Throbbing Gristle

Assume Power Focus (Hollow’s Hill)
by Nik Rainey

Ah Throbbing Gristle, those lovable, fascism-obsessed, used-tampon-wielding, Burroughs-worshipping, degradation-happy sonic provocateurs. Assume Power Focus is an early (1975) “political theory” from Genesis P-Orridge and f(r)iends, a noisome amalgam of chintzy electronics, denuded rock, and unreconstituted proselytizing (say that ten times fast, bubba), bookended by two otherwise unavailable self-pastiches from ’79. As a document of their industrial (by the original definition of the word; much of this sounds like rock ‘n’ roll as played by a possessed factory) beginnings, it remains audacious and occasionally threatening (one can only imagine how it played in even the most jaded of 1975 ears). As a political statement, this contains an early Gen-ifesto outlining his point of view with the fervid didacticism of a 20-year-old socialist speedfreak – you can ignore it if you choose, the music is seditious enough on its own terms.