Search - Throbbing Gristle :: Assume Power Focus

Aural performance art

06/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Assume Power Focus contains only two tracks that the average music fan would consider "listenable" in the conventional sense of the term, A Debris of Murder and Leed's Ripper, both of which are mostly early drum machine. The other tracks consist primarily of noise and Genesis' ramblings with distorted instrumentation. What A Day! is a definite high point.Suburban middle school students who listen to nine inch nails and think themselves hardcore will not enjoy this album, however industrial they may like to be, but PTV and Throbbing Gristle enthusiasts will want this one for the collection.I have spoken."

Don't be fooled.

Aries | 12/13/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is not the collection of early tracks that it claims to be. Rather, it is a transparent cash-in consisting of tracks already available. The first and last "dancey" songs were actually made in the 90's using samples from TG tracks. Don't believe it? Check out the "Fractured Garden" album by Genesis's project Splinter Test. Many of the other songs on this CD are lifted directly from TG's live series. That said, it's not a bad CD. There is some great material there, but be aware that the liner notes are not to be trusted."

Throbbing Gristle - 'Assume Power Focus' (Triple X)

Mike Reed | USA | 10/15/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I give this CD a four star rating,mostly due to it's collection of extremely rare tracks,that to me sounds like most of them were mastered off a vinyl lp.A few scratches here and there,but that MAY very well be part of the appeal of this compilation.What first drew me to 'Assume...' is the fact their vocalist Genesis P-Orridge,of course had gone on to be in Psychic TV.The tunes "A Debris Of Murder" and "Leeds Ripper" were recorded in 1979 as the other tracks were laid down in 1975.I believe this was the basic idea that bands like Ministry,Chemical Brothers and perhaps Nine Inch Nails may've been shooting for when they first started playing.Check it out for yourself as Throbbing Gristle displays their own brand of industrial-like sonic noise.As for the disc's earlier cuts,I liked their obscure "What A Day!","Propaganda" and "Dead Ed"."