- Orgasm (Cromagnon album)
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Orgasm 
Studio album by Cromagnon Released 1969 Recorded 1969 at A1 Sound Studio, New York City Genre Experimental, avant-garde, psychedelic rock Length 41:33 Label ESP-Disk Producer Austin Grasmere, Brian Elliot 2000 Re-release cover 
Orgasm is the only studio album by the experimental band Cromagnon. The album was later re-released in 2000 as Cave Rock.
Contents
Background and recording
Orgasm was recorded at A-1 Sound Studio in the Upper West Side of New York City in 1969. Phil Spector's Wall of Sound technique, which producer Brian Elliot was a fan of, heavily influenced the album's sound. During Orgasm's recording, band members would bring in random people off the street and ask them to contribute to the album.[1]
On the album's conception, band member Sal Salgado recalled:
“ The original concept of the album was to progress from different decades of music. Like, in ‘59 Elvis was shaking his pelvis and driving people — well, women — crazy. And adults as well, making them very upset. And then ten years later Hendrix was pouring lighter fluid on his guitar and getting a lot of great distortion out of his Marshall amps. And The Who was breaking up equipment. And then we were trying to carry it on to the next decade. We were going to say, maybe in 1979 there’ll be a group of people on stage that’ll be blowing through reeds of grass while someone is reciting some poetry, and another person is squirting water at a microphone on stage with a hose…[1] ” Release and reissues
Orgasm was originally released in 1969. The album was finally released onto CD for the first time in 1993 and was re-released three more times in 2000, 2005 and 2009.[2]
Musical style
Critics have noted how Orgasm anticipated the rise of noise rock, industrial rock, and no wave, genres that would come into existence in the following decades.[2][3] Alex Henderson of AllMusic described the track "Caledonia" as sounding "like it could be a Ministry or Revolting Cocks recording from 1989 rather than a psychedelic recording from 1969."[3]
Another critic, describing the album, said:
“ Now, when you stick the needle into the groove that is opener, "Caledonia", you'll immediately think you're listening to Einsturzende Neubaten gone black metal, then you'll realize you're WRONG and that there was no reference points such as that available in 1968.[4] ” Reception and legacy
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic 
[3]Piero Scaruffi called Orgasm "one of the most radical, futuristic and frightening albums of the era."[5] Allmusic's Alex Henderson wrote of the album: "Depending on one's point of view, Cave Rock is either a ridiculously self-indulgent artifact of the '60s counterculture or an underground gem that was way ahead of its time -- and it's probably a little bit of both."[3] Jennifer Kelly of Dusted Reviews agreed with Henderson, writing "There’s a palpable fog of self-indulgence hanging over the whole enterprise, a sense of weirdness for weirdness’ sake and lack of discipline or structure. Still, there’s no question that Cromagnon achieved something remarkable in its strange concoction of noise, spoken word, folk, electronics and field recordings."[2]
Pitchfork Media ranked the song "Caledonia" at number 163 on their list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s."[6]
In 2007, the Japanese band Ghost covered the track "Caledonia" for their album In Stormy Nights.[7]
Track listing
No. Title Length 1. "Caledonia" 4:21 2. "Ritual Feast Of The Libido" 3:26 3. "Organic Sundown" 7:10 4. "Fantasy" 7:19 5. "Crow Of The Black Tree" 9:40 6. "Genitalia" 2:45 7. "Toth, Scribe I" 10:38 8. "First World Of Bronze" 2:47 Personnel
The following people contributed to Orgasm[8]:
Band
- Austin Grasmere (lead vocals, music)
- Brian Elliot (lead vocals, music)
Connecticut Tribe:
- Peter Bennett (bass)
- Jimmy Bennett (guitar, bagpipes)
- Vinnie Howley (guitar)
- Sal Salgado (percussion)
- Nelle Tresselt (honorary tribe member)
- Mark Payuk (vocals)
- Gary Leslie (vocals, multi-sound effects)
References
- ^ a b Interview with Members of Cromagnon. WXCI. 10 December 2002. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ a b c Kelly, Jennifer Cromagnon - Cave Rock. Dusted Reviews. Jun. 29, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2011
- ^ a b c d Henderson, Alex. "Overview—Cave Rock". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r966068. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ Cromagnon - Orgasm Julian Cope presents Head Heritage. June 13, 2005. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
- ^ Scaruffi 2003, pg. 49, "Also, typical of New York's artistic milieu were Cromagnon (1), who released one of the most radical, futuristic and frightening albums of the era, Orgasm (1968)."
- ^ "Part One: #200-151". The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s. Pitchfork Media. August 14, 2006. http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/6400-the-200-greatest-songs-of-the-1960s/4/. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Overview—In Stormy Nights". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r938932. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
- ^ Cromagnon - Cave Rock. ESP-Disk
Further reading
- Scaruffi, Piero (2003). A History of Rock Music:1951-2000. ¡Universe, Inc.. ISBN 0-595-29565-7.
External links
Categories:- 1969 albums
- ESP-Disk albums
- English-language albums
- Cromagnon (band) albums
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