Throbbing Gristle "Very Friendly" LP (Spurt 001) their first studio album, 1975

$

40

Baron Elmo proudly presents a provocative slab of vinyl brilliance from the gaping maw of sonic terrorists THROBBING GRISTLE: The First Annual Report of Throbbing Gristle: Very Friendly, recorded in 1975, finally unleashed twelve years later by the Spurt label. As the title indicates, this is the real debut LP from TG, cut back when they were a trio of Genesis P-Orridge, Peter Christopherson and Cosey Fan Tutti. (Their first released album was 1978's Second Annual Report.) These are crude, lo-fi, and incredibly vital  tapes that prove beyond a doubt how original and audacious Throbbing Gristle's art was from the very beginning, with the players using their lack of musical knowledge as an advantage rather than a handicap. It's an explosion of aural freedom that still sounds fresh nearly four decades later. According to legend, the album was recorded in 1975 and was held back by the group, who opted instead to debut with Second Annual Report, the album which established TG as the primary influence on what would later be termed industrial music. Very Friendly kicks off with what might be their all-time greatest performance, certainly one of their most crucial ones – the 18-minute title track, which occupies the entire first side. A blast of static noise pummels the listener relentlessly while Genesis relays the horrifying tale of Moors Murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady in his typically deadpan delivery. The piece evolves into a tape loop that Peter Christopherson winds into an incessant, nagging mantra for the closing three minutes. The remaining five tracks on Side Two can't help but pale slightly by comparison, though even there they dredge up plenty of that Gristly magic. For our money, this LP stands tall alongside any of Throbbing Gristle's official releases, and hardcore fans should consider Very Friendly to be a mandatory purchase. There was also a CD version, issued at the same time... but lets' face it, there's no way a mere compact disc can convey the dark power that lurks within the grooves of this rare vinyl edition. The front cover bears the Industrial Music logo, while the back is filled with juicy press clippings bemoaning TG as "the wreckers of civilization," and "maggots in the nest"... badges the band wore with pride. This LP was extremely limited, and has been out of print for more than twenty years. Both record and cover show slight wear, but the LP looks great and plays beautifully. The jacket has been stored in a protective sleeve since purchase, to preserve its lustrous sheen.

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Track listing
Very Friendly
Dead Bait
10 Pence
Whorls of Sound
Final Muzak
Scars of E