Orgasm (Cromagnon album)

Orgasm (later reissued as Cave Rock) is the only album by the experimental band Cromagnon, released in 1969 by the ESP-Disk record label.

"Cave Rock" redirects here. For the rock formation in Nevada, see De’ek wadapush.
Orgasm
Studio album by
Cromagnon
Released1969
Recorded1969 at A1 Sound Studio, New York City
Genre
Length48:11
LabelESP-Disk
ProducerAustin Grasmere, Brian Elliot
2000 re-release cover

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, of which producer Brian Elliot was a fan, heavily influenced the album's sound. During recording, band members brought in random people from the street and asked 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 released onto CD 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 and no wave genres that came 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 Einstürzende Neubauten gone black metal, then you'll realize you're WRONG and that there was no reference points such as that available in 1968.[4]

Legacy

Allmusic's Alex Henderson writes 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 agrees 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 its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s".[5]

In 2007, the Japanese band Ghost covered the track "Caledonia" for their album In Stormy Nights.[6]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
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:[7]

Band
  • Austin Grasmere (lead vocals, music)
  • Brian Elliot (lead vocals, music)

Connecticut Tribe:

  • Peter Bennett (bass guitar)
  • Jimmy Bennett (guitar, bagpipes)
  • Vinnie Howley (guitar)
  • Sal Salgado (percussion)
  • Nelle Tresselt (honorary tribe member)
  • Mark Payuk (vocals)
  • Gary Leslie (vocals, multi-sound effects)
gollark: Lots of nebulae today, but no stuff I actually want.
gollark: NOOOOOOO!
gollark: What should I name my piero xenowyrm?
gollark: I'm hoping to get a bunch of shadow walkers this halloween.
gollark: I'm sure people willjust be able tobreedyou some.

References
  1. Interview with members of Cromagnon. WXCI. 10 December 2002. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  2. Kelly, Jennifer "Cromagnon – Cave Rock" Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine. Dusted Reviews, 29 June 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  3. Henderson, Alex. "Overview—Cave Rock". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  4. Cromagnon – Orgasm Julian Cope presents Head Heritage, 13 June 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  5. "Part One: #200-151". The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s. Pitchfork Media. 14 August 2006. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  6. Jurek, Thom. "Overview—In Stormy Nights". Allmusic. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  7. Cromagnon – Cave Rock. ESP-Disk
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