Current 93 The Red Face Of God The Breath And Pain Original 12" Vinyl Record VTG

$

51

Current 93 – Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in Sorrow Original 12" Vinyl LP (1988 First Pressing, MAL 088) – Limited Edition with Inserts & Dead Wax Etchings

The hand-etched runout inscriptions on MAL 088 carry specific historical context regarding their rarity, limited pressing numbers, and press plant details:

Edition Limitation & Rarity

Strictly Limited Pressing: The Red Face of God / The Breath and Pain of God (MAL 088) was pressed in 1988 in a single run limited to 2,000 copies. It was never re-pressed as a standalone 12" vinyl on David Tibet’s Maldoror label.

Etching Consistency: Every authentic copy of this original 1988 first pressing features these exact hand-etched phrases in the dead wax. Rather than being unique one-off variations, they serve as crucial authentication markers for verifying a genuine 1988 UK first press.

Significance of the Runout Markings

1. ⁠LILITH OF THE VALLEY.⁠ (Side A Inscription)

Context: A classic esoteric play on words by David Tibet, twisting the biblical and botanical phrase "Lily of the valley" to reference Lilith, the figure in Jewish folklore and esoteric demonology.

2. ⁠ROBOSM3NNE⁠ (Side B Inscription)

Context: An occult/cryptic wordplay typical of Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound) and David Tibet during the late-1980s United Dairies / Maldoror era, frequently incorporated into runout grooves across their discography.

3. ⁠MPO⁠ (French Pressing Plant Stamp)

Context: Refers to Moulages et Plastiques de l'Ouest, the French vinyl pressing plant. French MPO pressings from this era are highly regarded among collectors for their high vinyl weight and dynamic acoustic depth.

The 12" vinyl single in this listing (MAL 088) features two main tracks, originally conceived alongside the Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in Sorrow sessions: 

Side A:

1. The Red Face of God (approx. 4:01) 

Credits & Writing: Lyrics by David Tibet; music written by Current 93. 

Style & Content: Features a steady acoustic/neofolk framework mixed with apocalyptic, esoteric vocal delivery by David Tibet. The instrumentation leans heavily into acoustic guitar, atmospheric tape loops, and subtle percussion provided by members including Douglas P. (Death in June), Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound), and Rose McDowall (Sorrow/Strawberry Switchblade). 

Side B:

1. The Breath and the Pain of God (approx. 9:45) 

Credits & Writing: Lyrics by David Tibet; music written by Current 93. 

Style & Content: An extended, hypnotic, and darker track driven by layered ritualistic instrumentation, repetition, acoustic guitar textures, and dramatic vocal declamations. It highlights the surreal, collage-style production work of Steven Stapleton. 

Context & Related Album Tracks:

While MAL 088 serves as the standalone companion 12" EP to the album Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in Sorrow, the full album suite contains the following tracks across the release family:

Dögun (4:01) – Introductory instrumental/ambient piece opening the main album.

Forever Changing (9:36) – Features lyrics adapted directly from 12th-century mystic Hildegard von Bingen.

The Ballad of the Pale Christ (5:47) – Mid-tempo neofolk ballad showcasing layered acoustic guitars and vocals from David Tibet and Rose McDowall.

Christ and the Pale Queens (19:57) – The epic, side-long core suite incorporating text from Hildegard von Bingen and David Tibet.

Mighty in Sorrow / Night (18:24) – A prolonged, looping ritual-industrial drone track featured on expanded editions.

Item Description:

(Catalog Number: MAL 088).

This complete set includes the original printed inserts, black inner sleeve, and features the original hand-etched matrix runout details.

Item Details & Specifications:

Artist: Current 93 (featuring David Tibet, Steven Stapleton, Douglas P., Tony Wakeford, John Balance, Rose McDowall) 

Title: Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in Sorrow 

Label: Maldoror 

Catalog Number: MAL 088 

Format: 12" Black Vinyl LP, Single Sleeve 

Release Year: 1988 

Country: UK 

Matrix / Runout Etchings (Dead Wax):

Side A Runout: ⁠*MAL-088-A1*⁠ / Etched Text: ⁠LILITH OF THE VALLEY.⁠ / ⁠MPO⁠ 

Side B Runout: ⁠*MAL-088-B1*⁠ / Etched Text: ⁠ROBOSM3NNE⁠ / ⁠MPO⁠ 

Included Inserts & Content:

1. Official Album Tracklist & Credits Insert: Features track details (The Red Face of God, The Breath and the Pain of God), lineup, production notes, and quote from Christopher Smart's Jubilate Agno. 

2. United Dairies Mail Order Sheet (1988): Original 2-sided promotional order form listing Current 93, Nurse With Wound, and related United Dairies/Maldoror releases. 

3. Original Black Inner Sleeve. 

Condition Summary:

Vinyl (Media): [Grade: NM

Surfaces retain strong original gloss. Light hairline surface marks visible under direct light (see runout detail photos). Labels are clean with minimal spindle wear. 

Sleeve (Cover): [Grade:EX] –

Artwork features Homo Est Similis Bullae on the front and Ecce Torpet Probitas... text/artwork on the rear. Light corner wear/edge rubbing consistent with age; no major seam splits. 

Inserts: Excellent condition, crisp edges with no tears or heavy creases. 

(Please review all close-up photographs for exact physical condition prior to bidding.)

Shipping & Handling:

Shipped in a heavy-duty cardboard record mailer with insert pads.

Targeted Keywords

Vinyl & Collector Specifics:

Current 93, David Tibet, Steven Stapleton, Nurse With Wound, Douglas P, Death in June, Rose McDowall, Maldoror Records, MAL 088, United Dairies, Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in Sorrow, The Red Face of God, 12 inch vinyl single, 1988 first pressing, original UK press, limited edition vinyl, hand etched dead wax, MPO pressing, matrix MAL 088 A1 B1, original printed inserts, vintage vinyl record.

Genre & Style Terms:

Neofolk, industrial music, post industrial, apocalyptic folk, darkwave, experimental music, avant garde vinyl, esoteric folk, 80s industrial vinyl, UK underground music.

Hashtags

#Current93 #DavidTibet #StevenStapleton #NurseWithWound #DeathInJune #DouglasP #RoseMcDowall #Neofolk #IndustrialMusic #PostIndustrial #Darkwave #ApocalypticFolk #ExperimentalVinyl #Maldoror #UnitedDairies #VinylCollector #VinylCommunity #RecordCollecting #FirstPressing #RareVinyl #DeadWax #MatrixEtchings #1980sVinyl #EBayVinyl #RecordForSale

Additional Keywords

Artist & Personnel Variations:

Current 93 LP, Current Ninety Three, C93, David E Tibet, Steven Stapleton NWW, John Balance, Coil, World Serpent, World Serpent Distribution, World Serpent vinyl, DTI, Douglas Pearce.

Release & Audio Specifics:

The Breath and the Pain of God, Jubilate Agno, Christopher Smart, 1980s neofolk vinyl, 12" EP, 45 RPM, 33 RPM, audiophile pressing, original mail order insert, UD mail order insert, import vinyl, UK original press, dead wax inscriptions, etched runout vinyl.

Subgenres & Aesthetic Categories:

Martial industrial, ritual industrial, dark ambient, occult music, esoteric folk, pagan folk, British underground, avant-folk, Gothic rock, goth vinyl, experimental rock, rare post-punk.

Additional Hashtags

#CurrentNinetyThree #C93 #WorldSerpent #WorldSerpentDistribution #Coil #JohnBalance #DarkAmbient #MartialIndustrial #RitualIndustrial #EsotericMusic #OccultMusic #BritishUnderground #GothVinyl #PostPunkVinyl #AvantGarde #VinylPorn #VinylAddict #Discogs #VinylIgClub #VinylRecordsForSale #RareRecords #VinylRPM #12InchVinyl #VinylCollection #LPCollection

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