|
This review appeared in the January 2004 edition of 'The Wire' The Sons of T.C.-Lethbridge 'A Giant : The Definitive T.C. Lethbridge Aegir Recording Company ARC001 2XCD It is a verifiable fact that as Timewave Zero, a mathematical correlation of historical events to the structure of the universe, draws ever closer to its omega point, scheduled to take place on 21 December 2012, there will be an increasing incidence of recorded presentations by Colin Wilson. Having first manifested himself at the start of The Orb's "OOBE" talking about Theilard De Chardin's concept of the Neurosphere in 1992, the man with the most reassuring voice in existence has made numerous appearances on both CD and DVD, but none so protracted or enjoyable as his contribution to this ambitious tribute to the work of archaeological agnostic TC Lethbridge. Anyone approaching Lethbridge's fascinating researches into time and location for the first time would consequently be well advised to pass over Tekh Welbourne's introductory essay and the sturdy space rock offered on "Phase One" of A Giant and head straight for the second disc. Here they will find Wilson's appreciative overview of Lethbridge's life and ideas, presenting a picture of an academically trained archaeologist whose impatience with the classical dogmas of historical research led him in later years to explore such complex and widespread phenomena as dowsing, ghosts, magic, precognition and the nature of time. "No one who is interested in the paranormal can afford to ignore Tom Lethbridge,' observes Wilson. The fact that this discourse is accompanied by a shimmering Ambient interplay of field recordings, rippling keyboards and gently chiming guitars only adds to its thoughtful charm, as does the concluding moment, when Joy Wilson reads a letter from Lethbridge's widow against a piano's subdued tones. This makes for a fine and proper introduction to some of more arresting listening to be found on the first disc. Give or take the occasional auxiliary, The Sons, etc are essentially Doggen Foster, Kevlar Bales and Welbourn Tekh, who communicate best through a basic trinity of drums, bass and guitar, particularly on the powerful free-flowing instrumentals "The Block" and "TC Who?". In his capacity as executive producer and spiritual grey eminence, Julian Cope not only contributes some enthused sleeve-notes and session work but also lustily delivers his own composition "TCLETHBRIDGE" at the close of Phase One. Perhaps the quietest participant in all these festivities, however, is Lethbridge himself, and not simply because he's been dead these past 30 years. The man is name-checked, praised, discussed and paraphrased with admirable energy by The Sons, but he is never directly quoted. The covers to his books are reproduced as part of the packaging, but not a word is lifted from them. Consequently a strange silence lingers at the heart of this project, until one remembers that in mythological terms the sons will always rise up against the father and shall do so until the end of time. As for Colin Wilson, enjoy him while you can. According to the mathematics of Timewave Zero, you only have nine years left before the universe dematerialises forever. Uh, better make that eight. Reviewed by Ken Hollins Review of "A Giant" from British Archaeology - May 2004 : Issue76 TC who? BA (British Archaeology) readers with long memories and a taste for the odd may recall the name of TC Lethbridge, one-time Anglo-Saxon scholar who excavated what he believed to be prehistoric hill figures in the Gogmagog Hills, Cambridgeshire before getting the hump with the archaeological establishment of the I950s and retiring to Devon to write about ghosts, dowsing and UFOs. Today Lethbridge's name is little known, but he hasn't fallen off the cultural radar of the world at large just yet. A rock'n'roll collective going under the name of The Sons of TC-Lethbridge has recently released A Giant: The Definitive TC Lethbridge, a double CD of music and spoken word in honour of the Great Man. Modern Antiquarian author Julian Cope, members of rock outfit Spiritualized and Colin (The Outsider) Wilson all take part in what surely must be the most extraordinary posthumous festschrift professional archaeology has ever seen. To hear and see more, visit www.tclethbridge.com and prepare to have your preconceptions, if not your audio speakers, blown to smithereens. Neil Mortimer This Review appeared in the January 2004 Edition of 'UNCUT' The Sons Of T.C.-Lethbridge : 'A Giant' : The Definitive T.C. Lethbridge : ARC Review Rating: ** (X2 Stars - Average) Two CDs of psychedelic esoterica from the court of Julian Cope. Radical archaeologist, dowser, occultist and idol of Julian Cope's, TC Lethbridge (1901-1971) and his enquiring mind provide the inspiration for this sprawling project fronted by one Welbourn Tekh (ex-Sinking Ships). Cope produces and sings occasionally, but Disc One is dominated by prog-punk Krautrock jams steered by his associates Doggen Foster and Kevin Bales (the best of which, ÒPertaining To The Stars", betrays their other jobs as guitarist and drummer in Spiritualized). It's a lively, sporadically levitating business, though Tekh's declamatory vocals can be hard work. Disc Two, meanwhile, features venerable author Colin Wilson's meditations on Lethbridge, set to distant ambient wobble. Fascinating, but it's hard to imagine making many return visits to this lovingly assembled shrine. Reviewed by John Mulvey This Review appeared in the February 2004 edition (Edition 181) of 'The Fortean Times' A Giant: The Definitive T. C. Lethbridge by The Sons of T.C.-Lethbridge 2-CD + 36pp booklet, Aegir Recording Company Star Rating: 9/10: Striking memorial to a pioneer of the paranormal Many FT readers will know that T. C. Lethbridge was one of the 20th century's foremost paranormal investigators. Quite apart from his pioneering research into the nature of ghosts, dowsing, dreams and time, Lethbridge's life is a delicious tale of an orthodox archaeologist turned scientific outlaw. Not that Lethbridge would have seen himself in those terms; a true fortean, his psychical studies were simply an expression his practical, brilliantly enquiring mind. If his journey took him to strange places, so be it. Lethbridge died in 1971 and it was not many years before all of his books were out of print. His name fell into relative obscurity, although Colin Wilson was a notable champion and a popular anthology of his writing, edited by Tom Graves and Janet Hoult, ensured that Lethbridge's name wasn't forgotten entirely. Fast forward to 2003, and a musical collective called The Sons of T.C.-Lethbridge has released 'A Giant', a double CD in honour of Lethbridge. Members include Julian Cope (who is also the project's executive producer), Spiritualized's Doggen Foster and Kelvar Bales, Welbourn TekhÉ and Colin Wilson. 'A Giant' is divided into two phases. CD1 contains 13 tracks of rock'n'roll, varying in scope from pastoral mellowness to demented guitar histrionics and even a scuzzy garage shout-along. It's a fine collection, which can be enjoyed in its own musical right or as a series of discussions of matters Lethbridgean in the most unlikely of settings. CD2 two is Colin Wilson's show, in which he talks about the life and work of Lethbridge (apart from the last track, which is a touching reading by Wilson's wife Joy). Wilson's insightful words are backed by an unobtrusive ambient soundtrack, and in the somewhat limiting format of spoken word CD2 is a great success. A Giant's gorgeous packaging includes a 36pp booklet which features an introduction by Julian Cope, a foreword by Colin Wilson and Welbourn Tekh's substantial bibliographical review of Lethbridge's published works. In the final tally, A Giant is an inspiring, erudite and mind-expanding tribute to a neglected, although still influential figure, who, as Colin Wilson says, 'gave us a glimpse of what we could be'. Reviewed by Neil Mortimer |
