Grief

Performer: Throbbing Gristle
Distributor: Ryko Distribution

Notes: Throbbing Gristle: Genesis P-Orridge, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson, Chris Carter. One of the more strange entries in the Throbbing Gristle catalog, though not one of their best, Grief offers two LP-side-long collages of various rumblings and tweakings and other electronic noises, even half a minute of "Subhuman," with several interviews with Throbbing Gristle's leader, Genesis P-Orridge, and occasional interjections from other bandmembers. Most of the interviews are put though various effects boxes, lots of echoing, and other distortions that make them quite difficult to follow, and other times two different dialogues are going on at once. It's too bad, because at times what P-Orridge has to say is quite fascinating, like when he talks about censorship and his troubles of mailing pornographic postcards or going through William S. Burroughs' archives of old tape experiments. A bit less on the effects and sounds would have been an improvement. Everything is piled on top of each other haphazardly for one chaotic soup of noise that is really too confusing to be effective. This comes off too much like the work of stoned college sophomores with a multi-track and too much time on their hands. ~ Rolf Semprebon

Throbbing Gristle combined primitive electronics, tape loops, avant-garde techniques, and post-punk energy to create a dark, experimental sound that was a tremendous influence on industrial and electronic music from the 1980s on. They evolved from a mid-'70s London performance-art group, but by 1977 they were committing acts of sonic terrorism on vinyl. After disbanding in the early '80s, they splintered off into Psychic TV and Chris And Cosey, but reunited for a 2004 festival that was put together to pay tribute to Throbbing Gristle's long-lasting influence.

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