Episode: 218 - Genesis P Orridge

VHF-218 (Genesis P. Orridge) scratches the surface of the late and highly prolific English musician and philosopher’s musical collaborations. He she they seemingly lived every moment as if it were a grand performance art project or perhaps even an elaborate magical ritual. 

Pretty much inventing the concept of Industrial Music, Genesis, along with Peter (Sleazy), Chris and Cosey blew minds when they named their group Throbbing Gristle. The English music scene of 1977 had something of an existential crisis when Throbbing Gristle created mind altering sound collages out of bits of chopped up tape loops and processed news clips. Off kilter vocals weaved in and out of songs like a radio with a bad antenna. With songs like E-Coli and Hamburger Lady it was apparent that  this was no Pink Floyd Experience or Grateful Dead freakout. This was more like a Clockwork Orange future come true and it even scared the punks!

Like a lot of innovators the first incarnation of Throbbing Gristle called it quits after a few albums. Genesis created another group called Psychic TV that was more accessible but still full of Timothy Leary inspired lyrics espousing mind expanding consciousness. The message was now all about love and making it a good trip and living in a good vibration.

Genesis also jammed with a couple of the members of Skinny Puppy on their side project Download. Very High Frequencies will be playing a few of those trippy tracks too featuring Dwayne R. Goettel and cEvin Key.

This episode is just a bit of the yin and yang of Genesis P. Orridge. Occasionally annoyingly harsh and also capable of pitch perfect harmonizing on melodic pop songs, it’s a wild ride this episode of Very High Frequencies. You have been warned!