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Almost thirty years on since their inception from the ashes of performance art troupe/media guerrilla cell Coum Transmissions, Throbbing Gristle’s challenging, expressive and self-empowering manifesto’s and music are as relevant today as they were back in the bleak mid 70s. This, the first ever collection of Throbbing Gristle remixes – Mutant TG – highlights just how significant they still are.
As historically important during their active period of 1975 – 1981 as contemporaries Can, The Sex Pistols and Kraftwerk, TG’s influence on today’s electronic music (from experimental production techniques and confrontational live shows to independent promotion via their own Industrial Records label) runs far deeper than they are often credited. Throbbing Gristle were the first group to fully deliver on punk’s failed promise to explore extreme culture as a way of sabotaging systems of control – beginning with rock music itself. However, where punk ranted against rock while playing a debased version of the same, TG were very consciously anti-rock ‘n’ roll. In many respects Throbbing Gristle as artists, self-promoters, marketers, label runners/owners and music makers broke the mould on every level and decentralized the whole music making process into their own hands. A feat that everyone from Atlantic Jaxx to Underground Resistance owe at least a passing nod.
It is therefore no surprise that some of today’s most notable figures in electronic dance music jumped at the chance to re-work some classic TG catalogue. Whilst Planet E man Carl Craig and Basement Jaxx’s Simon Ratcliffe may not at first glance seem obvious, TG fans both have indeed been gristlised over the years with Simon Ratcliffe further citing TG’s Second Annual Report as one of the influences that helped shape the new Jaxx opus. So the pair have returned the favour and updated “Hot On The Heels Of Love” with two different dancefloor bound versions whilst the French/US collaboration behind Motor turn Persuasion into a pulsing, radioactive piece of sonic sound sculpture. Having made the first Sabres of Paradise record as a cover/homage of Throbbing Gristle’s United, Mr Andrew Weatherall was more than eager to pepper the original with some unique spastic magic and with trusty Two Lone Swordsmen recording partner Keith Tenniswood the job was indeed delivered under a dark smoke plume with fire in its belly.
From a world of free parties, performance art and punk attitude Hedonastik turn “What A Day” into a psychotic dub fueled mantra and Carl Craig shows his more experimental side via “Still Walking” with a mix that reverbs and coil’s around itself like a trapped snake. Finally, two of TG’s original line-up – Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti make mincemeat of “Hamburger Lady” and turn two tracks into one with “HotHeelsUnited.”
And if that wasn’t enough TG action; Chris Carter, Peter Christopherson, Genesis P-Orridge and Cosey Fanni Tutti have announced that they will briefly regroup to present RE~TG, a weekend of music, art, film and performance culminating in an exclusive set by THROBBING GRISTLE.
The location will be Pontin’s Holiday Resort, Camber Sands, Sussex, UK. RE~TG will take place on 14th-16th May 2004.
Further releases include TG+ released on the 26/1/04 which will contain CD releases of the final ten live Throbbing Gristle shows and is the companion to the legendary TG24 box set.
Then later in the year a best of, The Taste of TG – A Beginner’s Guide To The Music Of Throbbing Gristle will be released in May 2004.
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