Current 93 / Nurse With Wound: Bright Yellow Moon / Purtle

UDOR 8CD/9CD, 2001, Disc 1 running time: 45:05, Disc 2 running time: 20:45

Current 93 / Nurse With Wound: Bright Yellow Moon / Purtle

DISC I (BRIGHT YELLOW MOON)

  1. Butterfly Drops - 01:43
  2. Disintegrate Blur 36 page 03 - 17:32
  3. Mothering Sunday (Legion Legion) - 03:46
  4. Nichts - 07:42
  5. Die, Flip Or Go To India - 11:07
  6. Walking Like Shadow - 03:14

DISC II (PURTLE)

  1. Walking Like Shadow II - 02:56
  2. Disintegrate 36 page 00 - 07:21
  3. Nichts II - 04:35
  4. Disintegrate 19 page 03 - 05:52

Although Steven Stapleton has participated in every Current 93 release, and has worked with David Tibet on a variety of side projects (most recently, Octopus), this album marks the first official collaboration between Tibet’s Current 93 and Stapleton’s project Nurse With Wound. You’ve heard his influence throughout all of c93’s material, but this is the first time he’s really brought Nurse With Wound’s signature sound into a Current 93 album. The other interesting fact about this release is that all the lyrics were written by Tibet while in the hospital in August 2000, recovering from a nearly-fatal illness. The end result is, that while the album isn’t particularly groundbreaking in terms of either c93 or NWW, the combination is unique and surprising, and despite the rather grim circumstance of Tibet’s illness, is actually a lot of fun. However, sorting out the surrealism from the symbolism from the (possible) delirium will leave you dizzy, and the overall intention of the album, compared to such recent epics as Sleep Has His House or Soft Black Stars, is rather opaque. Fortunately, Tibet’s extensive liner notes explain some of the symbolism and meanings behind the less-obvious lyrics (none of which are printed for you, alas). The first 1000 copies of “Bright Yellow Moon” include the 4-track CD “Purtle,” which contains alternate versions of several pieces.

The first track, BUTTERFLY DROPS, is quiet and subtle, featuring Michael Cashmore’s gorgeous guitar plucking while Tibet speaks softly over. A distant metallic rushing announces Stapleton’s presence on the track.

DISINTEGRATE BLUR 36 PAGE 03 begins with very slowly-paced cymbals, a mechanical whirring and a melancholy melody played upon some unknown instrument. Occasional breathy rushings are heard in the background, and soon slow guitar pluckings are added into the mix. Tibet’s vocals join in at around 6 minutes, sounding contemplative, austere and even a little fragile. Lyrically, I feel that this long track is the central piece on the album, and the pacing and tone of Tibet’s performance somewhat remind me of ALONE from Imperium.  In fact, it’s rather tempting to make a lot of comparisons between this album and Imperium, as both were released shortly following illnesses that were nearly fatal to Tibet, and although the musical and thematic differences are many, I find a certain parallel in the overall feeling of the two. Maybe it’s just me.

On track three, MOTHERING SUNDAY (LEGION LEGION), Tibet’s lyrics feel particularly surreal and opaque, seemingly a document of certain experiences he had while in the hospital. Fortunately, the liner notes are a great aid in deciphering some of the symbolism in this piece, which otherwise would be apparent to Tibet alone. The music is a background mechanical thrumming, punctuated by various illustrative sound effects (for example, the sound of breaking glass as Tibet says “I reach my eye through windowpane” or marching boots while he states “the world is legion, everywhere”). About halfway through, Tibet’s vocals are joined by a high-pitched and distorted version of himself, reciting along, slightly off time, in the background.

NICHTS flows seamlessly from the previous track with Tibet repeating “Your time is mine,” then fading away while an odd sample of a rushing train and a voice stating “You’ve got to do the hell on the black diamond train” is faded into the foreground. This sample is eventually overrun by a wall of static and noise, while various train-like effects (hissing steam, chuffing smokestack and other less-identifiable sounds) occasionally poke through. Of all the pieces on this album, this one to me feels most like Nurse With Wound in its cacophony and surrealism.

A very slow piece, DIE, FLIP OR GO TO INDIA is mostly a low mechanical murmur punctuated by a few random-seeming sounds (echoing clicks, odd and distant shouts, and a slowed-down appearance of the “black diamond train” sample from the previous track). Around halfway through, Tibet joins in with a high-pitched and distorted voice, while the background mechanical sounds are accompanied by harmonium. A variety of distorted voices chortle and wail in the foreground. It’s an interesting track, although probably the least powerful on the album.

The final track on the first CD, WALKING LIKE SHADOW, is musically and thematically similar to track one, with Tibet speaking sweetly over Cashmore’s guitar. It’s a really soft and (to me) hopeful piece, which seems like a nice contrast to the somewhat aggressive and depressing lyrics that comprise the middle tracks of this album.

WALKING LIKE SHADOW II, the first track on the bonus CD, is more of an alternate mix than a second part to WALKING LIKE SHADOW. Tibet’s rendition in this version feels much less hopeful, and though extremely heartfelt and emotional, it’s as if he’s suppressing tears while he’s singing. Although short, it’s a really intense and heartbreaking piece.

DISINTEGRATE 36 PAGE 00 contains all the same musical elements of DISINTEGRATE BLUR 36 PAGE 03 but is purely instrumental. Like its companion track on the first CD, it’s beautifully contemplative and quiet.

Although it shares a name with track four on the first CD, NICHTS II feels like a substantially different piece. Instead of a wall of noise, the cacophony feels a lot more controlled, with small bursts of static, odd creakings and a metallic choir-sounding swirl in the background. The “diamond train” sample does not appear, nor do any other vocals. It’s a great piece of experimental atmosphere.

Like the previous “disintegrate” tracks, DISINTEGRATE 19 PAGE 03 marries metallic cymbal-like sounds with a mechanical whirring, but for me, has a different feeling overall. Instead of being quiet and meditative, this track has a much more industrial tone to it that I very much like, perhaps a little like being in the middle of some haunted factory. Towards the end, Tibet contributes a few echoing and vaguely-garbled lines to the piece.

I think more people will like this release than not. If you already listen to Nurse With Wound, you’ll really enjoy the unique fruit of this collaboration and if not, this album will give you a nice introduction to Stapleton’s work with the context of the more familiar territory of Current 93. Collaborations can be a fragile thing; too much in either direction, particularly with two strong artists such as these, can easily become a failure. However, NWW and c93 managed to walk that fine line and have, I feel, released a superb album together.

No epilogue.