Released
1999

Label
Rasputina/Young God

Reviewed by
Mr. Greg

Contact


Last Edit/Update
11 July, 1999

Thee Angels of Light

New Mother

Track Listing

1. Fragment
2. Praise Yr Name
3. New Mother
4. Angels of Light
5. Inner Female
6. This is Mine
7. Shame
8. Intermission
9. The Man With The Silver Tongue
10. Real Person
11. Forever Yours
12. How We End
13. The Garden Hides the Jewel
14. Not Alone
15. Song for My Father
16. His Entropic Highness
17. Fear Of Death

The long-awaited release from Michael Gira's first project since the demise
of SWANS. Includes contributions by Christoph Hahn, Phil Puleo ( Cop
Shoot Cop), Bill Rieflin ( Ministry, NIN, Revolting Cocks), Michelle Amar
(Sulphur),Thor Harris (Lisa Germano),Larry Mullins (Iggy Pop), Bill Bronson
(of last Swans tour and now of his band Gunga Din) and Julia Kent

    Michael Gira has a forte which is vivid and undeniable; creating and effectively communicating varieties of self-loathing experience. His forthcoming album NEW MOTHER from his project The Angels Of Light is filled with self-denigrating and self- abusive material. Unlike the hollow sounds of punk or the fake anti-social posturing of noise, Gira's loathing and dark caverns are all too real. Working primarily with a soft sound and quiet vocals, his songs penetrate your skin, plant their  larvae, and leave you initially unawares. Only after several listens did I realize the absolute pathology and genius which underlie this great composition.
    NEW MOTHER opens up with a very, very brief track "Fragment." This leads into "Praise Yr Name," arguably the best track on the album. In this song Gira has synthesized a soft, sing along which reminded me of the church campouts of my youth. Only instead of singing praises to God or songs of peace, this felt like one of the last group-sings of Jonestown. Every time I hear this song I want to sing with it, but then realize how disturbing it is. This song captures what the album offers as a whole an experience of pathology that is just a little too friendly. You want to like the sickness.
    "Shame" is the next song which possesses a very powerful and eerie intensity. Composed of a strange synthesis of self-loathing and near-religious revelation, Gira apologizes to his mother for his own birth. The most beautiful facet of this track is the drone-like chanting of "SHAME!" Gira chants this like he's known his shame for a thousand years and is tired of repeating it, yet it is so intensely immediate and overwhelming that he is forced to emphasize it even more. Contrasting this intensity is a banjo plucking. Echoes of Southern culture gleam through with this one sound. Interestingly, the banjo maintains an almost objective detachment from the song. It is like the banjo is a full participant, yet is able to stand back and watch the intense drama unfold. The effect is amazing.
    After the brief track "Intermission," NEW MOTHER continues with the song "The Man With The Silver Tongue." When I attempted to analyze why I liked this song so much, nothing specific came to mind. There are good  lyrical images, great pacing on the vocals, and an enjoyable pace, yet nothing is particularly striking. The overall piece, however, is amazing. I wish I could explain it more clearly, but it is simply not possible.
    The overall effect of NEW MOTHER is one of an addicting, softly masochistic experience. The pain and suffering presented in the lyrics is contrasted by the brilliantly subtle and soft musical construction. I really enjoy listening to NEW MOTHER; it makes me happy listening to it, even though the specific lyrics are disturbing. Hopefully Gira will choose to continue in this direction, for his ability to construct a powerful, deceptive, and strong work are clearly demonstrated in this composition. I can only hope, however, that he recognizes his own brilliance soon enough and lessens his self-loathing. It must really hurt to be able to write this type of material.

Many thanks to Carl Abrahamsson and Genesis P-Orridge for enabling my introduction to Michael! Many thanks to Michael for sharing his works with T.D. Lord and me!

This review is protected by Copyright by Mr. Greg/ Das Romanie Booksellers 1999 and Last Sigh. Please ask permission from the writer to reprint.

Click the cover to read our live review of Thee Angels Of Light in July, 1999 New York City.


To read our interview with Michael Gira
Click Here