Aided by the ever-present Steve Stapleton, the multitalented Michael Cashmore, and Phoebe Cheshire who provided occasional vocal accompaniments, Tibet managed to skilfully construct an album brimming with subtle sounds and ideas which come together to produce an immensely dense and complex framework of lyrics, music and atmosphere.  On initial listens ‘Of Ruine..’ seems to be simply an expansion of the folk-esque sound that Current 93 had started to be renowned for, and in simplistic terms this could be correct.  And yet this album is so much more than that.  It sees a true coming-of-age for Current 93.  Tibet seems immensely comfortable with himself and his music, life and beliefs and this is projected through the immensely compelling essence of ‘Of Ruine..’.

With the coupling of acoustic guitar and Tibet’s own unique vocals taking centre stage throughout the majority of the album, it instantly takes on a very narrative feel with the listener being privy to a tale being told.  With the acoustic guitar compositions carrying along Tibet’s vocals perfectly, they become a wonderful union, complementing each other time and time again.  These are subtly framed with immensely delicate fragments of sounds and drones, which add a great depth to their delivery and makes the overall sound a lot thicker and multi-layered.  Also, the addition of  Phoebe’s vocals works fantastically well, adding a sublimely bewitching edge to the album’s presence whilst conjuring up a faint 70s tinge to the proceedings, which every now and again seem to strike a thread of similarity to the atmosphere and sound of the ‘Wicker Man’ film and its accompanying soundtrack.  However this is fleeting, but still present, and only seems to strengthen the very nature and aesthetic of the album and add another dimension to its delivery and presence.

With a running time of around 49 minutes, the liner notes state that ‘Of Ruine..’ should be considered as one piece, which is helped by the narrative form of the lyrics and the structures of the tracks.  However, this also makes the album slightly less instantly accessible, with its outer shell being hard to penetrate without some perseverance.  Yet once you manage this the rewards are aplenty, as this album demonstrates the skill that Tibet has in producing some truly incredibly moving and enchanting music.

With the inclusion of standout tracks like the beautifully sublime ‘All The World Makes Great Blood’ nestled within the album, it’s immensely difficult not to lose yourself in its spine-tingling presence, before you’re slowly seduced by the remainder of the album. 

As I listen to ‘Of Ruine Or Some Blazing Starre’, I find it more and more seductive and alluring.  The seemingly simplistic folk sound of it is wonderfully captivating, as are Tibet’s vocals which keep you spellbound throughout.  There’s also a beautiful timelessness about it,  making the album feel as if it could have been recorded yesterday as opposed to being released in 1994, which again only helps demonstrate Tibet’s skill as a musician and in driving Current 93 forward.

The original release having been unavailable for many years now, this re-issue of ‘Of Ruine..’ will no doubt be immensely well received by the legions of Current 93 fans who have been itching for this seminal recording to become available again.  For those not familiar with Current 93’s work, this perhaps isn’t the best jumping-on point, but if you’re willing to take the plunge here, then the work you’ll need to put into it will be outshone by the rewards you’ll reap.

With revised artwork and liner notes, this re-issued edition of ‘Of Ruine..’ is a wonderful additional to Current 93’s back catalogue, and like the ‘The Inmost Light’ trilogy re-issue, will send waves of excitement through Current’s fanbase, as it feels like you’re discovering these recordings for the very first time.  

I wait with bated breath for the next instalment in the series of re-issues, and for now will relish the sublime charm of ‘Of Ruine..’ again and again.

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