delivers such endearing qualities that are evident though out this album. The fact that you can draw something deeper and more provocative out of a musicians work not only proves invaluable to the listener but also demonstrates the prowess of the musician themselves and demonstrates that they posses a Sage-like skill that some many strive to master. Aside form the in-depth lyrical content ‘Black Ships..’ contains a remarkable composite of instruments to create a stimulating and heady array of backings that frame the vocals perfectly. Whether it be fragile acoustic guitar strums or superbly composed string arrangements, the music contained on this disc is as divine and faultless as you could imagine and a credit to the numerous musicians involved.
Utilizing a myriad of imagery and ides mealy touched upon in past Current releases, Tibet has honed his vision both musical and religiously into a place that he now feels completely at ease with. Almost like finally he has found his true self and this is project throughout the narrative nature of ‘Black Ships…’.
Featuring nine version of one track on any album could be contribute as somewhat of a risk, however the inclusion of nine versions of ‘Idumea’ each sung by an array of hugely talent individuals including the Antony, Baby Dee, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Pantaleimon, Shirley Collins and the afore mentioned Marc Almond. By opening this hymn up for personal interpretation by the individual artists that recorded tracks takes on a very personal and individual sound and feel, that reflects the singers thoughts on the lyrics contained within it. By allowing each artist the freedom to do this the track takes on it s own personally and sound on each occasion and therefore loses the reparative nature you’d expect it to take and instead reimmerges only as an anchor to hold to album firmly in place.
Aided by an impressive array of artists and musicians including long time Current 93 members Michael Cashmore and Steven Stapleton as well as Ben Chesny Colin Potter, William Breeze, Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti and those who contributed vocals to ‘Idumea’, Current 93 as a collective has never seemed so complete and family-like. With each of the artists contributing not only their musical skills but also a remarkable amount of passion to the proceedings it becomes incredibly evident why Tibet was able to mould ‘Black ships.. into the truly remarkable and unique album is it.
How Tibet will choose to follow ‘Black Ships… is anyone’s guess but even if it takes another 4 years and only has half the passion, skill and beauty contained with in this album when it will be a be a truly remarkable and moving album which will be well worth the wait. As for ‘Black Ships Ate the Sky’ what more can I say aside from it is one of the most impressively alluring and compelling musical releases that I’ve had the pleasure to indulge myself in time and time again and shows the true passion of Tibet’s convictions with each and every note.
Accompanied by a stunningly 56 page booklet containing notes on the album and its recording, full lyrics, web links and photos of those involved and housed in a beautifully designed slipcase, with an individual digi-pack which holds the CD, ‘Black Ships..’ is not only a feast of sounds but also a feast of sights as well making the album as a whole quite simply breath-taking and as near to perfect as release can be.
Simply remarkable, simply beautiful, simply outstanding.
Narsheptha says on 6 Jul 2006
An incredible release. It's taken a few listens to really appreciate the varied versions of "Idumaea," originally written as a hymn by the founder of Methodism, Charles Wesley. A few of them will take a while to grow on me, but on the whole I like the repetitive theme. Not to mention that hearing vocalists like Bonnie Prince Billy and Shirley Collins working with Current 93 is a joy to experience. Marc Almond's take on this track is well suited as the album's opener and sets a haunting tone for the rest of the album. Having recently gotten into Current 93, this album is such a treat for even a novice.
sclancy says on 4 Jul 2007
David's "inmost light" still flickers.
I get chills knowing that David had written the verses before the actual suicide bombings took place: "I saw the stars gurgle . . . blood over NE London . . . calamity on subways . . . you have conquered with not much resistance."
Black Ships Ate the Sky was definitely worth the wait. This release touches my soul--similar to the feeling that runs through my veins when I listen to All the Pretty Little Horses.
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