I Have a Special Plan for This World

Durtro 048CD, 2000, Running time: 22:03

I Have a Special Plan For This World - 22:03

Somewhat of a companion to the album In a Foreign Town, In a Foreign Land, this single-track EP is the second collaboration between writer Thomas Ligotti and Current 93. Lyrics not included in the packaging, alas.

While the previous album featuring Ligotti’s work felt fairly cinematic and understated, I HAVE A SPECIAL PLAN FOR THIS WORLD is much more direct, a disturbing trip through a terribly haunted vision of the world. The track begins with an odd, barely-intelligible poem accompanied by a ticking chiming clock, which is soon interrupted by Tibet, sounding as though he is speaking Ligotti’s text through an old radio or scratchy phonograph record. Soon, Tibet stops reading as though a channel was changed, and his reading is replaced by a horrible, otherworldly buzzing voice that may or may not be speaking actual words. Before long, the channel is switched back and Tibet continues his narration as an eerie, metallic swirl of melody fades in to accompany the vocals. Most of the rest of the track proceeds in this pattern: hollow, scratchy-sounding words from Tibet interspersed with the horrible distorted monster voice on the “alternate channel.” During the last few minutes of the piece, Tibet reads through a bizarre mechanical-sounding vocal filter, accompanied by strange rumblings in the background. Eerie.

This horrifying, brilliant EP is, to my mind, not to be missed. It’s probably the most unsettling piece I’ve yet heard from Current 93. Tibet captures the tone of Ligotti’s story perfectly, and the atmospheric music will stay with you long after the track has ended. It’s a nightmare-inducing piece, and an essential entry into everyone’s c93 collection.

No epilogue.