Dreams Less Sweet

Dreams Less Sweet is the second studio album by English experimental band Psychic TV, released in 1983. It was the last Psychic TV album to feature co-founder Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson.

Dreams Less Sweet
Studio album by
Psychic TV
Released1983 (1983)
RecordedFebruary–March 1983[1]
Genre
Length43:20
LabelSome Bizzare
Producer
Psychic TV chronology
Force the Hand of Chance
(1982)		 Dreams Less Sweet
(1983)		 Those Who Do Not
(1984)

Recording

The album was recorded using Zuccarelli Holophonics technology, a binaural recording system optimized for headphone listening also used by Pink Floyd on The Final Cut. The band took advantage of the spatial effect (sometimes described as 3D) achieved by Holophonics to record in unusual locations like The Hellfire Club caves, Christ Church in Hampstead, and Caxton Hall.[4]

"Always Is Always" is the Charles Manson composition also known as "Always Is Always Forever" and "I'll Never Say No to Always".

"White Nights" incorporates lyrics derived from the last sermon of cult leader Jim Jones.

The "Eden" suite incorporates a recording of body art pioneer Mr. Sebastian reassuring Psychic TV associate John Balance about a tattoo he is about to give him.[4]

A demo version (with vocals by Fergusson) of "The Orchids", surfaced on 1984's Pagan Day under the title "Cold Steel".

Release

It was released in 1983 by record label Some Bizzare. The album was released in Holophonic sound. Early copies came with a limited 12-inch EP, Thee Full Pack, containing additional unreleased tracks.

The cover is a photograph of an orchid with a ring inserted in the manner of a genital piercing.

In 2013 Angry Love Productions reissued Dreams Less Sweet as in a limited edition run of 1,000, 320 of which were pressed on red vinyl and also featured an extra CD with bonus material and a 12-page booklet with liner notes by Psychic TV's leader Genesis P-Orridge.[5]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Trouser Pressfavourable[2]

Trouser Press called it "another remarkable record, no less appealing for its equally abundant bizarrity. [...] PTV display an ineffable mastery of avant-garde dadaism as well as traditional musicmaking. Like tuning into a radio station overrun by university-educated acid-freaks, Dreams Less Sweet provides a thoroughly unpredictable and unsettling, yet profound, experience."[2] Dreams Less Sweet, according to the Industrial People blog, "approaches the idea of an album with a unique formula. Force the Hand of Chance was a song album. Most of its ten tracks follow a recognizable song structure, containing lyrics, enjoyable melodies and even the occasional verse/chorus/verse structure. Dreams Less Sweet is more like a series of vignettes, sound sketches designed to set a mood or transport the listener to a place".[6]

Track listing
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Hymn 23" 
2."The Orchids" 
3."Botanica" 
4."Iron Glove" 
5."Always Is Always" 
6."White Nights" 
7."Finale" 
8."Eleusis" 
9."Medmenham" 
10."Ancient Lights" 
11."Proof on Survival" 
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Eden 1" 
2."Eden 2" 
3."Eden 3" 
4."Clouds Without Water" 
5."Black Moon" 
6."Silver and Gold" 
7."In the Nursery" 
8."Circle" 

Personnel
Psychic TV
Additional personnel
  • Andrew Poppy – original choral and orchestral arrangements
  • Geff Rushton – bass guitar, performer (vibes), kangling, Tibetan singing bells
  • Paula P-Orridge – drums, performer (vibes), percussion
  • David Tibet – kangling, bells, singing bowls
  • Monte Cazazza – vocals and lyrics in "Iron Glove"
  • Jeremy Birchill – bass vocals
  • Anthony Scales – tenor vocals
  • Rob Scales – tenor vocals
  • Mark Lintern Harris – counter tenor vocals and recorder
  • Simon Limbrick – marimba, snare drums, percussion (Temple Blocks)
  • Chris Redgate – oboe, English horn
  • Jessica Ilbert – oboe, English horn
  • Andy Calard – trumpet
  • Bill Stokes – trumpet
  • Dave Powel – tuba
Technical
gollark: But the commercial ones for some bad™ reason have high-power OLEDs and such.
gollark: There are some decent hobbyist-ish ones with memory LCDs and such.
gollark: That's actually an example of bad.
gollark: I would be very worried if it was less than a day.
gollark: That's too short.

References
  1. Dreams Less Sweet (LP sleeve). Psychic TV. Some Bizzare Records. 1983. CBS 25737.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Robbins, Ira. "TrouserPress.com :: Psychic TV". TrouserPress.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  3. Ankeny, Jason. "Dreams Less Sweet – Psychic TV | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  4. "Julian Cope presents Head Heritage | Unsung | Reviews | Psychic TV - Dreams Less Sweet". Julian Cope presents Head Heritage. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  5. "Psychic TV's Dreams Less Sweet Reissued". AdHoc.fm. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  6. "Dreams Less Sweet". Industrial People. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
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