Ov Power!

 

Psychic TV - Force The Hand Of Chance [PSY 1 UK 2LP 1982 24-Bit FLAC]

Historically, I have made good sport of mocking Neil Andrew Megson. I think my judgement was soured by the PTV years where he just went out to take his desire to shock and appall even further. To a point Psychic TV were powerful and innovative (especially the first two albums), they then decided to claim to have invented acid house and then of course there was that Ian Curtis 'moment'. I was sad to hear of his death last year, which occurred about the same time that I was reading Cosey's revealing autobiography which painted a more disturbing image of the P-Orridge persona. 

The original Psychic TV were Alex Fergusson (often forgotten as the one genuine musician in the band), Sleazy Christopherson (more of a visual artist than a musician) and Genesis. Marc Almond contributes vocals on a couple of tracks, Andrew Poppy adds some lush orchestrals and if you make it through the Themes compositions (the bonus album packaged within), you will also have to put up with some contributions from David Tibet. 

Whilst ripping this album (my second using the Hana Shibata SL), I became enthralled in Terminus, a thirteen minute composition where some GPO poetic sickness gets blown away by guitar distortion and noise before evolving into summery English folk. It is quite a remarkable track - it was great to rediscover this track, especially as the sticky sweetness of Just Drifting and the sheer pounding punk-power of Ov Power have previously been considered my favourite tracks. 

Force The Hand Of Chance

A1 Just Drifting

A2 Terminus

A3 Stolen Kisses

A4 Caresse

B1 Guiltless

B2 No Go Go

B3 Ov Power

B4 Message From The Temple

Themes

C1 Part I. Piano And Clarinet.

C2 Part II. 23 Tibetan Human Thigh Bones.

C3 Part III. Cowbell, Bicycle Wheels And Vibes.

D1 Part IV. New Guinea Headhunters Pipe, Large And Small Drum.

D2 Part V. Piano And String Machine.

D3 Part VI. Recording Made At Jonestown, Guyana At The Time Of The Suicides.

D4 Part VII. African Initiation Drum And Animal Tusk Horn.

D5 Part VIII. Various Temple Bells, Gongs, Cymbals And Vibes.