As the World Disappears

Durtro 007CD, 1990, Running time: 47:47

As the World Disappears
  1. Khor Ba’i Nyes Dmigs - 01:32
  2. Lament for Her - 04:14
  3. The Death of the Corn - 04:48
  4. A Song for Douglas After He’s Dead - 06:15
  5. Terra Tegit Terram - 04:21
  6. Be - 00:44
  7. Hooves - 00:56
  8. Horsey - 10:34
  9. They Returned to Their Earth (For My Christ Thorn) - 07:25
  10. A Song For Douglas After He’s Dead (Rebirth) - 06:56

Another live album, but unlike the somewhat mediocre Looney Runes, this is really a superb collection. It contains a lot of their quieter, more folkey songs, recorded live at La Lune des Pirates in Amiens, France. The liner notes offer “Homage to the Lama the Venerable ‘Chi.med Rig.’dzin Lama, Rinpoche.” No lyrics are included.

Track one is a short, quiet harp piece from harpist James Malindaine-Lafayette, who’s excellent work appears elsewhere in this and other Current 93 albums. If Tibet’s translation is accurate, the title, KHOR BA’I NYES DMIGS translates to “the sadness of things,” a concept which threads throughout the work of c93 and associated projects.

The second track is a rather minimalist version of LAMENT FOR MY SUZANNE, various renditions and titlings of which appear on several other c93 albums (notably Island and Thunder Perfect Mind).

THE DEATH OF THE CORN has always been one of my favorite Current 93 tunes, and track three is a truly excellent rendition: violin, guitar, and impassioned vocals from Tibet. Another version appears on Horsey.

The fourth track begins with a rather sweet dedication from Tibet to Douglas P. (who was “somewhere in Europe” at the time). The piece seems a little slower and more deliberate than the Thunder Perfect Mind recording, but essentially stays true to the version on that album.  In any case, it really is a wonderful song.

TERRA TEGIT TERRAM is a really nice version of the title track from their much-maligned Earth Covers Earth.

Track six, BE, is a slightly more folkish version of that cute little piece from Imperium.  It’s kind of odd, but it works ok as the short piece that it is.

Track seven, HOOVES, is another short piece vaguely related to the song HORSEY. Melodic acoustic guitar from Michael Cashmore, accompanied by Tibet’s quiet voice. Another version of this track appears on the live album Current 93/Death In June/Sol Invictus.

There are several versions of HORSEY scattered across c93’s albums, and all of them are different. This recording is a slow, melodic, harp-and-flute laden work that’s especially nice. It’s not quite my favorite (that would have to be the version on the Emblems: The Menstrual Years), but I like it better than the heavy metal piece that appeared on Horsey.

Tibet dedicates the ninth track, THEY RETURNED TO THEIR EARTH (FOR MY CHRIST THORN) to Christine. It’s rather an interesting, nostalgic sort of piece, somehow more hopeful and earthly than I tend to expect from Current 93. Very interesting lyrics, especially when Tibet brings some familiar names into the song (Boyd, Michael, etc.). A similar (and equally lovely) version appears on Emblems: The Menstrual Years.

And finally, the last track is another rendition of A SONG FOR DOUGLAS AFTER HE’S DEAD. Tibet ends with “merry christmas, god bless.”

Epilogue: (David Tibet) Once, Christ was walking down a path with his disciples. In their way laid the rotting corpse of a dog. The disciples turned away, gagging through nausea. Christ, however gazed thoughtfully at the decomposing animal and said, “what beautiful teeth this animal has.”