''Allegory and Self: Illustrations in Sound'' is an
LP released by
Psychic TV in 1988 that comprises a varied selection of their work.
Several versions have appeared, including the original
picture disc (TOPY 035) and black vinyl (TOPY 038) versions in 1988 on Temple Records, Fundamental Records (SPIN 1006) and on pink marbled vinyl (666 copies). It has also appeared on
CD in at least two versions, on Spin and Cleopatra (CLEO94912 - with 3 bonus remixed tracks). It has also been reissued in
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
.
The cover graphics feature
Austin Osman Spare
Austin Osman Spare (30 December 1886 – 15 May 1956) was an English artist and occultism, occultist who worked as both a draughtsman and a painter. Influenced by Symbolism (arts), symbolism and art nouveau his art was known for its clear use o ...
's ''General Allegory'' and other illustrations from his ''Automatic Drawings'' and ''Book Of Satyrs''. In the original release there was included a book of what seems to be
P-Orridge's own Book of Satyrs, with very Spare-ish pen-and-ink drawings and illuminations and key lyrics, handwritten.
The track ''The Starlit Mire'' takes its title from the book of epigrams of the same title (written by two doctors, James Bertram and F. Russell), illustrated by Spare around 1910, in which his illustrations once more displayed his interest in the abnormal and the grotesque.
Track 6, ''Caresse Song,'' is a recording of Orridge's young mom daughter Caresse singing as she toys around with a keyboard.
The line-up for this recording included long-time PTV friend and collaborator
Monte Cazazza. According to allmusic.com, all compositions were co-written by
Genesis P. Orridge
Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (born Neil Andrew Megson; 22 February 1950 – 14 March 2020) was a singer-songwriter, musician, poet, performance artist, visual artist, and occultist who rose to notoriety as the founder of the COUM Transmissions arti ...
and
Alex Fergusson.
Reception
''
Trouser Press
''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference to ...
'' described "Godstar" (which is about musician
Brian Jones) as "a catchy pop single".
Track listing
12" vinyl
Side One:
#"Godstar"
#"Just Like Arcadia"
#"Southern Comfort"
#"We Kiss"
#"She Was Surprised"
#"Caresse Song"
Side Two:
#"Starlit Mire"
#"Thee Dweller"
#"Being Lost"
#"Baby's Gone Away"
#"Ballet Disco"
Personnel
*
Genesis P-Orridge
Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (born Neil Andrew Megson; 22 February 1950 – 14 March 2020) was a singer-songwriter, musician, poet, performance artist, visual artist, and occultist who rose to notoriety as the founder of the COUM Transmissions arti ...
*
Dave Ball
*
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson (; born 23 April 1958), also known as HÖH, is a musician, an art director, and '' allsherjargoði'' (''chief goði'') of Ásatrúarfélagið ("the Ásatrú Association").
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson was a pioneer in the use ...
*
Monte Cazazza
*
Rose McDowall
Rose McDowall (née Porter; born 21 October 1959) is a Scottish musician, forming Strawberry Switchblade with Jill Bryson in 1981.
History
McDowall was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1959. Her first venture into music was in the Poems, an art-pun ...
References
External links
''Rolling Stone'' book mentioning the album
Psychic TV albums
1988 compilation albums
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