Current 93 - Aleph At Hallucinatory Mountain

Guest appearances from Rickie Lee Jones and a pornstar…

Along with Nurse With Wound, Current 93 have enchanted, infuriated and sonically entertained in equal measure, as mainman David Tibet weaves his preoccupations and obsessions into compelling cobwebs over music that oozes, trickles, grinds, sears and permeates like a thick but not unpleasant odour.

Three years after Black Ships Ate The Sky, Current 93 return with an album that’s the equal to that widescreen blockbuster. Opening track Invocation Of Almost features grinding guitars that support Tibet on his metaphysical pronouncements; Poppyskins melds acoustic guitar tingles with minimal percussion and harsh guitar mixed to a murmur that serves as a pillow for Tibet’s vocals. Urshadow is another meditative track that, because of its musical restraint, gives the melancholy lyrics a perfect frame. Better still is 26 April 2007, opening with a subtle guitar hook before the pliant bass line allows Tibet to unfurl his thoughts like a Lovecraftian narrator, complete with great references to the likes of “crowns with cats heads on them”. A wonderful track, it ends with a spooky dog howl no doubt warning of the approach of Cthulhu. After nearly 30 years at the coalface, Tibet still mines a very rich seam.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Coptic Cat | NIFE 004 CD

Reviewed by Ian Shirley
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