The Dead C

There may be stronger, or more coherent albums in The Dead C’s catalogue, but their self-titled effort, from 2000, is the fulcrum of their recording career (which, given the importance of the recorded artefact to both their development and their ‘way of being’, is a significant claim). It’s the point where they dove, head-first, into purely improvised music – no songs as shaky architecture – and as such, it’s key to understanding what makes The Dead C tick. Recorded over the preceding four years, it’s a testing, but exhilarating listen, one where the elements of their ‘music’, clanging guitars, a-rhythmic drums, percolating synths, all smelt down into something primordial and unyielding, as resistant to casual listening as it is compelling. Its wisdom is hard won, its core motive neatly summarised by a song title borrowed from UK post-punk group This Heat: “All Channels Open”.