Looney Runes

Durtro 004CD, 1990, Running time: 29:29

Looney Runes
  1. Panzer Ruin (in the hands of Gillespie) - 06:16
  2. That’s All, Folks - 05:49
  3. Invocation - 02:13
  4. Happy Birthday - 01:55
  5. Black Flowers Please - 03:43
  6. Oh Coal Black Smith - 03:36
  7. Farewell - 03:28
  8. The Birds Have Stopped Singing - 02:27

This album is a combination of studio work and live material recorded in Japan. None of the songs are particularly innovative or substantially different from the album versions. Perhaps worth getting, perhaps not; it mostly depends on how much of a Current 93 completist you are. No lyrics are included.

PANZER RUIN (IN THE HANDS OF GILLESPIE), as the name implies, is a studio reworking of LOONEY RUNES (from Crooked Crossed for the Nodding God). I have to admit, this has never been one of my favorite songs; the lyrics feel uninspired, the music is a little boring, and David Tibet’s vocals are, for once, not very impressive. It’s kind of a rock-sounding song (at least music wise), with various loops and samples tossed in now and again. I wouldn’t call it awful, but it’s not exactly great either.

THAT’S ALL FOLKS is a continuation of the previous track, mostly just playing around with the mix. For me, it’s vaguely more interesting than the previous track, mostly due to the more experimental and industrial sound, but it’s still not a great song.

The third track, INVOCATION, is the beginning of the live section of the album; you’ll recognize the song as BENEDICTION, from Swastikas for Noddy.  A very nice, acappella version of the piece.

Track four is listed in the liner as HAPPY BIRTHDAY, but in fact is a rendition of SUMMER OF LOVE (once again, from Swastikas for Noddy).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY actually appears on track five, listed in the liner as BLACK FLOWERS PLEASE. It’s kind of an interesting song, if you’ve never heard it before, and this is a decent rendition of the tune.

BLACK FLOWERS PLEASE appears on track six (instead of OH COAL BLACK SMITH).  It’s a cute song and a pretty good version of it.

Track seven isn’t FAREWELL, but is actually OH COAL BLACK SMITH. It’s a great song, but the version on this album isn’t the best rendition of it. Recording is murky, and the album versions somehow have more power and energy.

The final track, FAREWELL, is another acappella version of BENEDICTION. It’s still cool, but a little unnecessary; track three covered it just as well.

So where is THE BIRDS HAVE STOPPED SINGING? I’ve never heard of this song, myself, and it doesn’t seem to appear on the album. A deleted track?

No epilogue.