Various ‎– The Elephant Table Album (A Compilation Of Difficult Music)

Label: X Tract ‎– XX 001, X Tract ‎– Xx1
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: Industrial, Experimental

The Elephant Table Album - a compilation of difficult music… aside from having the best album title ever, this cult 1983 compilation put together by UK music journalist Dave Henderson serves as one of the most comprehensive surveys of the Industrial underground and a perfect entry point into the mycelial network of subterrainian 80’s artists working on the fridge.  The concept of ‘difficult music’ maybe makes less sense now than it did in ’83, but a glance of who’s involved is enough to tempt anyone in, showcasing a snapshot in terms merging together some artists who went on to become leaders in their field and others who vanished without trace.  Highlights are a plenty, but personal preference leads me to the lurking avant-folk from short-lived mystery act Metamorphosis, Coil’s slo-motion 909 creeper, ‘Milena Jesenska’ from Muslimgauze that’s plucked from the raw / punkier era of his oeuvre, or the droning, hallucinogenic tape-loop fuckry from Organum man David Jackman.  No doubt, a few bits sound dated, but there’s more than enough to justify the entry ticket.  If you only ever bought one industrial record ever kinda thing.. iconic artwork by NWW’s Steven Stapleton too.. (NM / VG+)

Tracklist
A1 –Portion Control Chew You To Bits
A2 –Chris And Cosey* Raining Tears Of Blood
A3 –Metamorphosis Muzak From Hawthorne Court
A4 –Coil S Is For Sleep
A5 –Nurse With Wound Nana Or A Thing Of Uncertain Nonsense
B1 –400 Blows Beat The Devil
B2 –Konstruktivits* Andropov '84
B3 –Lustmørd* The Boning Of Men
B4 –Muslimgauze Milena Jesenska
B5 –David Jackman Edge Of Nothing
C1 –SPK Despair
C2 –MFH Vox Humana
C3 –Nocturnal Emissions Suffering Stinks
C4 –Attrition Dream Sleep
C5 –Legendary Pink Dots* Surprise, Surprise
C6 –Paul Kelday Birth Of Planetesimals (Extract)
D1 –Bourbonese Qualk Under The City
D2 –Sirius B (2) Build Your Children
D3 –New 7th Music New Humanity Switchboard (Extract)
D4 –We Be Echo Alleycat
D5 –Bushido Modelwerk