"Meet The Residents was originally released in 1974, on the Ralph Records label. The tapes were monaural recordings on home equipment and suffered further fidelity loss in the mastering and pressing stages. In 1976, The Cryptic Corporation came into legal possession of The Residents recordings, and began working on how to restore these original tapes to studio quality. Using the master tape as a directive, the album was disassembled, reprocessed, and reconstructed into this stereophonic version. No re-recording was employed. The artists who appear on this recording have personally approved this as an authorized realization of the original LP." The Cryptic Corporation
flac This particular pressing is the first in a series of reissues. 12,000 copies were pressed once the 1000 original copies had sold out. It features the old Ralph logo on both front and rear with the split black and white 'a' of 'Ralph'. Also, and this is true of both this pressing and the following pressing of reissues, the rear cover is black and white with the original liner notes in a column on the left half and on the right half we have the picture of the original sleeve and tracklisting etc.
This particular pressing is the second in a series of reissues. 5000 copies were pressed. It features the old Ralph logo on the front with the split black and white 'a' of 'Ralph'. But on the Ralph logo on the rear cover the 'a' is completely black (on the first pressing of reissues this is also split). Also, the rear cover is black and white with the original liner notes in a column on the left half and right half we have the picture of the original sleeve and tracklisting etc.
This particular pressing is the third in a series of Ralph reissues. This pressing, which features the 'starfish' front cover, is different from the previous two reissues because aside from the front cover being a slightly darker orange the rear cover is not only completely altered, re-arranged and styled but, most obviously of all, is in colour, whereas the previous two re-issues were in black and white. It also features the modified Ralph logo with black 'a' on both front and rear cover.
Limited edition of 3500 copies released to celebrate the bands 13th anniversary.
"Deluxe Edition" on 200 gram vinyl with gatefold sleeve. A reissue (2003) of the 1974 Album with original cover. There was also a limited edition (500 copies) made on green vinyl.
Euroralph Reissue with original cover. Green vinyl, 500 copies with a printed/numbered inner sleeve Black vinyl, not limited / not numbered / no printed inner sleeve.
01.sebastian intro 02.invocation of almost 03.on docetic mountain 04.not because the fox barks 05.black ships ate the sky 06.with flowers in the garden of fires 07.baalstorm baalstorm 08.the nudes lift shields for war 09.mary waits in silence 10.falling back in fields of rape 11.in the heart of the wood and what i found there 12.whilst the night rejoices profound and still 13.dormition and dominion 14.niemandswasser
1 Intro (Afternoon Delight) 2 Invocation of Almost 3 On Docetic Mountain 4 Aleph is the Butterfly Net 5 Not because the Fox barks 6 Ur Shadow 7 Black Ships ate the Sky 8 I looked to the south side of the door 9 She took us to the places where the sun sets 10 The nylon lion attacks as Kingdom 11 Suddenly the living are dying 12 Niemandswasser 13 Band Introductions 14 Oh coal blacksmith 15 Sleep has his house
Drums, Percussion - Alex Neilson Electronics - Andrew Liles Vocals - David Tibet
Soundchecks 2 Invocation Of Almost 3 On Docetic Mountain 4 Aleph Is The Butterfly Net 5 Not Because The Fox Barks 6 I Looked To The South Side Of The Door 7 She Took Us To The Places Where The Sun Sets 8 UrShadow 9 Black Ships Ate The Sky
Bass - Keith Wood Guitar - James Blackshaw Piano - Baby Dee Recorded By - José Pacheco
Limited to 333 copies only available with "Aleph On Docetic Mountain" the hardback book.
Track 1 : original studio demo mix of "Adam At Docetic Mountain".
Tracks 2 to 9 : recorded live at the soundchecks on 16 & 17 May 2009 at Salon Teatro, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
1 I Looked To The South Side Of The Door (6:55) 2 She Took Us To The Places Where The Sun Sets (4:45) 3 The Nylon Lion Attacks As Kingdom (3:05) 4 Suddenly The Living Are Dying (5:30)
Limited edition of 200 hand numbered copies comes with the Birth Canal Blues book: 100 copies with crimson cover, 100 copies with white cover and additional 30 artist's proofs. CD in jewel-case with a 3D cover photograph with 3D viewing glasses. Recorded live at Roadburn, April 2008.
Current 93 Concert at Donaufestival, Krems, Austria Setlist on April 20, 2007
1.The Starres Are Marching Sadly Home (TheInMostLightThirdAndFinal) 2.Sunset (The Death of Thumbelina) 3.Black Ships Ate the Sky 4.Time of the Last Persecution 5.Alone 6.Idumæa (with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy) 7.Black Flowers, Please 8.Bind Your Tortoise Mouth 9.Larkspur and Lazarus 10.Niemandswasser 11.Calling for Vanished Faces II 12.Moonlight, or Other Dreams, or Other Fields 13.Sleep Has His House 14.Whilst the Night Rejoices Profound and Still
1.Judas As Black Moth 2.Time Of The Last Persecution 3.Mary Waits In Silence 4.Alone 5.The Signs In The Stars 6.Sunset 7.Black Ships In The Sky 8.Good Morning, Great Moloch 9.Niemandswasser 10.Mockingbird 11.Inerrant Infallible
The haunted night of the 14th of April at the Volksbühne theatre in Berlin was a tribute to the dark side of life and the bright side of death. Current 93, positioned on stage as if on the initiation of the performance of a ritual, indicated the trip from silence to chaotic audio expressions of sentiment.
In a show very similar to a funeral mourn full of Nostalgia and ritualistic character, David Tibet honoured with his poetry and music gone and beloved friends as John Balance bursting into tears twice during the show. The theatrical quality of Current ’93 managed to completely captivate the audience and the sonic integrity that came out of the creative collaboration of great musical personas as if emerging from untold darkness set the ambience of the evening. Baby Dee’s piano and David Tibet’s obscure and sorrowful vocals brought together in the sonic murky garden stimulated by the rest of the band – with extraordinary drumming of a new, young member - visually came through at the unforgettable moment of the hug between the two members.
Sat in the amphitheatre of the Volksbühne, moving back and forth was unavoidable led by magical motion to the point of standing up as close to the stage as possible to witness the confession that came through poetic sounds and images. First encore as expected, everybody sat still and insisting with applause. Second encore took place with half audience standing up queuing to the exits and still applauding. Current 93 up on stage again to perform the last song and the audience in chaotic positioning in an honest exchange of gratefulness between us and them.
1-1 Intro 1-2 Good Morning Great Moloch 1-3 5 Hypnagogue 5 1-4 While The Night Rejoices Profound And Still 1-5 Earth Covers Earth 1-6 Calling For Vanished Faces II 1-7 All This World Makes Great Blood 1-8 Mary Waits In Silence 1-9 Judas As A Black Moth 1-10 A Gothic Love Song 1-11 The Bloodbell Chime 1-12 Walking Like Shadow 1-13 Sleep Has His House 1-14 Time Of The Last Persecution 1-15 Long Satan And Babylon 1-16 A Sadness Song 2-1 Intro 2-2 Alone 2-3 Red Hawthorn Tree 2-4 All The World Makes Great Blood 2-5 The Signs In The Stars 2-6 4 Hypnagogue 4 2-7 Mary Waits In Silence 2-8 The Inmost Light Itself 2-9 Falling Back In Fields Of Rape 2-10 Whilst The Night Rejoices Profound And Still 2-11 Black Sun Bloody Moon 2-12 They Returned To Their Earth 2-13 So, This Empire Is Nothing 2-14 The Shining Shining World 2-15 The Blue Gates Of Death
Performers - Ben Chasny , David Michael Tibet , Graham Jeffery , John Contreras , Michael Cashmore , Simon Finn Notes: Recorded live at St. George The Martyr Anglican Church in Toronto, June 18 and 19 2004. These CDs contains both complete shows.
01-Time Of The Last Persecution 02-It Is Time Only Time 03-Maldoror Is Ded Ded Ded 04-Antichrist And Barcodes 05-Calling For Vanished Faces II 06-Hypnagogue 4 07-Black Flowers Please 08-Niemandswasser 09-Soft Black Stars 10-Mockingbird 11-Alone 12-Whilst The Night Rejoices Profound And Still 13-In The Courtyard 14-A Gothic Love Song 15-The Blue Gates Of Death
1 Halo (3:15) 2 Alone (6:27) 3 Mary Waits In Silence (3:10) 4 Calling For Vanished Faces II (5:05) 5 The Signs In The Stars (3:11) 6 All This World Makes Great Blood (3:47) 7 Good Morning, Great Moloch (3:57) 8 Whilst The Night Rejoices Profound And Still (4:27) 9 5 Hypnagogue 5 (2:40) 10 A Silence Song (5:45) 11 Sleep Has His House (3:33) 12 4 Hypnagogue 4 (5:00) 13 Fields Of Rape (3:10) 14 So: This Empire Is Nothing (3:30) 15 The Death Of The Corn (4:12) 16 Locust (5:43)
Front Cover Painting - Jennifer Maguire Cello - John Contreras Guitar - Joseph Budenholzer Guitar, Bass - Michael Cashmore Piano - Graham Jeffery , Maja Elliott Violin, Whistle, Recorder - Joolie Wood Vocals - David Tibet , Finn Sands , Karl Blake Limited to 1000 copies.
Recorded live at the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the South Bank, London, on October 9th, 2003. We would like to thank Cosey Fanni Tutti and Chris Carter for playing with us that night as Carter-Tutti, and Glenn Max and Jane Beese for organising the evening and being so kind to us.
1 Dreams Of Elysia (1:55) 2 Judas As Black Moth (3:40) 3 Larkspur And Lazarus (5:59) 4 A Gothic Love Song (4:02) 5 Whilst The Night Rejoices Profound And Still (4:53) Vocals - Antony (3) 6 A Sadness Song (5:47) 7 All The World Makes Great Blood (5:26) 8 Alone (7:06)
Recorded live at the Teatro Iberico, Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday 8th February, 2003. Extra vocals by Antony mistakenly credited on 'A Gothic Love Song'. This was a free CD with the initial print of David Keenan's book 'ENGLAND'S HIDDEN REVERSE'.
This is maybe the most exquisite capture of c93 concert one could dream of. 40 minutes of delicate piano and overwhelming singing, soft and tender as the birds at twilight. Sounds like a concert in front of ghosts. "The theatre is closed / and there is no applause." Imagine you were there, sitting in a corner like a small kitten, keeping quiet and silent... As if the slightest move would make those wild musicians run away from the stage. A second voice can soon be heard, almost unnoticeable, very far... Astonishing at the first listen ! But do not move yet, there are a few songs left to be heard... After those soft black pearls of huge beauty there is a weak version of A Sadness Song, too low paced perhaps, or sung with too much emphasis... Obviously weve heard this song so many times in so many different and beautiful ways... And Cashmores guitar palying is far too different from Majah Elliotts piano. Same thing for the next track, until the piano rises back, bringing an incredible and inexplicable brightness in the song. Again, the disc gives a deep emotional impact. "All this world makes great blood", indeed. The band closes the concert with an old hit, here revisited by the new crew. A droning guitar on repetitive piano chords, and Tibet who sings, alone. KAGEMUSHETTE, Oct 24, 2008
1 Antony And The Johnsons You Stand Above Me (1:36) 2 Antony And The Johnsons The Lake (4:48) Written By [Lyrics] - Edgar Allan Poe 3 Antony And The Johnsons Cripple And The Starfish (4:51) 4 Current 93 Judas As Black Moth (1:49) 5 Current 93 Sleep Has His House (2:54) 6 Current 93 Walking Like Shadow (3:27)
Recorded live at St. Olave's Church, London on April 5th and 6th, 2002.
Antony dedicates his performances in loving memory of Nellie Hegarty.
1 Larkspur And Lazarus (5:22) 2 Mockingbird (4:01) 3 Anti-Christ And Barcodes (2:03) 4 The Signs In The Stars (3:27) 5 Whilst The Night Rejoices Profound And Still (3:56) 6 A Gothic Love Song (4:11) Backing Vocals - Antony 7 The Signs In The Stars (3:30)
Recorded live at The Bloomsbury Theatre, London, on April 6 and 7, 2001. Mastered at Country Masters. The CD text says, that it is limited to 500 copies signed by David Tibet and Maja Elliott and 500 copies unsigned. The signed copies were not realised. So it is limited to 1000 unsigned copies. The CD comes in a digipak. There are no track titles given on this release.
1 Intro / Twilight Twilight Nihil Nihil (5:03) 2 Calling For Vanished Faces I (1:33) 3 The Death Of The Corn (5:47) 4 Horsey (8:47) 5 The Descent Of Long Satan And Babylon (3:15) 6 In The Heart Of The Wood And What I Found There (2:45) 7 Be (0:48) 8 Black Flowers Please (4:19) 9 Mary Waits In Silence (3:03) 10 Calling For Vanished Faces II (4:13) 11 Since Yesterday (3:19) 12 The Blue Gates Of Death (4:15) 13 The Bloodbells Chime (3:45) 14 All The World Makes Great Blood (3:40) 15 The Great, Bloody And Bruised Veil Of This World (4:49) 16 Dormition And Dominion / So: This Empire Is Nothing / This Shining Shining World (9:22) 17 A Sadness Song (4:30) 18 Happy Birthday (4:21)
Performer [Uncredited] - David Tibet , John Balance , Joolie Wood , Karl Blake , Michael Cashmore , Rose McDowall Notes: Live at the Union Chapel, London 1997. There are no tracktitles printed on the release.
1-01 In The Heart Of The Wood (And What I Found There) (3:42) 1-02 Calling For Vanished Faces II (4:16) 1-03 This Carnival Is Dead And Gone (3:17) 1-04 The Descent Of Long Satan And Babylon (2:49) 1-05 Black Flowers, Please (4:16) 1-06 Be (0:46) 1-07 All The World Makes Great Blood (3:47) 1-08 The Great, Bloody And Bruised Veil Of The World (4:40) 1-09 A Song For Douglas After He's Dead (4:55) 1-10 Horsey (8:40) 1-11 Happy Birthday Spooky Moonbeam (3:49) 1-12 Oh Coal Black Smith (3:25) 1-13 Dormition And Dominion (5:19) 1-14 So: This Empire Is Nothing (1:11) 1-15 This Shining Shining World (2:55) 1-16 A Sadness Song (4:17) 1-17 Lucifer Over London (3:43) 2-01 The Death Of The Corn (5:09) 2-02 Calling For Vanished Faces I (1:31) 2-03 Happy Birthday Peek-A-MoonBeam (4:05) 2-04 Horsey (10:08) 2-05 All The World Makes Great Blood (3:38) 2-06 The Great, Bloody And Bruised Veil Of The World (4:16) 2-07 A Song For Douglas After He's Dead (4:55) 2-08 Dormition And Dominion (5:26) 2-09 So: This Empire Is Nothing (1:17) 2-10 This Shining Shining World (2:44) 2-11 Oh Coal Black Smith (3:30) 2-12 Black Flowers, Please (4:32) 2-13 When The May Rain Comes (3:33) 2-14 The Blue Gates Of Death (4:30) 2-15 In The Heart Of The Wood (And What I Found There) (2:52) 2-16 A Sadness Song (4:23) 2-17 Christ And The Pale Queens Mighty In Sorrow (3:59)
Subtitled "Live In New York 1996". Live at The Orensanz Foundation, New York CD1: October 31 1996 CD2: November 1 1996
This album comes in a cardboard gatefold sleeve. The first 40 copies come in a mispressed cover (with unfinished flames), they were sold later directly by David Tibet.
(Introduction) Let Us Go To The Rose The Death Of The Corn The Signs And The Sighs Of Emptiness Alone Black Flowers Please A Lament For My Suzanne When The May Rain Comes Time Tryeth Truth All The Stars Are Dead Now (Wm. B) [durtro014] Hullo Angel The Descent Of Long Satan And Babylon The Blue Gates Of Death (Before And Beyond Them) A Sadness Song A Song For Douglas (After He's Dead) Imperium V [durtro014] Oh Coal Black Smith Happy Birthday Pigface Christus Personnel David Tibet - vocals Douglas P. - stick guitar, percussion and vocals Michael Cashmore - acoustic guitar James Malindaine-Lafayette - harp Rose McDowall - semi-acoustic guitar and vocals James Mannox - percussion and vocals Robert Lee - sound
This was a stunning and beautiful concert featuring the harp once again, opening with an instrumental introduction piece. Two tracks from this concert, "Imperium V" and "All the Stars are Dead Now (Wm. B)" were released on the live Hitler as Kalki CD in 1993. Thanks to Jose Pacheco for setlist information about this show.
1 Horsey 2 Panzer Ruin 3 Tree 4 Pigface Christus 5 Black Flowers Please 6 Oh Coal Black Smith 7 Hourglass For Diana 8 Rome For Douglas P 9 The Death Of The Corn 10 Time Tryeth Truth
01 - Intro 02 - Dögun/Fields of Rape 03 - Oh Coal Black Smith 04 - Black Flowers Please 05 - Imperium I 06 - Happy Birthday 07 - Behind the Rose (Fields of Rape) 08 - Imperium II 09 - Hello Angel 10 - Since Yesterday 11 - Be 12 - Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in Sorrow
A1 Falling Back In Fields Of Rape 0:43 Voice - Ruby Wallis A2 Hitler As Kalki (Rehearsal) 12:08 A3 The Sound Of Silence, Falling Back In Fields Of Rape, Maldoror Is Dead, Raio No Terrasu (Jesus Wept) 19:59 A4 When A Man Is Kicked, He Often Kicks Back 0:03 Voice - Ruby Wallis B1 Silence As Christine Under The Thunder Perfect Mind 5:45 B2 Red House 1:39 B3 A Lament For My Suzanne (Rehearsal) 4:59 B4 A Song For Douglas After He's Dead (Rehearsal) 7:52 B5 They Returned To Their Earth (For My Christ Thorn) (Rehearsal) 6:53 B6 Oh Coal Black Smith (Alternate Version) 0:16
Falling Back In Fields Of Rape : date of recording unknown Hitler As Kalki (Rehearsal) : recorded the 23 September 1990 The Sound Of Silence, Falling Back In Fields Of Rape, Maldoror Is Dead, Raio No Terrasu (Jesus Wept) : live at the Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, 28 December 1984 When A Man Is Kicked, He Often Kicks Back : date of recording unknown Silence As Christine Under The Thunder Perfect Mind : date of recording unknown Red House : date of recording unknown A Lament For My Suzanne (Rehearsal), A Song For Douglas After He's Dead (Rehearsal), and They Returned To Their Earth (For My Christ Thorn) (Rehearsal) : recorded the 22 September 1990 Oh Coal Black Smith (Alternate Version) : date of recording unknown
Liner notes: David Tibet, Hastings, 16 V 2010. Uwe Henneken, April 2010.
Limited edition of 231 copies. Durations don't appear on the release and are taken from the label's website.
A1 The Fall Of Christopher Robin (Alternate Version) 4:50 A2 To Blackened Earth (Alternate Version) 4:20 A3 Silence As Christine (Alternate Version) 7:16 A4 Father's In The Fields 7:44 Featuring - Magic Lantern Cycle A5 The Inmost Light / Patripassian Loop / Greensleeves (Alternate Versions) 7:20 B1 Westron Wynde (Alternate Version) 16:29 B2 Love's Young Dream 1:13 B3 In The Heart Of The Wood (And What I Found There) 3:36 B4 Earth Covers Earth 3:37 B5 Falling Back In Fields Of Rape 0:37 Voice - Ruby Wallis
The Fall Of Christopher Robin (Alternate Version) : date of recording unknown To Blackened Earth (Alternate Version) : date of recording unknown Silence As Christine (Alternate Version) : date of recording unknown Father's In The Fields (Alternate Version) : recorded in Japan The Inmost Light / Patripassian Loop / Greensleeves (Alternate Versions) : recorded 13 April 1995 Westron Wynde (Alternate Version) : recorded 13 April 1995 Love's Young Dream : recorded 13 April 1995 In The Heart Of The Wood (And What I Found There) : French radio session, 20 November 1991 Earth Covers Earth : French radio session, 20 November 1991 Falling Back In Fields Of Rape : date of recording unknown
Liner notes: David Tibet, Hastings, 16 V 2010. Uwe Henneken, April 2010.
Limited edition of 231 copies. Durations don't appear on the release and are taken from the label's website.
UNCLE WILLIE'S HIGHLY OPINIONATED GUIDE TO THE RESIDENTS
In 1979 the big musical battle line was being drawn between the punkoids and the disco divas. There had never been such cultural tension since the wars between the surfers and the greasers way back in the early ’60’s. The Residents had passed their own punk stage in 1976 with the release of “Satisfaction” and were feeling that disco, while using the studio in new ways, did not actually offer much in the way of depth. So they decided it was a good time to make the jump into world music, since by their own calculations it was not to become popular for several more years. They scanned the map for a proper culture to exploit and, not finding one, became discouraged until seeing a large Coke sign featuring Santa Claus. Immediately they realized they had overlooked the North Pole because it is made of ice and therefore not on their world map. One can only imagine the glee with which they rushed out to the library to gather all they could find on Eskimos. What they found was a government-issued book on Eskimo sanitation, a book of Eskimo legends, and one scratchy record of someone hitting a drum and chanting. Not exactly the rich cultural vein they had hoped to mine. But I guess it was enough, for it set the Eyeballs spinning off into their own imaginary world of six-month nights, frozen fish building blocks, and Eskimo sex lives. For almost four years the ideas tumbled around. Sometimes they would feel elated at some new breakthrough, but usually they moaned that the album would not only be dreary to listen to, but pretentious beyond belief. Just as it was nearing completion, a late night listening suggested that it was going to need more work and they took the tapes and disappeared to England where they met up with friends for whom they played the tapes in hopes of gathering some unbiased opinions. Respected musician and writer, Chris Cutler, who had played percussion on some parts of the album, took the masters to a bank vault and calmed the band down enough for them to remember that the album resulted from their decisions and a belief in the self is imperative, not the concerns of what others will think. Chris arranged for the masters to be returned and the album eventually came out. Instantly it became a hit, both in sales and in reviews, Andy Gill of New Music Express in London said, “I’m not sure quite how to convey the magnitude of The Residents’ achievement with Eskimo. What I am sure of is that it’s without doubt one of the most important albums ever made, if not the most important, and that its implications are of such an unprecedentedly revolutionary nature that the weak-minded polemical posturing of purportedly 'political' bands are positively bourgeois by comparison.“ He says this because the album tells the story, without relying upon words, about the assimilation of a ritualistic society into consumer society . This story unfolds as Eskimo fables, a lived experience, set to the grinding of sound effects and music. It is a mind movie rich with detail. Eskimo is, quite literally, a unique experience. - Uncle Willie
The Classic Avant-Garde Masterpiece. Still Slideshows and Text for all six titles.
1 The Walrus Hunt (4:01) 2 Birth (4:33) 3 Arctic Hysteria (5:57) 4 The Angry Angakok (5:20) 5 A Spirit Steals A Child (8:44) 6 The Festival Of Death (10:26)
1 The Walrus Hunt (4:01) 2 Birth (4:33) 3 Arctic Hysteria (5:57) 4 The Angry Angakok (5:20) 5 A Spirit Steals A Child (8:44) 6 The Festival Of Death (10:26
Recorded between April 1976 and May 1979. Artwork By [Original Graphic Art] - Poor No Graphics Drums [Precision Drumming] - Chris Cutler Performer [The Residents Assisted By] - Snakefinger Synthesizer [Inspired Synthesizing] - Don Preston
The first pressing of 10,000 copies came on white vinyl and says "FIRST PRESSING - 1979" on the inside of the gatefold cover.
