SWASTIKAS FOR NODDY

Swastikas for Noddy is notable in the Current 93 catalogue for being the definitive break from the industrial ambient tape loop-happy style of their earlier material - the moment where David Tibet dedicated himself to his new apocalyptic folk style with full force. Indeed, so sparse is the production on this that several of the songs sound like field recordings.

With that title, you know that controversy couldn't be far away, but aside from "Oh Coal Black Smith" (whose rape- happy title character might just be dark from the coal dust, but it's not entirely clear that's the case) and an audio snippet about how the Antichrist won't be Caucasian, there isn't as much coy playing with fascist/racist imagery as you'd find on, say, a Death In June recording from around this same time period (despite the presence of Doug P. and Boyd Rice) . Still, deeply uncomfortable subject matter is never far away (Beausoleil is a tribute to the electronic musician Bobby Beausoleil, famous mainly for being one of Charles Manson's band of killers). It's a deeply strange sonic artifact all round, but one which despite its moments of tastelessness and repetitiveness exerts a compelling power.