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{{ref improve|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Infobox album
| Name = Force the Hand of Chance
| name = Force the Hand of Chance
| Type = studio
| type = studio
| Artist = [[Psychic TV]]
| artist = [[Psychic TV]]
| Cover = Force_Chance_Cover.jpg
| cover = Force_Chance_Cover.jpg
| Alt =
| alt =
| Released = {{Start date|1982}}
| released = {{Start date|1982}}
| Recorded = 1982
| recorded = 1982
| venue =
| Genre = <!-- Please do not add unsourced genres -->
| Length =
| studio =
| genre = [[Post-punk]], [[psychedelic rock]], [[Avant-garde music|avant-garde]], [[Experimental music|experimental]]
| Label = [[Some Bizzare Records|Some Bizzare]]
| Producer = {{flatlist|
| length = 47:01
| label = [[Some Bizzare Records|Some Bizzare]]
| producer = {{flatlist|
* [[Ken Thomas (record producer)|Ken Thomas]]
* [[Ken Thomas (record producer)|Ken Thomas]]
* Psychic TV
* Psychic TV
}}
}}
| Last album =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| This album = '''''Force the Hand of Chance'''''<br/>(1982)
| Next album = ''Themes''<br/>(1982)
| next_title = Themes
| Misc = {{Singles
| next_year = 1982
| Name = Force the Hand of Chance
| misc = {{Singles
| Type = studio
| name = Force the Hand of Chance
| Single 1 = [[Just Drifting]]
| type = studio
| Single 1 date = 1982
| single1 = [[Just Drifting]]
| single1date = 1982
}}
}}
}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Themes
| type = studio
| artist = [[Psychic TV]]
| cover = PsychicTVThemesAlbumCover.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1982
| recorded = 1982
| venue =
| studio =
| genre =
| length =
| label = [[Some Bizzare Records|Some Bizzare]]
| producer =
| prev_title = Force the Hand of Chance
| prev_year = 1982
| next_title = [[Dreams Less Sweet]]
| next_year = 1983
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternate cover
| type = studio
| cover = Themes_1_Cleo.jpeg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = ''Themes Part 1'' Cleopatra Records re-issue cover.
}}
}}
{{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name = Themes
| Type = studio
| Artist = [[Psychic TV]]
| Cover = PsychicTVThemesAlbumCover.jpg
| Recorded = 1982
| Released = 1982
| Genre = <!-- Please do not add unsourced genres -->
| Length =
| Label = [[Some Bizzare Records|Some Bizzare]]
| Producer =
| Last album = ''Force the Hand of Chance'' <br /> (1982)
| This album = '''''Themes''''' <br /> (1982)
| Next album = ''[[Dreams Less Sweet]]''<br/>(1983)
| Misc = {{Extra album cover
| Upper caption = Alternate cover
| Type = studio
| Cover = Themes_1_Cleo.jpeg
| Lower caption = ''Themes Part 1'' Cleopatra Records re-issue cover.
}}
}}
}}


'''''Force the Hand of Chance''''' is the debut studio album by English [[experimental music|experimental]] group [[Psychic TV]], released in 1982 by record label [[Some Bizzare Records|Some Bizzare]]. The first 5,000 pressings came with a bonus album, '''''Themes'''''.
'''''Force the Hand of Chance''''' is the debut studio album by English [[experimental music|experimental]] group [[Psychic TV]], released in 1982 by record label [[Some Bizzare Records|Some Bizzare]]. The first 5,000 pressings came with a bonus album, '''''Themes'''''.


A single, "[[Just Drifting]]", was released from the album.
A single, "Just Drifting", was released from the album.


== Release ==
== Release ==


The album has a complex reissue history. In 1994, the Tempus Records label issued it on CD. Tempus retitled it ''Force Thee Hands ov Chants'', packaged it with a completely different cover design (P-Orridge's 1980's collage "Twisted"), and credited it to Genesis P-Orridge and Psychic TV. The Tempus edition includes four bonus tracks and a second CD titled ''Blinded Eye in the Pyramids'' featuring music created by Genesis P-Orridge and Fred Giannelli in 1988.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://brainwashed.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7135&Itemid=1|title=Brainwashed - Psychic TV, "Force the Hand of Chance"|last=Whitney|first=Jon|website=brainwashed.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-07-06}}</ref>
''Force the Hand of Chance'' was released in 1982. The initial 5,000 pressings included an additional album, ''Themes'', and a poster. A single, "[[Just Drifting]]", was released from the album.


It was issued on CD by Cleopatra Records in 1995 with a different cover, bonus tracks taken from the ''Just Drifting'' 12-inch (the 7-inch B-side was not included) and the bonus 12-inch from the ''[[Dreams Less Sweet]]'' album, but missing all of the ''Themes'' LP. The sound quality was very poor and some tracks were remixed. A later reissue by Some Bizzare spread the same material (with the same flawed mastering) over two discs. A 2-CD set of the complete original 2-LP set was issued by WEA Japan.
It was again issued on CD by Cleopatra Records in 1995 with a different cover, bonus tracks taken from the ''Just Drifting'' 12-inch (the 7-inch B-side was not included) and the bonus 12-inch from the ''[[Dreams Less Sweet]]'' album, but missing all of the ''Themes'' LP. The sound quality was very poor and some tracks were remixed. A later reissue by Some Bizzare spread the same material (with the same flawed mastering) over two discs. A 2-CD set of the complete original 2-LP set was issued by WEA Japan.


The ''Themes'' LP has been issued on CD separately, first by Syard Records under the title ''Cold Dark Matter'', remixed from the original master tapes and with an extra 3-minute spoken word coda added, then by Cleopatra Records under the title ''Themes Part One'', mastered from an extremely noisy vinyl source, then by Syard Records yet again with a new cover and liner notes (identical audio to their initial release) and, most recently, by Cold Spring on their 7-CD ''Themes'' box set, remastered from the original tapes (original mix), but not including the coda from the ''Cold Dark Matter'' edition.
The ''Themes'' LP has been issued on CD separately, first by Syard Records under the title ''Cold Dark Matter'', remixed from the original master tapes and with an extra 3-minute spoken word coda added, then by Cleopatra Records under the title ''Themes Part One'', mastered from an extremely noisy vinyl source, then by Syard Records yet again with a new cover and liner notes (identical audio to their initial release) and, most recently, by Cold Spring on their 7-CD ''Themes'' box set, remastered from the original tapes (original mix), but not including the coda from the ''Cold Dark Matter'' edition.
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{{Album ratings
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/force-the-hand-of-chance-mw0000178929 |title=''Force the Hand of Chance'' – Psychic TV <nowiki>| Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |</nowiki> AllMusic |last=Raggett |first=Ned |website=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=December 10, 2014}}</ref>
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/force-the-hand-of-chance-mw0000178929 |title=''Force the Hand of Chance'' – Psychic TV <nowiki>| Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |</nowiki> AllMusic |last=Raggett |first=Ned |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=December 10, 2014}}</ref>
| rev2 = [[Head Heritage]]
| rev2 = [[Head Heritage]]
| rev2score = favourable<ref name="Head Heritage">{{cite web |url=https://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/review/2121/ |title=Julian Cope Presents Head Heritage <nowiki>| Unsung | Reviews |</nowiki> Psychic TV – ''Force the Hand of Chance'' |date=May 17, 2010 |website=[[Head Heritage]] |accessdate=August 15, 2016}}</ref>
| rev2score = favourable<ref name="Head Heritage">{{cite web |url=https://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/review/2121/ |title=Julian Cope Presents Head Heritage <nowiki>| Unsung | Reviews |</nowiki> Psychic TV – ''Force the Hand of Chance'' |date=May 17, 2010 |website=[[Head Heritage]] |access-date=August 15, 2016}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Trouser Press]]''
| rev3 = ''[[Trouser Press]]''
| rev3score = generally favourable<ref name="Trouser Press">{{cite web |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=psychic_tv |title=TrouserPress.com :: Psychic TV |last=Robbins |first=Ira |website=[[Trouser Press|TrouserPress.com]] |accessdate=13 August 2016}}</ref>
| rev3score = generally favourable<ref name="Trouser Press">{{cite web |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=psychic_tv |title=TrouserPress.com :: Psychic TV |last=Robbins |first=Ira |website=[[Trouser Press|TrouserPress.com]] |access-date=13 August 2016}}</ref>
}}
}}


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== Track listing ==
== Track listing ==


=== Original release ===
{{track listing
{{track listing
| headline = Side A
| headline = Side A
Line 100: Line 110:
| headline = Side C: ''[[Themes (Psychic TV album)|Themes]]'' (first 5,000 pressings)
| headline = Side C: ''[[Themes (Psychic TV album)|Themes]]'' (first 5,000 pressings)
| title1 = Part I. Piano and Clarinet.
| title1 = Part I. Piano and Clarinet.
| length1 = 7:35
| title2 = Part II. 23 Tibetan Human Thigh Bones.
| title2 = Part II. 23 Tibetan Human Thigh Bones.
| length = 5:55

| title3 = Part III. Cowbell, Bicycle Wheels and Vibes
| title3 = Part III. Cowbell, Bicycle Wheels and Vibes
}}
}}
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| headline = Side D
| headline = Side D
| title1 = Part IV. New Guinea Headhunters Pipe, Large and Small Drum.
| title1 = Part IV. New Guinea Headhunters Pipe, Large and Small Drum.
| title2 = Part V. Piano And String Machine.
| title2 = Part V. Piano and String Machine.
| title3 = Part VI. Recording Made at Jonestown, Guyana at the Time of the Suicides.
| title3 = Part VI. Recording made at Jonestown, Guyana at the Time of the Suicides.
| title4 = Part VII. African Initiation Drum and Animal Tusk Horn.
| title4 = Part VII. African Initiation Drum and Animal Tusk Horn.
| title5 = Part VIII. Various Temple Bells, Gongs, Cymbals and Vibes.
| title5 = Part VIII. Various Temple Bells, Gongs, Cymbals and Vibes.
}}
}}

=== 1994 CD version ===
{{track listing
| headline = CD 1: Force Thee Hands ov Chants
| all_music =
| all_writing =
| all_lyrics =
| title1 = Just Drifting (for Caresse)
| length1 =
| title2 = Terminus-Xtul (for [[Robert de Grimston|Robert De Grimston]])
| length2 =
| title3 = Stolen Kisses
| length3 =
| title4 = Caresse
| length4 =
| title5 = Guiltless (for [[Process Church of the Final Judgment|The Process]])
| length5 =
| title6 = No Go Go
| length6 =
| title7 = Ov Power
| length7 =
| title8 = Message from Thee Temple
| length8 =
| title9 = Thee Full Pack (for [[Bachir Attar]])
| note9 = bonus track
| length9 =
| title10 = The Mad Organist
| note10 = bonus track
| length10 =
| title11 = Just Drifting (Midnight)
| note11 = bonus track
| length11 =
| title12 = Bubbles
| note12= bonus track
| length12 =
| title13 = "?"
| note13 = bonus track
| length13 =
| title14 =
| length14 =
| title15 =
| length15 =
| title16 =
| length16 =
| title17 =
| length17 =
| title18 =
| length18 =
| title19 =
| length19 =
| title20 =
| length20 =
| total_length =
}}

Track 13 is related to the 1993-1995 concept album project ''[[The Process (Skinny Puppy album)|The Process]]'' by [[Skinny Puppy]].<ref name=":0" />{{track listing
| headline = CD 2: Blinded Eye in Thee Pyramids
| all_music =
| all_writing =
| all_lyrics =
| title1 = Yes/Hello/Bliss
| length1 =
| title2 = Thee Infinite Beat
| length2 =
| title3 = Forced S.M.I.L.E.
| length3 =
| title4 = Temptation/Let's Make Love
| length4 =
| title5 = Goddess-Priestess-Endless
| length5 =
| title6 = Blinded Eye in Thee Pyramids
| length6 =
| title7 = Are You X-Spear Incense?
| length7 =
| length8 =
| title9 =
| length9 =
| title10 =
| length10 =
| title11 =
| length11 =
| title12 =
| length12 =
| title13 =
| length13 =
| title14 =
| length14 =
| title15 =
| length15 =
| title16 =
| length16 =
| title17 =
| length17 =
| title18 =
| length18 =
| title19 =
| length19 =
| title20 =
| length20 =
| total_length =
}}

CD 2: All lyrics written/improvised by Genesis P-Orridge. All music written by Fred Giannelli and Genesis P-Orridge. Special guest on tracks 1 and 7, [[Bachir Attar]], [[Master Musicians Of Jajouka|Master Musician of Jajouka]].


== Personnel ==
== Personnel ==
Line 117: Line 233:


* [[Peter Christopherson]] – keyboards, electronic percussion, tubular bells, vocals, [[record producer|production]]
* [[Peter Christopherson]] – keyboards, electronic percussion, tubular bells, vocals, [[record producer|production]]
* [[Alex Fergusson (musician)|Alex Fergusson]] – lead, bass and acoustic guitars, tambourine, production
* [[Alex Fergusson (musician)|Alex Fergusson]] – lead, bass and acoustic guitars, tambourine, vocals,production
* [[Genesis P-Orridge]] – vocals, keyboards, real percussion, bass guitar, production
* [[Genesis P-Orridge]] – vocals, keyboards, real percussion, bass guitar, production


; Additional personnel
; Additional personnel
* [[David Tibet]], [[Paula P-Orridge]], Stan Bingo – instruments

* Kennie Wellington and [[Claude Deppa]] – brass on "Ov Power"
* Kenny Wellington and [[Claude Deppa]] – brass on "Ov Power"
* [[Marc Almond]] – vocals on "Guiltless" and "Stolen Kisses"
* [[Marc Almond]] – vocals on "Guiltless" and "Stolen Kisses"
* [[Alan Oversby|Mr Sebastian]] – vocals on "Message from the Temple"
* [[Alan Oversby|Mr Sebastian]] – vocals on "Message from the Temple"
* [[Andrew Poppy]] – string arrangements
* [[Andrew Poppy]] – string arrangements and conductor


; Technical
; Technical
Line 131: Line 247:
* [[Ken Thomas (record producer)|Ken Thomas]] – production, [[audio engineering|engineering]]
* [[Ken Thomas (record producer)|Ken Thomas]] – production, [[audio engineering|engineering]]
* Craig Milliner – additional engineering
* Craig Milliner – additional engineering
* [[Neville Brody]] – artwork


== References ==
== References ==

{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|last1=Keenan|first1=David|title=England's Hidden Reverse: Coil, Current 93, Nurse with Wound : a Secret History of the Esoteric Underground|year=2003|publisher=SAF Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-0-946719-40-2|language=en|via=Scribd}}
* {{Cite book|title=Post Punk Diary, 1980–1982|last=Gimarc|first=George|author-link=George Gimarc|publisher=St.Martin's Griffin|year=1997|isbn=031216968X|location=New York|via=the [[Internet Archive]]|url=https://archive.org/details/postpunkdiary19800gima|format=loan required|oclc=1036803142}}
* {{cite book|last1=Reed|first1=S. Alexander|title=Assimilate: A Critical History of Industrial Music|year=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6sMDubxofwIC|isbn=978-0-19-983260-6|via=Google Books}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
Line 141: Line 262:


{{Psychic TV}}
{{Psychic TV}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Psychic TV albums]]
[[Category:Psychic TV albums]]

Latest revision as of 09:12, 7 September 2024

Force the Hand of Chance
Studio album by
Released1982 (1982)
Recorded1982
GenrePost-punk, psychedelic rock, avant-garde, experimental
Length47:01
LabelSome Bizzare
Producer
Psychic TV chronology
Force the Hand of Chance
(1982)
Themes
(1982)
Singles from Force the Hand of Chance
  1. "Just Drifting"
    Released: 1982
Themes
Studio album by
Released1982
Recorded1982
LabelSome Bizzare
Psychic TV chronology
Force the Hand of Chance
(1982)
Themes
(1982)
Dreams Less Sweet
(1983)
Alternate cover
Themes Part 1 Cleopatra Records re-issue cover.

Force the Hand of Chance is the debut studio album by English experimental group Psychic TV, released in 1982 by record label Some Bizzare. The first 5,000 pressings came with a bonus album, Themes.

A single, "Just Drifting", was released from the album.

Release

[edit]

The album has a complex reissue history. In 1994, the Tempus Records label issued it on CD. Tempus retitled it Force Thee Hands ov Chants, packaged it with a completely different cover design (P-Orridge's 1980's collage "Twisted"), and credited it to Genesis P-Orridge and Psychic TV. The Tempus edition includes four bonus tracks and a second CD titled Blinded Eye in the Pyramids featuring music created by Genesis P-Orridge and Fred Giannelli in 1988.[1]

It was again issued on CD by Cleopatra Records in 1995 with a different cover, bonus tracks taken from the Just Drifting 12-inch (the 7-inch B-side was not included) and the bonus 12-inch from the Dreams Less Sweet album, but missing all of the Themes LP. The sound quality was very poor and some tracks were remixed. A later reissue by Some Bizzare spread the same material (with the same flawed mastering) over two discs. A 2-CD set of the complete original 2-LP set was issued by WEA Japan.

The Themes LP has been issued on CD separately, first by Syard Records under the title Cold Dark Matter, remixed from the original master tapes and with an extra 3-minute spoken word coda added, then by Cleopatra Records under the title Themes Part One, mastered from an extremely noisy vinyl source, then by Syard Records yet again with a new cover and liner notes (identical audio to their initial release) and, most recently, by Cold Spring on their 7-CD Themes box set, remastered from the original tapes (original mix), but not including the coda from the Cold Dark Matter edition.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Head Heritagefavourable[3]
Trouser Pressgenerally favourable[4]

Ned Raggett of AllMusic wrote "The first Psychic TV album in many ways remains its best".[2] Trouser Press wrote "Force the Hand of Chance, regardless of its sincerity or utter lack thereof, is an amazing package [...] Musically, the main disc is a weird assortment of quiet ballads, screeching white noise, simple pop and more, with lyrics by P-Orridge that drift over terrain not all in keeping with the mystical concept. At times, form far outweighs function and some songs become merely effect without substance; others stand up nicely on their own regardless of the accompanying baggage. The adjunct record, Psychick TV Themes, uses real and imagined ethnic instruments from various exotic cultures to produce instrumentals that range from crazed to cool, intense to ephemeral".[4] Head Heritage described it as "one of the two or three crucial PTV recordings".[3]

Track listing

[edit]

Original release

[edit]

All lyrics are written by Genesis P-Orridge; all music is composed by Psychic TV (Peter Christopherson, Alex Fergusson and P-Orridge)

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Just Drifting"3:40
2."Terminus"13:19
3."Stolen Kisses"3:51
4."Caresse"2:13
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Guiltless"8:47
2."No Go Go"3:47
3."Ov Power"6:21
4."Message from the Temple"5:03
Side C: Themes (first 5,000 pressings)
No.TitleLength
1."Part I. Piano and Clarinet." 7:35
2."Part II. 23 Tibetan Human Thigh Bones." 
3."Part III. Cowbell, Bicycle Wheels and Vibes" 
Side D
No.TitleLength
1."Part IV. New Guinea Headhunters Pipe, Large and Small Drum." 
2."Part V. Piano and String Machine." 
3."Part VI. Recording made at Jonestown, Guyana at the Time of the Suicides." 
4."Part VII. African Initiation Drum and Animal Tusk Horn." 
5."Part VIII. Various Temple Bells, Gongs, Cymbals and Vibes." 

1994 CD version

[edit]
CD 1: Force Thee Hands ov Chants
No.TitleLength
1."Just Drifting (for Caresse)" 
2."Terminus-Xtul (for Robert De Grimston)" 
3."Stolen Kisses" 
4."Caresse" 
5."Guiltless (for The Process)" 
6."No Go Go" 
7."Ov Power" 
8."Message from Thee Temple" 
9."Thee Full Pack (for Bachir Attar)" (bonus track) 
10."The Mad Organist" (bonus track) 
11."Just Drifting (Midnight)" (bonus track) 
12."Bubbles" (bonus track) 
13.""?"" (bonus track) 

Track 13 is related to the 1993-1995 concept album project The Process by Skinny Puppy.[1]

CD 2: Blinded Eye in Thee Pyramids
No.TitleLength
1."Yes/Hello/Bliss" 
2."Thee Infinite Beat" 
3."Forced S.M.I.L.E." 
4."Temptation/Let's Make Love" 
5."Goddess-Priestess-Endless" 
6."Blinded Eye in Thee Pyramids" 
7."Are You X-Spear Incense?" 

CD 2: All lyrics written/improvised by Genesis P-Orridge. All music written by Fred Giannelli and Genesis P-Orridge. Special guest on tracks 1 and 7, Bachir Attar, Master Musician of Jajouka.

Personnel

[edit]
Psychic TV
Additional personnel
Technical

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Whitney, Jon. "Brainwashed - Psychic TV, "Force the Hand of Chance"". brainwashed.com. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b Raggett, Ned. "Force the Hand of Chance – Psychic TV | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Julian Cope Presents Head Heritage | Unsung | Reviews | Psychic TV – Force the Hand of Chance". Head Heritage. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  4. ^ a b Robbins, Ira. "TrouserPress.com :: Psychic TV". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 13 August 2016.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]