Album Review: XT-G - Desertshore/The Final Report

Persevering through the ashes of Throbbing Gristle after Genesis P-Orridge's premature abandonment, the three remaining members looked set to excite a new body of innovation with X-TG. The fact that many such gems will never see the light of day is but one facet of the immeasurable void that looms in the wake of Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson's untimely passing. And so it is that Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti have done a great service in bringing this project to fruition. 

Desertshore and The Final Report are somewhat odd bedfellows. The first is a 're-imagining' of Nico's influential album (w/ Fanni Tutti and a selection of guests fulfilling vocal duties), while the second is a darker and less structured body of sound that is closer in nature to latter TG outings. The two vastly contrast each other, but perhaps that's why their partnership works. With the exception of Sasha Grey's horrid performance, the guest vocalists mostly work quite well. Antony's effort on Janitor Of Lunacy is absolutely stunning, and Gaspar Noé is surprisingly effective on Le Petit Chevalier, but it is the subdued chorus of voices on Desertshores that win the day, helping to bring the album home on a real highlight.

Conceptually it may have made more sense to package Desertshore with its less-friendly, download only, remix companion, แฝดนรก (Faet Narok), however, this would have still resulted in a similar juxtaposition of roles. Perhaps the greatest injustice done here is that Faet Narok has been denied a physical release, because, as is the case with The Final Report, it is actually rather stronger than its counterpart.