I liked an album called Seven Songs by 23 Skidoo that I purchased when it was released in the early eighties. The band then seemed to have disappeared. Recently I found out that they changed their name to Current and have released several albums under that name.

Does anyone know anything about thes albums?

Are they worth buying?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

One of my claims to fame was booking 23 Skidoo and the early (circa "Skank Bloc Bologna") Scritti Politti for an Anti-Apartheid Group benefit in North London.

As well as Seven Songs, Skidoo released an album called The Culling is Coming, which is pretty poor, and Urban Gamelan, which isn't, off of which they released an extremely good 12-inch mix of the track "Coup".

Haven't heard any of their recent material, although I know they were recording for a while under the name Ronin, and ran a label called Ronin Records. Pharoah Sanders guests on their most recent record, I hear. Seven Songs was reissued on CD a while back, adding material from their very good 12-inch "The Gospel Comes to New Guinea".

-- Ian

Hello again Hans

I am also a follow of the Skidoo releases - I think I have most or all of them.

Seven Songs and New Guinea are favourites.

The new LP ' 23 Skidoo' and the associated single did not reach the standards set in the earlier releases IMHO.

I was hoping for a return to the metallic sparse funk, like the Pop Group, Slits, Gang of Four, but it wasn't like that.

What's your theory on where thier name came from?

DS

ITC - Rockers Revenge - Walking on Sunshine

What's your theory on where thier name came from?


Pure guess about the "23" bit would be Aleister Crowley, the occultist much namechecked by Throbbing Gristle/Psychic TV (who used the number 23 a lot) and the rest of the industrial scene:

http://www.simoniff.com/203/

No idea about why Skidoo, however.

-- Ian

23 skidoo is a classic puzzle in etymology. It was turn-of-the-century slang for "Let's get outta here!", and gained popularity up through the 1920s. "Skidoo" is likely a shortened version of "skedaddle", itself probably adapted from "scatter" and/or "scuttle". The 23 part is harder to trace; "23" was a popular Morse code sign-off, used by telegraphers to say "you can go now, message over".

There are many other theories.

Very enigmatic Kasper!

23 is reputed to have mystical properties, as reported by WS Burroughs, Crowley, and picked up by the Industrial Culture groups and movement.

There are several explanations, as you point out.

DS

Thank you for your input.

dss, I have no idea about where the name comes from though kasperhausers theory sounds plausible.

What about the group Current? Is there a connection or am I misinformed?


Hans

I don't know a group Current. Are you thinking of Current 93? If so, David Tibet had been in both groups, Current 93 are also an industrial group formed in the same period and still making records.

-- Ian

Yes I do think I mean Current 93. Are they any good?


Hans

I'm not that keen, but lots of people are.

-- Ian

I really used to like C93, but ended up flogging the cds after I had copied the ones I like. David Tibet's voice is very distinctive and tbh not very good and I think wether you'll like C93 depends a lot on how you get on with his voice.
Early C93 is inustrial/noise and later he does a more folky thing, always laced in religious imagery and nursery rhymes (he seems to have a fascination with Noddy for some reason)
A good place to start would be a double cd-set called Emblems which is a sort of compilation featuring new and old C93 songs. Thunder Perfect Mind and Earth Covers Earth I seem to remember were pretty good too. Probably 'cause they feature Rose McDowell (of Strawberry Switchblade fame) whose voice I really like.
Have you considered trying some Coil? Love's Secret Domain and Horse Rotorvator are both v. good.

Hans & Others,

I am also keen on Current 93, and thier first LP 'Nature Unveiled' is one of my all time favourites. I have dozens of releases by them, but not all. The release a LOT of material, sometimes in absurdly limited editions.

I am not aware of any commonality between them and 23 Skiddoo, other than as mentioned before, there shared a similar scene.

Perhaps the only connection I can see is that 23S were on Fetish records, who also released some Throbbing Gristle LPs, who split and Genesis P. Orriidge and Peter Christopherson formed Psychic TV, who included David Tibet, who left to form Current 93. Christopherson formed and still runs Coil (see above)

David Tibet and Stephen Stapleton (Nurse with Wound) seem to be the core of the group, but they have been joined by many others through the years.

Now, will you like them? Hmm, they have had a least two or three phases, from very scary industrial gothic chanting to loopy looping soundscapes to apocalytic folk music, sometimes just with Tibets singing and a guitar.

Think of a crucified Noddy singing to a crew of cats, thats the idea.

The Emblems CD mentioned rightly above is a good starting point to dip your toe, as it covers a wide expanse of thier career.

DS

OTD - Acrid Abeyance - Exposure ep

I am not aware of any commonality between them and 23 Skiddoo, other than as mentioned before, there shared a similar scene.


David, Tibet was a member of 23 Skidoo for a while. (He's on The Culling is Coming IIRC.)

-- Ian

Ian,

I bow to your knowledge!

I dug out The Culling, and there he is!

So there is a specific connection.

I don't see him listed on any of the others?

DS

ITC - Tuxedomoon - Time to Lose

Nowadays I only have Seven Songs, Gospel Comes to New Guinea and Tearing Up the Plans and AFAICT he's not on any of those.

-- Ian

As I understand 23 Skidoo was the follow up book to Catch 22 by the same author, I'mafraid I can't tell you anymore than that.

Afraid not rexel, Joseph Heller never wrote a book called 23 Skidoo.

-- Ian

Just found this thread; saw 23 Skidoo in the early 80s, one of the worst bands I've ever seen.

Sorry and all that.

Ha, I think they are highly underrated.

OK I admit their return with Pharoah Sanders was weak and inessential, but what about 'Tearing Up the Plans' and all those early goodies.

I thought 23 Skiddoo was a WS Burroughs reference - I remember it from one of his books.

DS

Blimey, a thread that's > 4 years old.

David Tibet is now one of my neighbours, trivia fans.

-- Ian

Say hello from me, with all the records and CDS I have bought with him on I must have at least paid for his trousers

Unless they part of an expensive suit, or are a designer pair.

DS

Hans & Others,

I am also keen on Current 93, and thier first LP 'Nature Unveiled' is one of my all time favourites. I have dozens of releases by them, but not all. The release a LOT of material, sometimes in absurdly limited editions.

I am not aware of any commonality between them and 23 Skiddoo, other than as mentioned before, there shared a similar scene.

Perhaps the only connection I can see is that 23S were on Fetish records, who also released some Throbbing Gristle LPs, who split and Genesis P. Orriidge and Peter Christopherson formed Psychic TV, who included David Tibet, who left to form Current 93. Christopherson formed and still runs Coil (see above)

David Tibet and Stephen Stapleton (Nurse with Wound) seem to be the core of the group, but they have been joined by many others through the years.

Now, will you like them? Hmm, they have had a least two or three phases, from very scary industrial gothic chanting to loopy looping soundscapes to apocalytic folk music, sometimes just with Tibets singing and a guitar.

Think of a crucified Noddy singing to a crew of cats, thats the idea.

The Emblems CD mentioned rightly above is a good starting point to dip your toe, as it covers a wide expanse of thier career.

DS

OTD - Acrid Abeyance - Exposure ep

Nearly 20 years ago I interviewed David Tibet, Peter Christofferson and Jhon Balance of Coil, Genesis P Orridge and various other sound manipulators for Sounds and then NME.

I don't believe I ever interviewed 23 Skidoo, although I definitely saw them play live when Seven Songs was released.

Other than Skidoo I haven't played any of the various performer's music for years. And I don't miss it at all.

Jack

Jack,

I must have read some of your articles, I was a keen NME supporter for 20 years

Bet you didn't get the Throbbing Gristle 25 CD TG24, the 10 CD TG+, the 12 CD Desertshore Installation or the 7 DVD TGV sets then?

DS

Didn't Sketch, the bass player from Lynx (singer David Grant now on that dire tribute band show on tv) join 23 Skidoo or was that in a strange parallel universe where real events were somewhat altered by smoking too much weed? btw the bass line on Lynx's "throw away the key" was, for me, one of the highlights of early 80s pop.

Kevin

Coil have just released a ltd edition of 'The Ape of Naples' through Important records in the states. A 4xlp box with some pretty artwork by all accounts. I couldn't help myself and ordered two!

Sleazy is based in Thailand now and in in recovery from a manky illness. He may be able to help you if you are on the look out for TG rarities.........worth a try?

Yes, Peter is a big fan of slim Thai boys.

He has released a CD of the Threshold House Boys Choir.


I liked Linx, and even had a solo LP from Sketch. Very Poor, as I recollect.

DS

OTD - Perc - Headphone Heart

The THHBC is excellent although the accompanying dvd is tough going if you aren't ready for a shedload of self mutilation ;)

Didn't Sketch, the bass player from Lynx (singer David Grant now on that dire tribute band show on tv) join 23 Skidoo or was that in a strange parallel universe where real events were somewhat altered by smoking too much weed? btw the bass line on Lynx's "throw away the key" was, for me, one of the highlights of early 80s pop.

Kevin


Hi,

Sketch did indeed join 23 Skidoo after Linx split up.

Dean

I liked Linx, and even had a solo LP from Sketch. Very Poor, as I recollect.

DS



Hi,

I like Linx. they had a number of catchy pop soul songs in the early 80s. "You're lying" and "Intuition" were two big ones for them.

Not heard any of Sketch's solo efforts. David Grant (lead singer of linx) had a solo career in the 80s plus had a few big hits with Jaki Graham. He went on to do session work and now is a vocal coach. He has been on a number of those Fame academy type shows.

Dean