NATURE UNVEILED

This is one seriously confrontational album from Current 93. Nothing at all like their later work. The fact the it's recorded on four track only adds to the claustrophobic atmosphere. It's also the the most frightening album I own... by a long shot. Only Schloss Tegal's 'Oranur III' comes anywhere close.

Right from the outset on 'Ach Golgotha', chanting monks are sonically torn apart by animalistic growls of anguish and the tape manipulated vocals of David Tibet. On this recording he sounds like he's been possessed by Satan himself. The inclusion of snippets of an Aleister Crowley spoken recording only adds to the sense of impending doom.

There's a chunky, chopped piano sound, played with massive delay that sounds like it belongs in a 'Hammer Horror' film. What really sees this album hit it's heights are the vocals. They are intensely treated through echo filters and create the most malevolent sounds I've yet heard, despite being recorded 31 years ago. This is due to the very odd and instantly recognisable vocal style of David Tibet. He of the apocalyptic biblical texts.

Another plus is the fact that none of 'Nature Unveiled' sounds rushed. There's space between sounds which only adds to the disorientating bleak atmosphere of this Satanic disaster-scape. The frequent electronic screeches put another layer on top of what is already an intense sound. This would have been the perfect soundtrack to the 'The Exorcist'. Chants are slowed down and sped up amongst some chanting monks.

As far as tunes go, there ain't many. This one is a soundscape for tortured souls. There's a raw purity present that is sadly absent from most of Current 93's subsequent recordings. The cartoonish element is non existent. It's like they weren't even trying to sound 'dark' and 'spooky'. It just occurred naturally.

David Tibet takes a back seat in the vocal department on 'The Mystical Body of Christ in Chorazaim'. Annie Anxiety is centre stage and has her shot at scaring the pants off you. This track displays more screeching electronics and weird drills which are interwoven around her 'Diamanda Galas' like vocals. Mediaeval chants are looped amongst indeterminate and hugely stretched, shrieked voices. It's a challenging listen - even today.

To many this may sound like torture noise from the depths of hell. To me, it's one of my top ten albums of all time. Good old 'Throbbing Gristle' spawned more bands than they were ever credited for. Without them, this would more than likely never have happened.

The bonus tracks whilst being relevant and extremely odd in themselves are of poor quality, particularly the last two tracks which are actually bootlegs. They don't come anywhere close to the overwhelming brilliance of the original album.

As with many bands - their first release is best. The follow-up 'Dog's Blood Rising' while excellent, lacks coherence. 'Nature Unveiled' is tightly structured, with a definite vision of a final product.

This is a very original and unnerving recording and is perfect listening for a dark foggy Halloween night. Played at high volume - you certainly won't have any pesky kids knocking at your door asking for monkey nuts. They would not dare.

The stuff of nightmares made flesh.