Throbbing Gristle’s Twenty Jazz Funk Greats by Drew Daniel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A serious work about a serious work. Er, the book was impressively done on this still-controversial TG experiment that, like the band that influenced so many that came after. Many attribute the founding of the industrial rock movement to Throbbing Gristle yet I’d wager those not around when post punk exploded who may fancy themselves 2nd and 3rd wave industrial music fans would be shocked to hear what such experimental music typically sounded like in the 1970s. They wouldn’t be likely to recognize much of early industrial as they listen to groups popularly labeled or affiliated with industrial music, such as NIN, Rammstein, later Ministry, not to say related groups like KMFDM, Front 242 or whatever passes for industrial these days.

Sometimes TG isn’t “easy” to listen to for some people. I think that’s hardly the point. It wasn’t supposed to. It was art. Social/cultural statements. The advancing of synth and synth pop when combined with actual industrial tools, noises, sounds, etc. It could be jarring (Neubauten) or straight synth that sounded “off” (Chris & Cosey). David Lynch created a wonderful, though usually overlooked, film called Industrial Symphony starring Julee Cruise that I first saw splayed across the walls of Atlanta’s Masquerade club many decades ago. The film’s set was pure dystopian, the music haunting, and I’d argue an early movement was visually defined for those who “didn’t get it.”

Yet even then, while Throbbing Gristle remained influential, they really didn’t last long enough under that name to become a household name in the industrial home. (I’d argue early Skinny Puppy borrowed heavily from them, enough for many who didn’t know better to view them as the fathers of industrial music.) Nope, sorry. Bands like TG and early Cabaret Voltaire are owed such a title. As for this album, I confess to much confusion when I first heard it long ago. And hence, this book – though a bit dry – could have been invaluable to me as I explored this music ultimately sporting a legendary title, cover and songs.

Recommended.



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