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I've often enjoyed Killing Joke, but never felt the need to investigate them deeply. Their post-punk sound thrills, but if I'm looking for that primal energy I turn to New Model Army. However this collection of BBC Sessions in which all 17 tracks are released in their live session form for the first time will appeal to hardened fans and the less devoted, like myself.
The versions of "Pssyche" and "Wardance" from 17.10.79 share the sound of early New Model Army. Mind you, that's hardly surprising considering both bands were collaborating with the BBC around the same time. "Nuclear Boy" has hints of The Clash. "Malicious Boogie" is throwaway nonsense which means I can easily imagine hearing it on John Peel's show. Faced with the stress of recording four songs in one day it's easy to imagine this was recorded in the last half hour, with the clock ticking. Killing Joke's sound has changed by 05.03.80, when the next session was recorded. "Change" has a dub/dance-based feel to it. Was singer Jaz Coleman in the Gents while this was being recorded? "Tomorrow's World" has a big empty sound, but in a good way. "Complication" is mellow. What happened in the five months between sessions? I like this more subtle sound. Fast forward another year to 27.04.81 and we see the fury levels rise again for "The Fall Of Because" which features some excellent drum work. With its 80s production it does sound as if the band are performing in a giant cavern, but I like that 'cold' and echo-y sound. That's how I remember the 80s being; cold and echo-y. It is against the laws of physics to write a languid song called "Tension". This is the sound of drinking too much coffee. Or possibly less legal substances. "Butcher" brings this session to a close. It's crunchy and doomy. Next up it's 16.12.81, starting with "The Hum", which once again reminds me of early New Model Army. It's full of prowling malevolence, which is what you want from Killing Joke. Anything else would be suspicious. "Empire Song" sees the band take a darker turn, with lyrics steeped in violence. "We Have Joy" is suitably uncompromising, but sounds more chaotic than listenable. "Chop Chop" turns out not to be an instruction to hurry up. Finally there's a bonus Richard Skinner session from 29.05.81. There's another version of "Tension". Then there's a rather longer than billed version of "Unspeakable". The sleeve says 2.53, my CD player says 4:44. It probably doesn't need to be this long. The CD ends with the appropriately named "Exit". |
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