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Master Release

Shortcut Code: [m82838]
Data Quality Rating: Needs Vote
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4.42 / 5 (79 votes)

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Current 93 / HÖH* - Island

Genre:
Electronic
Style:
Industrial, Neofolk
Year:
1991

Tracklist

Falling 4:22
The Dream Of A Shadow Of Smoke 5:21
Lament For My Suzanne 4:19
Fields Of Rape (Sightless Return) 2:51
Passing Horses 4:26
Anyway, People Die 7:04
To Blackened Earth 4:14
Oh Merry-Go-Round 3:45
Crowleymass Unveiled 7:38
Paperback Honey 4:53
The Fall Of Christopher Robin 4:52
Fields Of Rape And Smoke 2:49
Merry-Go-Round And Around 3:46

Versions

Title, FormatLabelCat#CountryYear
Island (CD, Album) Durtro DURTRO 006CD UK 1991
Island (LP, Ltd) Durtro DURTRO 006 UK 1991
Island (LP, Ltd, TP) Durtro DURTRO 006 UK 1991
Island (CD, Album) Durtro DURTRO 006 CD UK 1993
▸ show all 1 review

Reviews & Discussion

Review by thezovietdada May 09, 2008

referencing Island, CD, Album, DURTRO 006CD

This is Current 93's "electronic" album, but a perhaps more apt description is that it's their 4ad album. It's what you'd expect from that description, lots of absolutely spine-chillingly beautiful moments ("Falling," "Anyway, People Die") and a fair share of cheesy synth pop ("Crowleymass"). Also, the instrumentation is reminiscent of 4ad greats like This Mortal Coil or especially that 1987 Pieter Nooten & Michael Brook album, "Sleeps With the Fishes." Lots of digital synth pads, bells, and strings, with an austere neo-classical or Arvo Pärt-esque composerly approach. Really any instruments that amp the emotionality up as much as possible. While I know Crowleymass is supposed to be a comedy song, against the other intense, somber works of the album, it's a sour note. Nevertheless the first four songs of the album still nearly bring me to tears, it is definitely reminiscent of Iceland to me (Ísland is Icelandic for Iceland), a special place of crisis, pilgrimage and transition. Things I'm sure it meant for David Tibet as well.