Double Vulgar
Encyclopedia
Double Vulgar is the second album by Thighpaulsandra
. The album is notable for its packaging: the artwork consists of sexually explicit, homoerotic imagery featuring bondage
and edgeplay
, and was initially refused by several printers. The lyrical content was also controversial: "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Breaches Reality" was written as a dedication to Charles, Prince of Wales
, if he were to ever have sexual relations with one of his sons, while most of the other lyrics describe several equally explicit situations. "The Bush Administration Project" notably contains the line "And I am splashed with semen", sung by Thighpaulsandra's mother, contralto
Dorothy Lewis.
The album expanded upon Thighpaulsandra's already extensive instrumental palette, including an autoharp
, hurdy gurdy
and the rare photoelectric ANS synthesizer
, which allows one to synthesize sounds from artificially drawn soundwaves and images. Other non-musical instruments include a scraper
, heard at the end of "Double Vulgar"; and a large wheel similar to the one found on the game show
Wheel of Fortune, found in the basement of a church, that forms the basis of "He Tastes of the Sea".
Thighpaulsandra
Thighpaulsandra is a Welsh experimental musician and multi-instrumentalist known mostly for performing on synthesizers and keyboards. As Tim Lewis, he began his career working with Julian Cope. A collaboration with Cope in 1993 followed, as the experimental duo Queen Elizabeth...
. The album is notable for its packaging: the artwork consists of sexually explicit, homoerotic imagery featuring bondage
Bondage (BDSM)
Bondage is the use of restraints for the sexual pleasure of the parties involved. It may be used in its own right, as in the case of rope bondage and breast bondage, or as part of sexual activity or BDSM activity.- Private bondage :...
and edgeplay
Edgeplay
In BDSM, edgeplay is a subjective term for types of sexual play that are considered to be pushing on the edge of the traditional S.S.C. creed. They would be considered more R.A.C.K...
, and was initially refused by several printers. The lyrical content was also controversial: "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Breaches Reality" was written as a dedication to Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, if he were to ever have sexual relations with one of his sons, while most of the other lyrics describe several equally explicit situations. "The Bush Administration Project" notably contains the line "And I am splashed with semen", sung by Thighpaulsandra's mother, contralto
Contralto
Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above...
Dorothy Lewis.
The album expanded upon Thighpaulsandra's already extensive instrumental palette, including an autoharp
Autoharp
The autoharp is a musical string instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers, which, when depressed, mute all of the strings other than those that form the desired chord. Despite its name, the autoharp is not a harp at all, but a chorded zither. -History:There is debate over the...
, hurdy gurdy
Hurdy gurdy
The hurdy gurdy or hurdy-gurdy is a stringed musical instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to a violin...
and the rare photoelectric ANS synthesizer
ANS synthesizer
The ANS synthesizer is a photoelectronic musical instrument created by Russian engineer Evgeny Murzin from 1937 to 1957. The technological basis of his invention was the method of graphical sound recording used in cinematography , which made it possible to obtain a visible image of a sound wave, as...
, which allows one to synthesize sounds from artificially drawn soundwaves and images. Other non-musical instruments include a scraper
Scraper (kitchen)
There are several types of kitchen implements which are termed scrapers. They can be made of metal, plastics such as polyethylene, nylon, or polypropylene, wood, rubber or silicone rubber...
, heard at the end of "Double Vulgar"; and a large wheel similar to the one found on the game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
Wheel of Fortune, found in the basement of a church, that forms the basis of "He Tastes of the Sea".
Track listing
All tracks by Thighpaulsandra.- "The Bush Administration Project" – 9:37
- "Slammer" – 7:15
- "On the Horns of Magda Reuth" – 21:17
- "The Circumcision of Christ" – 9:41
- "Double Vulgar" – 18:45
- "He Tastes of the Sea" – 3:21
- "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Breaches Reality" – 6:52
Personnel
- ThighpaulsandraThighpaulsandraThighpaulsandra is a Welsh experimental musician and multi-instrumentalist known mostly for performing on synthesizers and keyboards. As Tim Lewis, he began his career working with Julian Cope. A collaboration with Cope in 1993 followed, as the experimental duo Queen Elizabeth...
– vocals, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, autoharpAutoharpThe autoharp is a musical string instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers, which, when depressed, mute all of the strings other than those that form the desired chord. Despite its name, the autoharp is not a harp at all, but a chorded zither. -History:There is debate over the...
, Hammond organHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, harpsichord, synthesizers, pianorgan, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, backing vocals on "Slammer"; ANS synthesizerANS synthesizerThe ANS synthesizer is a photoelectronic musical instrument created by Russian engineer Evgeny Murzin from 1937 to 1957. The technological basis of his invention was the method of graphical sound recording used in cinematography , which made it possible to obtain a visible image of a sound wave, as...
on "On the Horns of Magda Reuth"; shortwave radio on "The Circumcision of Christ" - Martin Schellard – guitars; bass on "Slammer", "The Circumcision of Christ" and "Double Vulgar"; computers on "Double Vulgar"
- Siôn Orgon – drums; ocals on "The Bush Administration Project", "Slammer" and "Double Vulgar"; gongGongA gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
s and backing vocals on "Double Vulgar"; clapping on "Slammer"; bells on "On the Horns of Magda Reuth"; singing bowls on "The Circumcision of Christ" - Dorothy Lewis – vocals on "The Bush Administration Project" and "Double Vulgar"
- Dan Greensmith – backing vocals on "Slammer" and "Double Vulgar"
- Rob Greensmith – clapping on "Slammer"; backing vocals on "The Circumcision of Christ" and "Double Vulgar"
- The Boy Anal – VCS3 on "Slammer"; vocoderVocoderA vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
on "On the Horns of Magda Reuth"; synthesizers on "The Circumcision of Christ"; backing vocals on "Double Vulgar" - Cliff Stapleton – Hurdy gurdyHurdy gurdyThe hurdy gurdy or hurdy-gurdy is a stringed musical instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to a violin...
on "On the Horns of Magda Reuth" - Frank NortonFrank NortonFrank Prescott Norton was an American professional baseball player, who played in one game for the Washington Olympics on May 5, 1871. He struck out in his only at-bat and played third base and outfield in the game....
– scraperScraper (kitchen)There are several types of kitchen implements which are termed scrapers. They can be made of metal, plastics such as polyethylene, nylon, or polypropylene, wood, rubber or silicone rubber...
on "Double Vulgar" - Ossian BrownOssian BrownOssian Brown is an English musician and artist.Brown is notable for being a full time member of the music groups Coil and Cyclobe.Ossian Brown's first book 'Haunted Air' was published in 2010 by Jonathan Cape in the United Kingdom, with an introduction by David Lynch and an afterword by Geoff...
– "Wheel of fortune" on "He Tastes of the Sea" - John BalanceJohn BalanceJohn Balance , born in Mansfield, England, was the founder of the experimental music group Coil, along with his partner Peter Christopherson...
– "Wheel of fortune" on "He Tastes of the Sea" - Butros Müller-Staal – bass drum on "His Royal Highness…"