Description

Premature Ejaculation – Assertive Discipline – Compact Disc

Premature Ejaculation’s Assertive Discipline, released in 1988, is a dark and experimental album that delves deep into the realms of industrial, noise, and ambient music. Created by the collaborative duo of Rozz Williams (best known as the founder of Christian Death) and Ron Athey, Premature Ejaculation was an outlet for Williams’ more avant-garde, experimental side, focusing on themes of psychological unease, isolation, and the exploration of taboo.

Assertive Discipline combines harsh noise elements, ambient soundscapes, and industrial textures to create a haunting atmosphere. Williams and Athey crafted the album using minimalistic instrumentation, field recordings, and manipulated audio effects, resulting in a work that is unsettling, immersive, and challenging. Unlike traditional song structures, tracks on Assertive Discipline flow more like sound experiments, allowing abstract ideas and emotions to take center stage over melody or rhythm.

The album explores themes of control, alienation, and psychological tension, reflecting Williams’ fascination with the darker side of human experience. By integrating unsettling samples and distorted sounds, the music becomes a kind of sonic confrontation, inviting listeners to grapple with discomfort and existential questions.

Key Tracks and Highlights

‘Claws Of The Cat’ – This opening track sets the tone with dissonant, jarring sounds that immediately draw the listener into a disturbing, oppressive atmosphere. The layering of different sound textures creates a sense of unease, evoking imagery of decay and desolation.

‘Blind’ – With a slower pace and a repetitive, drone-like quality, “Blind” immerses the listener in a sense of dread. The track feels almost ritualistic, capturing a hypnotic quality that is haunting and evocative.

‘Views In The Bottling Room’ – This piece combines feedback with unsettling vocal samples, creating a chaotic, claustrophobic atmosphere that conveys themes of inner turmoil and aggression. It stands out as one of the more intense tracks, showcasing the abrasive side of the duo’s approach.

‘Death Works As You Drift’ – The track has a more ambient, minimalist feel, contrasting with the more aggressive cuts on the album. It captures a mood of introspective sorrow, using sparse instrumentation to explore the theme of confinement, both physical and psychological.

The production on Assertive Discipline is raw and unpolished, capturing the essence of the DIY ethos that defined much of the underground music scene in the 1980s. Williams and Athey took an unconventional approach, recording with lo-fi equipment and intentionally distorting sounds to enhance the album’s visceral quality. This rough, unfiltered sound lends a degree of authenticity to the project, allowing the themes of alienation and discomfort to resonate on a deeper level.

The use of ambient sounds and field recordings adds to the unsettling feel of the album. Rather than adhering to structured rhythms or melodies, the album’s soundscapes create moods, each track acting as a piece in a larger auditory collage. The minimalism in instrumentation reflects a desire to strip music down to its raw emotional core, making Assertive Discipline a work of pure, immersive atmosphere.

Assertive Discipline was met with interest from fans of experimental music, though its extreme style limited it to a niche audience. Nevertheless, it became an influential work within the industrial and noise music circles. Rozz Williams’ work in Premature Ejaculation allowed him to explore and push boundaries, creating music that was as provocative as it was reflective. The album’s challenging themes and unfiltered sound have since earned it a cult following, particularly among those who appreciate Williams’ uncompromising approach to art.

The impact of Assertive Discipline is felt within the noise and industrial music communities, inspiring later artists to embrace experimental sound and thematic intensity. For fans of Rozz Williams and underground industrial music, Assertive Discipline is an essential listen that captures the raw, creative energy of 1980s experimental music. It remains a testament to Williams’ dedication to exploring the darker, often overlooked facets of human experience through sound.

Featuring Rozz Williams

Song List
1. Claws Of The Cat
2. Views In The Bottling Room
3. Doll’s Theatre
4. The Worst Hell
5. Lame From His Mothers Wound
6. Blind
7. Emission Precox
8. Did The Doctor Give You A Pill
9. Death Works As You Drift
10. Red