Name: Allegory & Self
Brand: Psychic TV

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

SBR3020CD

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2017-07-14

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Secre­tly

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

616892495345

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Total Cap

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Psychic TV

Genre US

Experimental / Avant-Garde / Industrial / Noise

Label US

Sacred Bones Records

Psychic TV is a post-industrial supergroup that was formed in 1981 in Hackney, London. The band was founded by *a22533* and *Peter Christopherson* after the disbandment of Throbbing Gristle. They were later joined by *Alex Fergusson*, resulting in the creation of their classic album "[m=17374]" in 1983.

After the departure of Peter and John Balance to focus on their project Coil, Psychic TV's style shifted towards psychedelic or acid rock, which they referred to as "hyperdelic" rock. In 1987, Alex Fergusson left the band, leading to a return to more electronic-based music with contributions from artists such as *Fred Giannelli*, *Greedy Beat Syndicate*, and *Richard Schiessl*. Psychic TV became pioneers of acid house with fake compilations like "[m=17878]" and "[m=76308]", as well as various releases under different monikers.

The band faced challenges including constant touring, recording, a relocation to the USA in 1993, closure of their independent label Temple Records in 1994, and most notably, the separation from Paula P-Orridge. This left Genesis P. Orridge as the sole permanent member of Psychic TV. The name "Psychic TV & Genesis P-Orridge" was used for re-releases and experimental projects before Genesis formed The

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Beginning in 1982, the conceptual audiovisual troupe labeled Psychic TV set out on a multimedia journey filled with subversion, liberation, and rebellion. Materialized between Throbbing Gristle co-founder Genesis P-Orridge and Alternative TV songwriter Alex Fergusson, Psychic TV started pulling in familiar faces with the likes of Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson, Paula P-Orridge, Jhonn Balance, David Tibet, John Gosling and countless others. While the members’ previous works took root in the counterculture zeitgeist of late ’70s UK punk and conceptual art, it was no longer a question of how to rebel against authority, but rather how to carefully subvert it through collective infiltration. Parallel to Psychic TV, its members formed the anti-cult faction The Temple of Psychick Youth, further propagating the Psychic TV message and vision. While the ensuing years saw Psychic TV’s major label infection and record breaking live album release binge, it wasn’t until 1988 that the band started to ready itself for a chart-friendly pop endeavor in the form of Allegory and Self. This would be the band’s most notable and successful endeavor, but tragically, it would be the final songwriting collaboration between P-Orridge and Fergusson. Allegory and Self was a perfect storm of catchy pop melody along with subversive counter-culture reference and occult leanings, packaged in a perfect bundle of underground hits. The record’s opening track Godstar, a song gushing obsessive praise upon the fallen Rolling Stones member Brian Jones, would give the album its most notable identity. Godstar’s melodic hooks and haunting, Phil Spector-era lyrical chant gives into to all the hallmarks of a chart-topping hit. Just Like Arcadia and Being Lost follows in similar footsteps, charging along with a somewhat whimsical Beach Boys-esque pop quality. The album also contained a sneak-peak into what direction Psychic TV was heading into going forward, apparent in the acid house number She Was Surprised. Tracks like Starlit Mire and Thee Dweller reflect more of what the Psychic TV live experience was akin to in the ’80s, aggressive and hypnotic. All together, Allegory and Self would stand alone as the band’s signature apex from the original ’80s line-up.

Allegory & Self

Music US