1 July 2008

Thank you for listening and coming. A general update on our activities follows.

Work is progressing smoothly on David's lyric book 'Under the Rain and Teeth of Gods', with the kind assistance of Ayse Tuzlak, José Pacheco and Nigel Ince. We are still hoping to publish it in November 2008.

It is now probable that the 'Aleph on Hallucinatory Mountain' album will now be released on David's 49th birthday on 5 March, 2009, and there will be accompanying concerts in the USA, England and Europe.

Before the release of the album, there will be a series of releases building up to the album, including two books—one hand-printed, the other a hardback—with both having (different) accompanying CDs, as well as a full-length album which introduces the themes of 'Aleph on Hallucinatory Mountain'. More news of these items when they are in stock.

It seems that David's solo art show will now be held in December 2008 at the Isis Gallery in central London.

We are also working on the 'Collected Works of Count Stenbock'; this will include ALL the material written by Count Stenbock which has been published up till now by Durtro Press, as well as a couple of pieces which have never been published anywhere at all. At the moment I think we will be publishing it in both hardback and paperback formats.

The Nick Blinko book, which is titled 'The Haunted Head', has been proofed, and will be going into print shortly. We are still undecided as to whether it will be released in paperback as well as hardback. Presently we plan a limited edition hardback, each copy of which will be signed by Nick and which will also have an original drawing by Nick. It seems that there will also be a 1-track CD with a newly recorded song by Rudimentary Peni created especially for the book. People who don't know of Nick's art can find information here, here and here. His work is on show in some of the world's leading collections of art brut and outsider art.

Pantaleimon: ‘Heart of the Sun’ now available

'Heart of the Sun' is the wonderfully remixed and realised version of 'Mercy Oceans'. It also features four brand new exclusive tracks including a collaboration with Strings of Consciousness and a cover version of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's 'Even If Love'. We are very pleased to announce that we now have copies available to order from Durtro and Jnana.

Full list of tracks and remixers:

1. At Dawn (Vogel) Andrew W.K
2. The Sun Came Out (Dawn Porous) Colin Potter
3. Under The Water (Iridescence) Fovea Hex
4. All The Birds (Melting Canvas) Andrew Liles 
5. Today For Shore Pantaleimon
6. Storm And Thunder (Toxoplasmosis) The Bricoleur
7. Bourne (Somnialescent) Stephen O’Malley
8. Even If Love (Eclipse) Susan Stenger
9. Raw Heart (Cloisters) Plinth
10. Heart Of The Sun (Shimmering) Pantaleimon with Strings Of Consciousness
11. We Love (Pink Light ) Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo
12. High Star (Celestial Voices) Cartertutti
13. I Am (Solar Dust) Lilium
14. Another Day Tomorrow Pantaleimon

‘Heart of the Sun’ will be on general release in the shops from 31st July 2008. Buy now from Durtro, priced £10 plus postage and packing and VAT (sales tax; where applicable) and Jnana, priced US $ 14.99 plus postage and packing. Click the links below to hear some samples. You can hear some of the tracks on the Pantaleimon MySpace page: www.myspace.com/pantaleimon

Under the Water (Iridescence) Fovea Hex • At Dawn Andrew WK • I Am Solar (Dust) Lilium

Pantaleimon: ‘Tall Trees’ EP now available

We are very excited to announce that the brand new four-track CD is now available from Abaton Book Company. ‘Tall Trees’ was recorded by Pantaleimon in Dorset and East Sussex in the Summer 2007, with Michael Tanner (Plinth) and Nick Palmer (Directorsound). All the tracks were especially created for this project.

1. The Warming
2. Dance of the Honey Bees
3. Sing Night Swallow 
4. Tall Trees

Abaton always release their CDs in extremely small editions, so be quick with your ordering!

Click the links below to hear some samples. Full length tracks can be heard, and a free download of ‘Dance of the Honey Bees’ is available, from the Pantaleimon MySpace page: www.myspace.com/pantaleimon

Tall Trees • Dance of the Honey Bees

Current 93 as Anok Pe ‘Birth Canal Blues’ T-shirts back in stock

We now have the medium and extra large male sizes back in stock. Please order here.

The new Nurse With Wound album, ‘Huffin’ Rag Blues’ released

The new album, their first for over four years, 'Huffin' Rag Blues' is the inevitable conclusion of Steven Stapleton and Andrew Liles' passion for easy listening and lounge jazz. Contorted and carved into a distinctly Nurse With Wound sound 'Huffin' Rag Blues' is a greasy amalgam of uneasy listening, shaken and stirred Molotov cocktails and quixotica. Full to the brim with squeals, screams, smokey vocals, drunken double basses, melting vibraphones and internal organs from outer space this album is an unlikely and unique excursion from beginning to end. As with all Nurse With Wound recordings it goes without saying... expect the unexpected. To obtain, go to www.dirter.co.uk, www.andrewliles.com and www.jnanarecords.com.

Clodagh Simonds/Fovea Hex/Blind Cave Salamander play July festival in South Tyrol, Italy

C93 associates Clodagh Simonds and Fabrizio Palumbo are appearing with their groups at the SoundThreshold festival in beautiful surroundings on 16 July. It looks like it will be quite extraordinary. For more details go to www.cealp.it/soundthreshold or email soundthreshold@gmail.com.

New Thomas Ligotti piece featured in ‘Collapse’

The fourth volume of 'Collapse: Journal of Philosophical Research and Development' is now available for sale online at www.urbanomic.com, and in selected bookshops (notably the Tate Modern and ICA in London). The volume is published as a limited edition of 1000 numbered copies, and contributors include: Kristen Alvanson, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Iain Hamilton Grant, Graham Harman, Michel Houellebecq, Oleg Kulik, Thomas Ligotti, Quentin Meillassoux, China Miéville, Reza Negarestani, Benjamin Noys, Rafani, Steven Shearer, George Sieg, Eugene Thacker, Keith Tilford, Todosch, James Trafford.

'Collapse IV' features a series of investigations by philosophers, writers and artists into 'Concept Horror'. Contributors address the existential, aesthetic, theological and political dimensions of horror, interrogate its peculiar affinity with philosophical thought, and uncover the horrors that may lie in wait for those who pursue rational thought beyond the bounds of the reasonable. This unique volume continues Collapse's pursuit of interdisciplinary miscegenation, the wide-ranging contributions interacting to produce common themes and suggestive connections. In the process a rich and compelling case emerges for the intimate bond between horror and philosophical thought.

'Collapse Volume IV' // Ed. R. Mackay, D. Veal // May 2008 // 406pp // Limited edition 1000 copies // ISBN 978-0-9553087-3-4 // £9.99.

Favourite albums and books of the moment

Without any doubt, my favourite album of the year so far is Judas Priest's new 2CD set 'Nostradamus'. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful this is, and how jealous and bitter I am that I didn't create this album myself.

I play it constantly. I have gone back to all my Judas Priest albums with absolute obeisance; I had really recently concentrated on my early favourites, 'Sad Wings of Destiny' and 'Sin after Sin', before hearing 'Nostradamus', but now I have returned with renewed Coptic Force 'n' Juice to all their works. Blissful.

I also want to say how much I love the new album by Lynn Jackson, 'Soft Stars'—absolutely my favourite work by her so far. Very touching, very beautiful, very pure and very true. You can hear her work here www.myspace.com/lynnjackson and buy the CD at www.bustedflatrecords.com.

And, very belatedly, I have started reading the works of Michel Houellebecq, starting with Atomised'. If you haven't read this—and I am sure many of you discovered this author long before I did—I urge you to do so. One of the bleakest, funniest, most terrifyingly accurate and unsentimental books I have ever read. I would have to put it down after every couple of pages, as I was so overwhelmed with its beauty and power.

So, overawed by my inadequacy in the face of Judas Priest and Michel Houllebecq, I return to my Cartoon Apocalypses.

love to you all, Anok Pe David Tibet+++

27 May 2008

Peace (for Mom): a 2CD compilation from Brainwashed

Following the death of Brainwashed founder Jon Whitney's mother, he has put together a compilation album, from which all proceeds will go to Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: www.picturebookart.org. This beautiful 2CD features many wonderful artists and wonderful songs too. Go here for more details and go here to buy the CD: http://brainwashed.com/commerce.html

Jon Whitney writes:

"Amongst many things, I owe both my music enthusiasm and my willingness to share to my mother and losing her last year was a complete shock. She brought me to my first concerts and was in the balcony at my first festival in 2006. 'Peace' is a collection I assembled in memory of her but in tribute to a number of close friends who all lost their mothers before their time. It contains some songs which were recorded exclusively, some which were various outtakes, and some which perfectly represent emotions felt by myself, other family, friends, and in some cases, my mom. All of the contributions came from true friends. All proceeds will be donated to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass, a place where my mom volunteered for the last few years. She was an elementary and kindergarten teacher nearly my entire life so early childhood literacy meant a lot to her."

Track details are as follows:

disc 1

1. A Place to Bury Strangers, "Sunbeam"
2. Antony and the Johnsons, "You Are My Sister"
3. Aranos, "Fall's Golden Whispers"
4. Jessica Bailiff, "Fly High"
5. Little Annie Bandez and Paul Wallfisch, "Smile"
6. Boduf Songs, "Little Song for Jon"
7. Boy In Static, "Stay Awake"
8. Caribou, "Hummingbird"
9. Carter Tutti, "Woven Clouds" (alternate version)
10. Current 93, "All the Pretty Little Horses"
11. Fridge, "Five Four Child Voice"
12. Christoph Heemann and Andreas Martin, "Walla Mashalla"
13. His Name Is Alive, "This World Is Not My Home"
14. Ida, "See the Stars" (acoustic)
15. The Paula Kelley Orchestra, "Life for Life"
16. Kinski, "Waka Nusa"
17. The Legendary Pink Dots, "We Bring the Day" (edit)

disc 2

1. Andrew Liles, "The Comfortable Illusion of Meaning"
2. Matmos, "Staircase"
3. Monster Movie, "Vanishing Act"
4. Marissa Nadler, "Stallions"
5. Nudge, "Greener"
6. Amanda Palmer, "I'll Follow You Into the Dark"
7. Pantaleimon, "Idumæa"
8. Sandro Perri, "Family Tree"
9. Rivulets, "You Sail On"
10. Ulrich Schnauss, "Wherever You Are"
11. The 17th Pygmy, "I Know My Train's A Coming"
12. Stars of the Lid, "Requiem"
13. Sybarite, "Mochi Swt"
14. 27, "Windows and Glass"
15. Volcano the Bear, "Wooden Sailus"
16. Keith Fullerton Whitman, "Weiter"
17. Windy & Carl, "I Have Been Waiting to Hear Your Voice"

8 May 2008

‘Birth Canal Blues’ CD by Anok Pe Current 93

1000 copies were released of this CD for sale on tour and via mail order only. It consists of one song in four movements, and is a demo of a piece that will be on the forthcoming album, ALEPH ON HALLUCINATORY MOUNTAIN in a very different form. The members of Anok Pe Current 93 on this release were David, Baby Dee and Andrew Liles.

Beautiful Current 93 poster by ‘Malleus’ for the Roadburn festival

We were very happy when famous poster designers MALLEUS asked C93 if they could design a poster, with suggestions from David on specific imagery, to commemorate C93's day at the Roadburn Festival. It is really very beautiful indeed. The poster was screen-printed by hand in a small quantity, and is available for purchase from the Malleus shop. Go to their English and Italian language site at www.malleusdelic.com and www.myspace.com/malleusdelic

4 April 2008

Marc Almond with Michael Cashmore: Gabriel and the Lunatic Lover

GABRIEL AND THE LUNATIC LOVER is the first release from a collaboration between Marc Almond and Michael Cashmore. This first release sets to music two poems by Count Stanislaus Eric Stenbock—the extraordinary 19th century gay writer whose bizarre life of decadence, drug addiction, alcoholism and poetry coupled with Satanic, vampiric and Catholic obsessions led to his early death at the age of 36 in 1895. His final years, it is said, saw Stenbock accompanied everywhere by a lifesize wooden doll that he called ‘le petit comte’ and which he believed to be his son.

This 2 track CD EP features vocals from the legendary Marc Almond, who needs no introduction whatsoever, with all of the music composed and played by Michael Cashmore, who is well-known from his extensive catalogue of compositions for, and recordings with, Current 93 and Nature & Organisation as well as a solo artist and collaborator, most recently working with Antony who appeared as vocalist on Michael's previous release ‘The Snow Abides’. This 2 track CD is housed in a beautiful full colour digipak containing previously unpublished paintings of Marc by Russian artist Vania Soutavliov, a rare photograph of the enigmatic Count, as well as the complete texts to the poems and all credits.

Please order from Jnana Records.

19 November 2007

ANOK PE

ALEPH AT HALLUCINATORY MOUNTAIN

+

ANOK PE

ADAM AT DOCETIC MOUNTAIN

Please note that the cover image shown is a mockup.
The actual cover will differ.

Current 93: The forthcoming CD and vinyl albums from Current 93 and its subscription edition

The new album by Current 93, which will be released in October/November to coincide with David's exhibition of new artwork is to be released in CD and 12" vinyl formats.

As with ‘Black Ships Ate the Sky’, there will be a special CD Subscription Edition available to those who support this work by ordering it and paying for it in advance.

The CD edition is entitled ‘ANOK PE: ALEPH AT HALLUCINATORY MOUNTAIN’. The vinyl edition is entitled ‘ANOK PE: ADAM AT DOCETIC MOUNTAIN’. The Subscription CD costs £50 plus postage and packing, and VAT where applicable.

Those ordering the Subscription Edition receive:

• A copy of the CD signed to them by David.
• An extra Dual Disc CD/DVD featuring extra music from the sessions not featured on the album, as well as footage filmed during the recording of the album. This will not be available elsewhere in any form.
• An enamel badge only available to those who have subscribed.
• Each purchaser is requested to submit a colour photograph of themselves. This photograph will be printed, along with the subscriber's name, in the CD booklet and as an insert in the vinyl edition with acknowledgement of their assistance and contribution. These photographs will appear along with the photographs of the band members. Please read these instructions before ordering this Subscription Edition and submitting your photograph.

‘Under the Rain and Teeth of Gods’: the endless journey of David Tibet's eternally delayed lyric book

I am very grateful for everyone's patience at the endless delays with this book. All of you have been so supportive; I have received only 10 requests for refunds, and all of those were courteous and friendly—and supportive too! I owe you all a great deal for your kindness.

As I desire that this volume is officially published at the same time as my art exhibition opens and the new C93 album is released, I have decided that all of those who have paid for, and thus supported this project by ordering in advance, either Edition I or Edition II of the volume will receive, with no charge whatsoever for the book or for airmail postage, a hand-printed book of 4 new works by myself. Each copy will be signed and numbered by me, and inscribed to the recipient if he or she wishes. This book will not be available for purchase from Durtro at any time ever.

I am hoping this small gesture from me will pay you all back in some small way for your immense support with this project—and, indeed, in all that I and we have done. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Needless to say, on publication the book will be posted to you all immediately along with the free CD that comes free to those who pre-ordered the book.

Anyone who does not wish to wait till this CONFIRMED publication date of October/November 2008, please get in touch and we will refund your payment IMMEDIATELY.

More details will be released of the free Subscribers' edition as soon as we have them in stock. I have been told by the printer that it will arrive at Durtro in mid-January/early February 2008. We will then make an announcement on Durtro explaining how people who have pre-ordered ‘Under the Rain and Teeth of Gods’ can contact us with details of their personal dedications, should they wish one.

David Tibet: his first solo art exhibition to open in London in October/November 2008

I have been approached by the director of a new art gallery in central London to hold my first solo exhibition of new artwork and installations, and their accompanying voices, in October/November 2008.

There will be a substantial catalogue of the artwork on show published at the same time, as well as other items connected to the exhibition, which will last for between 4 and 6 weeks.

David Tibet invited to collaborate with Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry on his forthcoming ‘Repentance’ album by his producer Andrew WK

I have been invited to contribute lyrics and vocals to a track on the forthcoming Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry album, ‘Repentance’, by my dear friend and beloved collaborator, and the album's producer, the inexhaustible Andrew W.K.. What more can I say except how honoured and dumbstruck I am. It doesn't get any better than this. Or any odder. www.myspace.com/leescratchperry  

David Tibet to appear in vocalic form on the forthcoming Chris Connelly album

David has recorded spoken vocals for the forthcoming album by Chris Connelly, whose previous album, ‘The Episodes’, was released on Durtro. Also appearing on the album are Shirley Manson of Garbage, actress Torri Higginson and David Miller of Finitribe. Titled ‘Forgiveness & Exile’, it is to be released in 2008. www.chrisconnelly.com and www.myspace.com/christopherconnelly

David Tibet contributes vocals and texts to the new Æthenor album

David Tibet sings and contributes lyrics on the forthcoming Æthenor album; other guests are Krisstoffer Rygg (Ulver) and long time Æthenor collaborator Alexander Tucker.

Tentatively titled ‘Faking Gold and Murder’ from a line in the text, Æthenor is the project of Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley: www.myspace.com/stephenomalley, Vincent de Roguin (Shora): www.myspace.com/shoraband  and Daniel O'Sullivan: www.myspace.com/danielohsullivan. A musician/composer/arranger with a classical background in piano and guitar, Daniel O'Sullivan has become known for subverting these mediums with his avant-rock bands, Guapo (Neurot Recordings) and Miasma & the Carousel of Headless Horses (Web of Mimicry/Rise Above Records).

David Tibet contributes texts to the new album by Eyvind Kang/Jessika Kenney/Randall Dunn/Attila Csihar

David has contributed lyrics to the forthcoming album created by these artists.

Attila Csihar is the vocalist in Mayhem and Sunn O))). Randall Dunn is a musician and producer from Seattle, Washington; a longtime collaborator of SUNN O))), he has also produced and made music with the Sun City Girls, Earth, Altar, and more www.myspace.com/randalldunn

Jessika Kenney is a vocalist and composer living in the Pacific Northwest whose singing emerges out of a wide range of experiences, particularly in Central Javanese sindhenan while living in Indonesia, and in Classical Persian music through collaboration with her teacher Ostad Hossein 'Omoumi (master of ney and vocal repertoire). She is exploring the possibility of the translation of essential meaning through singing, which honours language as sound and as a spiritual resource. Eyvind Kan: www.myspace.com/eyvindkang1 is a renowned contemporary composer and musician.

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