Calling for Vanished Faces

by Skip JansenThis double-CD set is a fantastic compendium that chronicles 15 years of Current 93's work, with leader David Tibet selecting his picks from the group's extensive -- if considerably obscure -- back catalog. Hence, the double-CD set is vital to those who missed out on Current 93's ultra-limited LP and CD releases over the years, which have scarcely made it outside of the mail-order faction that surrounds the obscure British group. At over 140 minutes of music and with 15 songs on each CD, the collection gives a great overview of the group from its early industrial beginnings through the minimal "apocalyptic folk" of the late '90s. Listeners seeking an introduction to the expansive and diverse world of Current 93 should look no further, as there is an abundance of material here to aid in fathoming the extraordinary world of this underground group. Tibet has culled the choice cuts from the albums Dogs Blood Rising, Nature Unveiled, Lucifer Over London, Beauty Reaps the Blood of Solitude, Of Ruine or Some Blazing Starre, and All the Pretty Little Horses from the Current 93 catalog exclusively, with the exception of one outstanding track from the Spiral Insana collaboration with Nurse With Wound's Steve Stapleton. This awesome collection includes "The Starres Are Marching Sadly Home," sung by British folk legend Shirley Collins.