When I first heard that Current 93 and OM were releasing a split EP, I tried not to get my hopes up as I was sure I was going to be disappointed. Luckily, the final product sees both groups in fine form. OM provide a trademark hypnotic mantra while Current 93 throw a curveball with an entirely unexpected piece that is heavier and sludgier than the vast majority of the Current 93 back catalogue.
“Inerrant Infallible (Black Ships at Ninevah and Edom)” continues the lyrical themes found on Current 93’s most recent album. Musically it has little in common with that album, apart from the grinding riffage found on the title track. In addition to some wonderfully bizarre vocals (ranging from the biblical to the hallucinatory to Reese Witherspoon), Tibet also contributes a great repetitive bass line and a shroud of dissonant guitars. Catriona MacAffer plays some powerful bagpipes which complement both Tibet and the mood of the song. This is further proof that Tibet is at the top of his craft right now.
On the other side, OM’s “Rays of the Sun/To the Shrinebuilder” is exactly what I was expecting from them. Al Cisneros provides some seriously killer bass and his lyrics, although still impenetrable, are better than on OM’s two albums. Chris Hakius’s drumming is impeccable as usual. I was a little disappointed with their last album, Conference of the Birds but this has dusted away any doubts that they had lost their way too soon.
Inerrant Rays of Infallible Sun (Blackship Shrinebuilder) is an imposing and impressive release. Current 93’s side is slightly better than OM’s but both are of a high quality. I look forward to the forthcoming CD release as I imagine this 10” will become well worn over the coming weeks.
samples unavailable, sorry
