OMG ... Throbbing Gristle

I had no idea that TG was still around. First discovered its music on a late 70s noontime walkaround at my UCLA job. My rediscovery came in a most unexpected way: while reading blogs this morning on the subject of CF/Flex/Railo/Air programming, an off-topic post by a kindred programmer from San Francisco mentioned that he was going to attend a reunion concert next week of these legendary (perhaps to a rather small cult-ish following, including the art world) punk powerhouses. And, as you might guess from the band's name they also had some memorable album cover art -- if I can find mine or some somewhere, I will consider posting a scan, but it might be a bit intense ... Anyway, take a listen here, and you will see that Throbbing Gristle was probably way ahead of its time, and a big influence on music to follow:



TG's label, Industrial Records, makes this statement:

Industrial Records began as an investigation. The 4 members of Throbbing Gristle wanted to investigate to what extent you could mutate and collage sound, present complex non entertaining noises to a popular culture situation and convince and convert. We wanted to re-invest Rock music with content, motivation and risk. Our records were documents of attitudes and experiences and observations by us and other determinedly individual outsiders. Fashion was an enemy, style irrelevant.

Here's what the Ann Powers says in the Los Angeles Times:

Throbbing Gristle: Coachella is known for helping reunite alternative-rock elders, but rarely is a returning group as foundational to a style of music as is this English outfit. More than 30 years ago, Throbbing Gristle basically invented industrial music, melding synthesizer music with found sound and provocative, sometimes repulsive imagery to push punk into its darkest future. Its members continued to shape the genre in groups such as Psychic TV and Chris & Cosey, but this return to the source allows fans to participate in a collaboration that's essential and consistently inventive.

To learn more about TG, visit their website.