Chance Meeting on a Dissecting Table of a Sewing Machine and an Umbrella
Encyclopedia
Chance Meeting on a Dissecting Table of a Sewing Machine and an Umbrella was the debut album by Nurse With Wound
, released on their own United Dairies label in 1979. The album enjoys a reputation as one of the most singular debuts of all time. It is described by AllMusic as "one of the more glowing examples of late 70's industrial noise"[] and defunct UK music magazine Sounds
summed up their response by abandoning their usual star rating system to award the album a full 5 question marks.
It includes the Nurse with Wound list
.
was working as a signwriter in London in 1978. Completing a job at an independent recording studio, he engaged in conversation with the studio's engineer, Nick Rogers. Rogers, frustrated with the advertising and voice-over work the studio brought in, expressed a wish to work with more experimental bands. Stapleton informed Rogers that he was in such a band and a studio date was arranged. Stapleton, however, was lying and had to hurriedly put something together. He called his friends John Fothergill and Heman Pathak, telling them to get hold of an instrument of some sort. Thus, the first line-up of Nurse With Wound was quickly assembled, Stapleton on percussion, Fothergill on guitar (with built-in ring modulator) and Pathak on organ. The trio didn't have a chance to rehearse before entering the studio, yet the album was completed within 6 hours, with Rogers adding what was called "commercial guitar" on the sleeve. The studio's piano and synthesizer were also used. The tale is so fortuitous as to appear unlikely but Stapleton and Fothergill agreed on the story when interviewed separately by David Keenan
for his book England's Hidden Reverse.
The album contains 3 lengthy tracks and Stapleton has stated that these were edited from improvisations with some overdubbing. The album's title came from a famous quotation from Isidore Ducasse (writing as Comte de Lautréamont
) in his novel Les Chants de Maldoror
, later adopted by artists involved in Surrealism
. Stapleton designed the sleeve using an old pornographic magazine. Some copies came in a brown paper bag as a handful of stores were not prepared to have the cover on display; however, both Rough Trade
and Virgin
took copies without censorship. The original hand-numbered 500 copy pressing was cleared within weeks. Amongst those who bought the album were Tim Gane
, later of Stereolab
, and William Bennett of Whitehouse
, both of whom would later work with Stapleton.
One of the most discussed aspects of the album however was the inclusion of the Nurse with Wound list
, an A4
sheet with a list of bands and artist who had provided inspiration to the group. It remains a touchstone for collectors of experimental and outsider music. The 2001 reissue of the album contains the bonus track "Strain, Crack, Break", which consists of a heavily cut-up recording of David Tibet
reading the list.
A "remix" album was also released in 2003, Chance Meeting of a Defective Tape Machine and a Migraine which is, in fact, the sound of a malfunctioning tape deck distorting and adding electronic feedback to the music, eventually rendering it irrecognizable (the tape was made by Stapleton's friend and regular NWW live member Matt Waldron).
An edit of "The Six Buttons of Sex Appeal" appeared on the compilation Livin' Fear of James Last. It was a major edit, cutting the track down to only 4 minutes and 55 seconds.
Nurse with Wound
Nurse with Wound is the main recording name for British musician Steven Stapleton. Nurse with Wound was originally a band, formed in 1978 by Stapleton, John Fothergill and Heman Pathak...
, released on their own United Dairies label in 1979. The album enjoys a reputation as one of the most singular debuts of all time. It is described by AllMusic as "one of the more glowing examples of late 70's industrial noise"[] and defunct UK music magazine Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
summed up their response by abandoning their usual star rating system to award the album a full 5 question marks.
It includes the Nurse with Wound list
Nurse with Wound list
The Nurse with Wound list is a list of 291 musicians and bands that accompanied Chance Meeting on a Dissecting Table of a Sewing Machine and an Umbrella , the first album by Nurse With Wound...
.
Recording
The album came about when Steven StapletonSteven Stapleton
Steven Peter Stapleton is a British musician and the only constant member of experimental improv outfit Nurse with Wound...
was working as a signwriter in London in 1978. Completing a job at an independent recording studio, he engaged in conversation with the studio's engineer, Nick Rogers. Rogers, frustrated with the advertising and voice-over work the studio brought in, expressed a wish to work with more experimental bands. Stapleton informed Rogers that he was in such a band and a studio date was arranged. Stapleton, however, was lying and had to hurriedly put something together. He called his friends John Fothergill and Heman Pathak, telling them to get hold of an instrument of some sort. Thus, the first line-up of Nurse With Wound was quickly assembled, Stapleton on percussion, Fothergill on guitar (with built-in ring modulator) and Pathak on organ. The trio didn't have a chance to rehearse before entering the studio, yet the album was completed within 6 hours, with Rogers adding what was called "commercial guitar" on the sleeve. The studio's piano and synthesizer were also used. The tale is so fortuitous as to appear unlikely but Stapleton and Fothergill agreed on the story when interviewed separately by David Keenan
David Keenan
David Keenan is a Scottish author, critic and musician. He is the author of England's Hidden Reverse, a biography of Coil, Current 93 and Nurse With Wound, a regular contributor to The Wire since 1995, and proprietor of Volcanic Tongue, a shop, distributor, record label and mailorder business that...
for his book England's Hidden Reverse.
The album contains 3 lengthy tracks and Stapleton has stated that these were edited from improvisations with some overdubbing. The album's title came from a famous quotation from Isidore Ducasse (writing as Comte de Lautréamont
Comte de Lautréamont
Comte de Lautréamont was the pseudonym of Isidore Lucien Ducasse , an Uruguayan-born French poet....
) in his novel Les Chants de Maldoror
Les Chants de Maldoror
Les Chants de Maldoror is a poetic novel consisting of six cantos. It was written between 1868 and 1869 by the Comte de Lautréamont, the pseudonym of Isidore Lucien Ducasse...
, later adopted by artists involved in Surrealism
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
. Stapleton designed the sleeve using an old pornographic magazine. Some copies came in a brown paper bag as a handful of stores were not prepared to have the cover on display; however, both Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
and Virgin
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
took copies without censorship. The original hand-numbered 500 copy pressing was cleared within weeks. Amongst those who bought the album were Tim Gane
Tim Gane
Tim Gane is the leader of the rock band, Stereolab.He started his musical career as a purveyor of harsh noise in the early 1980s under the alias Unkommuniti releasing self financed cassettes on Black Dwarf Wreckordings along with fellow Unkommuniti members Kallous Boys and other noise projects....
, later of Stereolab
Stereolab
Stereolab are an alternative music band formed in 1990 in London, England. The band originally comprised songwriting team Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier , both of whom remained at the helm across many lineup changes...
, and William Bennett of Whitehouse
Whitehouse (band)
Whitehouse are a pioneering English power electronics band formed in 1980, largely credited for the founding of the power electronics subgenre.-History and personnel:...
, both of whom would later work with Stapleton.
One of the most discussed aspects of the album however was the inclusion of the Nurse with Wound list
Nurse with Wound list
The Nurse with Wound list is a list of 291 musicians and bands that accompanied Chance Meeting on a Dissecting Table of a Sewing Machine and an Umbrella , the first album by Nurse With Wound...
, an A4
ISO 216
ISO 216 specifies international standard paper sizes used in most countries in the world today. It defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes, including A4, the most commonly available size...
sheet with a list of bands and artist who had provided inspiration to the group. It remains a touchstone for collectors of experimental and outsider music. The 2001 reissue of the album contains the bonus track "Strain, Crack, Break", which consists of a heavily cut-up recording of David Tibet
David Tibet
David Tibet is a British poet and artist who founded the music group Current 93, of which he is the only full-time member. He had earlier collaborated with Psychic TV and 23 Skidoo...
reading the list.
Reissues
There have been several subsequent editions of the album. It was made available on cassette in 1980 and a vinyl repressing was available as part of the Psilotripitaka box set. A compact disc edition was issued via World Serpent in 1990 with a 21st anniversary edition (slightly belatedly) following in 2001 in different artwork with the aforementioned "Strain, Crack, Break" as a bonus track. All of these editions are out of print. A forthcoming vinyl reissue has been announced by Dirter Promotions; the Dirter website states that the album will be "expanded and beautified" http://www.dirter.co.uk/news.html for this edition - it will be released as a 3 sided double LP with an unedited version of "Strain, Crack, Break", reproduction artwork and other items.A "remix" album was also released in 2003, Chance Meeting of a Defective Tape Machine and a Migraine which is, in fact, the sound of a malfunctioning tape deck distorting and adding electronic feedback to the music, eventually rendering it irrecognizable (the tape was made by Stapleton's friend and regular NWW live member Matt Waldron).
An edit of "The Six Buttons of Sex Appeal" appeared on the compilation Livin' Fear of James Last. It was a major edit, cutting the track down to only 4 minutes and 55 seconds.
Personnel
- John Fothergill – Synthesizer, Guitar, Keyboards, Wind
- Heman – Synthesizer, Guitar, Keyboards, Wind
- Nicky Rogers – Guitar
- Steve Stapleton – Synthesizer, Flute, Guitar, Keyboards