of ruine or some blazing starre

the broken heart of man


In the booklet, Tibet tells us that this album should be regarded as one whole piece. Thematically, all the songs dwell on the same subjects (religion/philosophy & faith (in...the inmost light?, though that is not yet mentioned)) and the acoustic music is very much alike on all of the songs, which makes this album one of the most soothing.

This might be considered as a downside referring to lack of variation, but is not. Though all the songs are more or less alike (musically), the differences arise (mostly) from Tibet's powerful yet gentle use of voice, Michael Cashmore's ingenious arrangements and Steven Stapleton's twists. The lyrics are progressive as they seem to present a turn in Tibet's life from a grieving goth to a man with faith.

Personally, this is the most powerful Current 93 album we have heard. There is not a single song that is a letdown. As an addition, the album introduced us to the poetry of Louis Wain and the paintings of Charles Sims. Both artists unheard of to us before and whose works we now wish to learn more of. Indeed, Mr. Tibet has excellent taste in art.



when all the world starts to shiver
and shimmer and shake all around me
and all the worldlight was piecemeal
and peaceless
this is the atomic pain of the worlds
the molecular tears
the final crystalline structure of misery




		a voice from catland
		steven and i in the field of stars
		the teeth of the winds of the sea
		moonlight, you will say
		into the bloody hole i go
		the darkly splendid world
		the cloud of unknowing
		let us go to the rose
		all the world makes great blood
		the great, bloody and bruised veil of the world
		into the menstrual night i go
		dormition and dominion
		so: this empire is nothing
		the shining shining world