Genesis Breyer P-Orridge & Thee Early Worm - Early Worm

Long-lost early improv insanity

Early Worm proves that everything becomes available in the end. Before Genesis POrridge became the UK’s artistic upper class’ nightmare in the mid-70s with Coum and, later, Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV, he was plain Neil Megson, an young aspiring avant-garde poet from Hull.

Early Worm was formed by POrridge and Peter Pinglewad (along with girlfriends Janegel and Gnaire) in the late 60s, with Genesis’ father guesting on harmonica on one track. In November 1968 they recorded several jam sessions on two reelto- reel decks and pressed up a single acetate LP the following year, which Genesis kept. Over the years the recordings were presumed lost. In 2007, however, the acetate and original master tapes were found.

The first side contains several shorter and often improvised pieces, while the second is reserved for the 17- minute title track jam. Most distinctive sound on that one is played on a ruler. Amid the clanging of kitchen utensils, peeps, squeeks and what sounds like a broken guitar, Balloon comes closest to being an actual “song”, with its percussion and chanted lyrics. Early Worm is an important historical document; a highly spontaneous outburst of optimistic eagerness. That we can now hear this missing link in the TG/GPO-history is no less than amazing.

Dias | LP 001

Reviewed by Freek Kinkelaar
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