Iconic chanteuse Jarboe released her fourth album as a solo artist, Disburden Disciple, in the year 2000 and now twenty five years later, the album has been remastered and brought out on vinyl to be admired and explored by an audience that is both old and new to her haunting and majestic music.
Although Jarboe is probably best known for her extensive work as a member of the legendary NYC avant-garde/experimental band Swans, her solo work is arguably equally as influential and this new version of Disburden Disciple is perfect for exploring this part of her sonic journey as this remastered version of the record amplifies the passionate nature of the original.
The vocals of Jarboe are, of course, the focal point but the way those vocals weave in and out of a quite eclectic range of music is where the magic of Jarboe’s music lies and throughout the albums eleven songs, that range is definitely mesmerising.
From the stark opening number ‘Bound’ through to the closing starkness of ‘Pure War’, Disburden Disciple is an enthralling listening experience and shows the power of what Jarboe does with her music flawlessly and the whole experience is one that is, at times, disorientating but ultimately so powerful and addictive.
Songs like ‘Consume Me’ and ‘Dear 666’ are early highlights and the way they are delivered is uniquely striking with a visceral nature and by the time you get to the harrowing ‘Scorpion’, which is the albums tour de force, you will be remain totally captivated and swept away by the raw and majestic beauty of the songs.
The greatest track here has to be the brilliance of ‘Under’ which shows Jarboe at her most menacing but also most creative and you will be spellbound by the sonic genius on show here, a cacophony of gothic magnificence to say the least.
As the album concludes with ‘the lo-fi brilliance of ‘Scarification’ and the aforementioned ‘Pure War’, what you have just listened to will leave you in awe at what you have just experienced.
Disburden Disciple is an essential Jarboe album and this well due celebration of it, twenty five years on, is the perfect reason to immerse yourself in the record and the world of Jarboe once again, and marvel at the talents of one of the greatest singers the world has had the pleasure of producing.
