Felix Culpa

Liner notes: 'Felix Culpa' is the culmination of many disparate talents and the result of almost a year-and-a-half of trial and error. At its heart, this work explores the very nature of the Fall: a condition of living in a permanent state of exposure; of opening oneself up to the Other. The Fall creates the prerequisites which engender its purpose. To quote Slavoj Žižek: "the ultimate Event is the Fall itself, the loss of some primordial unity and harmony which never existed, which is just a retroactive illusion" (Event [2014], Penguin, pp. 49-50). There is no knowledge in Paradise. To know God, we must first crash into her face, making sure to take in as much scenery on the way. 'The Roadtrip Orgasm' is a semi-epic prose poem that echoes a dangerous journey down a sensual highway. Composed using the cut-up technique, it has been in various stages of gestation for over three years. 'Icarus' deals with the pleasure of transgressive flight, while 'Target Fascination' - named after a phenomenon experienced by jumpers who forget to pull the chute - forces us to confront painful reality. 'King Ludd' is a cinematic blueprint for terrestrial nightmares following touchdown, which poses the question: what if Iggy Pop never got his kicks? Finally, 'Happy Skoptsy' is an ironic jab at fanatics of all creeds and sizes who take their ideologies far too seriously. 'Felix Culpa' was recorded at various locations on or around planet Earth between November 2013 and February 2015. All songs written and performed by Sebastian Melmoth. Lyrics by Ilia Rogatchevski. Mixed and produced by Sebastian Melmoth. Mastered by Tomoko Matsumoto at Clinker Central. The cover show Andreas Baader's death mask. It was cast and photographed by Gerhard Halbritter (1977). Design by Feline Vomitus.