Pigface - Gub

PIGFACE - GUB

Can a final product be as good as its component parts? In the case of Pigface the answer, unfortunately, is no. Pigface is a supergroup made up of assorted members of various Industrial groups: Martin Atkins (Killing Joke & Ministry), William Rieflin (Ministry & Revolting Cocks), En Esch (KMFDM), Paul Barker (Ministry & Lead Into Gold), Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks & Ministry), Ogre (Skinny Puppy), William Tucker (Ministry & KMFDM), David Yow (The Jesus Lizard & Flipper), Matt Schultz (KMFDM) and produced by Steve Albini (Big Black). A veritable plethora of Industrial giants, right? Can’t be to shabby, right? Uh…not quite. 

Don’t get me wrong, (boy, am I fond of that saying!), the album is pretty good, especially if you are really into percussion. It is a drum lover’s dream. Both Martin Atkins and William Rieflin are two of the best drummers in existence. And they prove it very well on GUB. This is their album. 

GUB is replete with pounding beats and atmospheric percussion. It is a highly experimental album in that it uses many new and unconventional instruments such as a Tapeworm, A.T.G., oscillators, cameras, loops, tape recorders, intrusions, and Howard Johnsons (?!?). The vocals provided by Ogre, Reznor, Esch, Connelly, Barker and Yow are equally challenging and creative.

The problem with this album, as I see it, is that it seems that Pigface has tried a bit too hard to be “different” . Because of this, they have released an album so inaccessible as to make it very hard to listen to. So hard in fact, that when I first bought the tape down at Vintage Vinyl in Fords (major plug!), I totally hated it. (Remember that, Joe?) I thought it was the most self indulgent, unrhythmic piece of crap I ever heard. But after a couple of listens to it, I have to come to really like it… nay, LOVE IT. 

But that is exactly my point. I only came to love this record after forcing myself to listen to it a few times. Many people won’t even give this album a chance after hearing the first two songs: “Tapeworm” and “Bushmaster”. This is a shame, but it can be very understandable given the material at hand. Not many people have the patience that is required to enjoy Pigface . But Pigface  wouldn’t care. They would probably say: “Fuck them!” And I would agree. 

This album is fucking brilliant. Choice cuts on GUB are “Tailor Made”, “Little Sisters”, “Tapeworm”, and most definitely “Suck”, which I first heard live at the Nine Inch Nails show at The Academy. Trent Reznor’s howling: ‘How does it feel? Suck! Suck! Suck!” was beyond compare. or so I thought until I saw Ogre’s rendition at the Pigface concert last Sunday night at City Gardens. Boy, he blew me away! As much as I love Trent “When is my next album coming out?” Reznor, I think Ogre should have sung the album version too instead. 

Still, though I love GUB by Pigface, I also see it as a missed opportunity , given the musical background of everyone involved. It would have been cool had they explored the dancier side of Industrial music that they all share. I can imagine how great a big club song would have sounded on this album. 

Alas, I will not complain too much, lest I incur the wrath of some Industrial god or another. Hey, speaking of gods, where the hell was Alain “I’m involved with every group” Jourgensen during the Pigface recording sessions? Hmm. Verrrrry Strange! Everyone probably got sick of his meddling and decided to leave him at home. 

Anyway, if you are a percussion fanatic or just plain looking for a few new thrills, buy GUB  by Pigface, out it on an auto-restart Walkman, press play and have someone you trust tie you down to a chair.  I guarantee you will eventually love it. I did and I still have the rope burns to prove it!