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 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Throbbing Gristle - The Secound Annual Report [Industrial Records - 2011]

It’s difficult to downplay the importance & influence of  "The Secound Annual Report"- the first slab of sonic terrorism and audio  depravity from Throbbing Gristle. It created & influenced the original industrial scene, it went onto influence and inform the noise scene & it’s many facets, and it has gone on to be a reference point for all manner of extreme, experimental & creative acts.  And this reissue proves that the album is still as powerful, unbalancing & shocking as it was 34 years ago when it original appeared.

This is the first of five double cd disc & vinyl  reissues of Throbbing Gristle’s original albums. Each of the cd releases feature an original remastered album on disc one, and on disc two a collection of new unearthed tracks from the period of the albums original release. The CD reissues come in a mini gatefold form, and feature short booklets taking in often unseen pictures & artwork from around the albums original releases.


It’s difficult to say much new or enlightening about such an influential, known & loved record such as this that hasn’t been said a million times before, but I’ll give it a go. On offer here is a collection of nine tracks, that take in both live recordings and studio tracks- sonically the tracks are a mix of noisy & ugly soundscapes that are built around discordant & unwell mixture of electronics, violin, guitar & bass. Added to this is sometimes is Genesis P-Orridge sleazy taking/singing, and media samples covering killers & other social depravity. The album really works well as one long noisy, disorientating, depraved & ugly ride- there are no really tracks in the conventional verse chorus setting here, the tracks are best described as unwell & dense sonic constructions , and the album as a whole is  more of a noisy, grim & unsettling  sonic freefall into the grey & troubled world of the UK in the  late 1970’s.

On the second disc there’s a selection of nine track in all from the period between 1976 to 1977. There are seven live recordings & two single b sides, and the most rewarding of the nine tracks are the live tracks which all show Throbbing Gristle in fine depraved form. A few of my favourite moments come in the form of “Last Exit” which mixers together police radio recordings, ugly bass & guitar chugs & wails, swirling & searing electronics, and Genesis P-Orridge ranting about been assaulted by someone with a brick and sex between the queen & prince Philip.  “Feeling Critical” which mixtures a disorientating brew of TV crime reports, various disconnected conversations, ugly guitar ‘n’ bass plods & wails, and the mumbling in & out sound of P-Orridge's voice.

All told this a nicely represented reissue of this classic piece of sonic terrorism, and the extras disc makes this  worthwhile on  it’s own for those who already own the album. I guess it would have been nice to maybe have some new linear notes from the surviving members about the time & the album making, but I guess it’s nice that they’ve stayed with the stark & simple feel of the albums original release.

Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5

Roger Batty
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