Killing Joke, anyone..?

[Mothra]

A friend of mine recommended me KJ's most recent album, 'Pylon', which I'm listening to at the moment and is just superb.  I really need to investigate this band further.

Now, I'm not a complete KJ newbie (I've previously owned 'Brighter Than A Thousand Suns', 'Pandemonium', 'Killing Joke (2003)' and 'Democracy') and am aware of other stuff they've done.  But they seem to be a band that I've somehow muchly skipped over when I should have been delving deep into their oeuvre.  I love to hear great music that is new to me.  These days, as an old bugger, I struggle to find 'new' acts that tickle my fancy, so 'acts that I've overlooked' it is!   

Sidenote.  I did once see KJ live, Finsbury Park 1991 (?) when they were third on the bill behind The Mission and NMA (Henry Rollins played fourth) but I was so immensely, heroically drunk that I remember nothing about it!   

So.  Any of you lovely lot got any favourite albums / songs / opinions?  Love or hate Killing Joke?  Anything?  I'm always looking to fall in love with some music and Killing Joke might just be my new ticket...   

Having pooped on Placebo, I should add some balance.  I love Killing Joke.  Even the crap stuff (Outside the Gate in particular) has a certain allure to it that makes me give it more chances than perhaps I should. 

I first heard them in 1994 when Geordie and Jaz reunited with Youth for the 'Pandemonium' album, so that is a high water mark for me (combo of personal discovery along with what is generally seen as a return to form).  Nothing since then has been anything less than good, and the first two albums, along with Nighttime pretty much essential for me. 

They have a compilation called 'Laugh ... I Nearly Bought One' that was the second of theirs that I bought and still stands up.  Around the mid-90s many of their albums weren't readily available so this lasted me for years until everything gradually got reissued.  It's a good gateway (as is 'Killing Joke for Beginners', which covers lots of ground without resorting to the obvious tracks).  They have had a lot of labels, managers and deals over the years, meaning there is a lot of half baked albums out there.  It's a messy back catalogue, but that's been part of the enjoyment for me.

[malderor]

Speaking of Killing Joke, they're embarking on a world tour for their 40th Anniversary, including a slew of UK and US dates. 

http://www.post-punk.com/killing-joke-announce-laugh-at-your-peril-40th-anniversary-tour-including-us-dates/

And, since nobody has mentioned it, a couple of years ago they released an album of experimental dub versions of many of their singles from over their career, remixed by Youth.  "Killing Joke In Dub."  Some tracks are old dubbed out b-sides, and some were brand-new mixes.  While not for everyone, it was my absolute favorite record of 2014.  Deep, neighbor-inciting bass and interesting 'industrial' dub, sort of like Scorn, only better.  Here's a sample.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSve0o8xJRQ

(Best on a BIG sound system. It was released on red black and green vinyl, too.)

Steve

[Rusco]

Ok, Malderor that sounds very interesting to me. Gotta take a look at the album.

[malderor]

Well, like I said, I love it, but I also like industrial dub a la Scorn, Dubblestandart, Techno Animal, etc. Most of the songs are largely unrecognizable, having been altered so deeply from their original forms, but they retain the unmistakable audio "fingerprints" of Youth, somehow.  Since I've heard "Love Like Blood" and "Eighties" so many times over my lifetime, I was happy to hear them reinterpreted in new ways.

Steve

[Rusco]

Great! Me too I'm a dub geezer  . Love the stuff Scorn (M.Harris) does and Techno Animal too. Have you heard an album called Vevé, by Harris, Laswell and Bernochi? Crackin good stuff.

[malderor]

No, but it'll be next on my morning playlist after some album called "Winter" I'm giving a spin alongside my coffee. Cheers.

[Master Ray]

Shit, Killing Joke are touring the UK? At a couple of my favourite venues...   

[MARKXE]

Thoughts on this 40th Anniversary merch.
As an occasional listener who has a few of the early albums I think its ok, but a lot of seasoned fans seem to be rather miffed on the book of face.
I suppose if I already had everything it would be a different story.

https://www.killingjoke.co.uk/

[lostockboy]

Yes definitely going to see KJ.  Seen them 3 times previously and they didn't disappoint

[Pol]

Oh Glasgow barrowlands Nov 6 .
No real thoughts on the merch, if you're a fan you would already most of it . If nma were to do the same most of us would think the same.  £550 for the vinyl box seems ott to me tho.

[Master Ray]

Dependant on how the cash situation goes, I'll deffo be doing Manchester, Nottingham or London... 

[Master Ray]

Let it be known that I've decided that I'll be seeing Killing Joke in London this November with me best mate. Probably make a mini-break of it of it and do other London related stuff. Can't wait!

Here's 'Democracy' if you fancy listening to an awesome track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXZSF13pM-I

 

[Master Ray]

So, reactivating this thread! KJ are on tour in the UK right now, anyone going to any of those gigs?  I'm off to that old London town on Saturday, can't wait!   

[lostockboy]

I went to see them in Manchester last week and thoroughly enjoyed their performance which was peppered with some brilliant life observations from Mr Coleman in  between songs.  A pretty descent turnout and my audio recording of their show turned out to be very listenable as well.   

[Master Ray]

I went to see them in Manchester last week and thoroughly enjoyed their performance which was peppered with some brilliant life observations from Mr Coleman in  between songs.  A pretty descent turnout and my audio recording of their show turned out to be very listenable as well.   

Cheers, mate, that made me all the more excited for Saturday!  I'll get back to you with a review!