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Minimal Man \ The Shroud Of [TWI 034]


Les Disques du Crepuscule presents an expanded CD edition of the debut album by Minimal Man, aka challenging American underground artist figure Patrick Miller, a figure of dark talent and vision who recorded 6 remarkable albums before his untimely death in December 2003.

Formed by Patrick Miller in San Francisco in 1979, the first iteration of Minimal Man cut two albums of dark industrial punk rock. Debut The Shroud Of was originally issued by Subterranean Records in August 1981, when the core of the band comprised a trio of Miller with Andrew Baumer and Lliam Hart. The album serves up 13 slices of dissonant electronics and 'anti-music', together with generous side-orders of isolation, insecurity, terror and black humour. Enjoy!

Guest musicians include Tuxedomoon alumni Steven Brown and Michael Belfer. Like Tuxedomoon, Miller would subsequently relocate from California to Europe where he continued as a prolific creator of music and visual art. His four European albums are Sex with God, Slave Lullabies, Hunger Is All She Has Ever Known and Pure. Passionate and volatile, Miller returned to California in the 1990s and died at home in 2003.

Digitally remastered, this expanded CD edition of The Shroud Of runs for over 60 minutes. The 5 bonus tracks are taken from rare 7-inch singles Two Little Skeletons and He Who Falls, the latter recorded live at the legendary Deaf Club in San Francisco in September 1979. The collection closes with compilation-only track Shower Sequence.

The booklet includes a detailed Patrick Miller biography, as well as examples of his unique visual art.


Tracklist:

1. Loneliness
2. Two People
3. High Why
4. Hospital
5. Blue Step
6. Hatemonger
7. Now I Want It All
8. The Hex of Sex
9. You Are
10. I Don't Resist
11. Jungle Song
12. She Was a Visitor
13. Two Little Skeletons
14. Tired Death
15. Shower Sequence
16. He Who Falls (live)
17. She Was a Visitor (live)


Available on CD and digital (MP3 and FLAC). To order please select correct shipping option (UK, EU or Rest of World) and click on Add to Cart button below cover image. Digital copies are supplied by link via email.

Or, you can order with the option of tracked shipping from our friends at Burning Shed (click here to order)

The Shroud Of [TWI 034]
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Reviews:

"Relentlessly dark and aggressive, Miller creates a cinematic ambience of high-contrast black and white. LTM have done an excellent job on this reissue, including hard-to-find bonus tracks and some of Miller's excellent paintings reproduced in the booklet, with a detailed biography. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the rest of the discography" (Brainwashed, 2005)

"In much the same way as Suicide and The Pop Group, the use of the most rudimentary instruments and production has meant that what may have seemed unlistenable and frightening 20 years ago now seems important. And still pretty frightening. As compelling as it is disturbing, the shock tactics used on this record are skilfully deployed, putting today's 'provocative' acts firmly in their place" (Leonard's Lair, 2004)