Stuff You Might've Missed – Foetus

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Foetus, for the most part, was/is a vision of one man – Australian native Jim Thirlwell (born James George Thirlwell, A.K.A. Clint Ruin, Bubba Kowalski, Frank Want, J.G. Thirlwell, Philipp Toss, Steroid Maximus), an extremely prolific musician/producer who throughout few decades released a number of records in all kinds of genres – from noise to industrial to new wave, in addition to his production work for such bands as Coil, Pantera, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Marc Almond, Red Hot Chili Peppers, White Zombie and many others.
Born in Melbourne, Australia in 1960, Thirlwell moved to London in the late 70. Here he started his ownSelf Immolation Records and put out a single “OKFM” under the name Foetus Under Glass. His first full-length “Deaf” came out under the name You’ve Got Foetus On Your Breath” and a couple of years later he used the name Clint Ruin and formed Wiseblood with former Swans member Roli Mosimann. Together, they released “Dirtdish” in 1986.
All Music Guide pointed out that “Thirwell’s eccentric trademark sound — a confrontational sonic tapestry based on harshly recorded instruments, noises, samples, and voices — is firmly established on Deaf.” Further on, they also added that “The songs are twisted heaps of sound that sometimes resemble Frank Zappa outtakes being pummeled to death by Einstürzende Neubauten — and Thirwell’s scatological, antisocial lyrics only add to the bizarreness. If you’ve got the stomach for it, Deaf can be rewarding — but it’s also a great way to clear the room at a party.”
A whole number of records/projects followed – Thirlwell recorded “Thaw”  as Foetus Interruptus in 1988, teamed up with members of Hugo Largo, Swans and Unsane for Foetus Corruptus project (they released Rife EP and full-length “Male” under the name Foetus In Corruptus Deluxe in the early 90s). Some of his other bands/projects included Steroid Maximus, Baby Zizanie, Flesh Volcano, Garage Monsters and many others.
AMG commented on “Thaw” – Although the aural assaults of Foetus could never be described as commercial, on 1988’s Thaw, Jim Thirlwell reaches his most accessible. All the traditional harsh, machine-based noise is still present, but in slightly more conventional patterns than before.”
Discography:
Deaf CD / LP (Self Immolation, 1981 / Thirsty Ear, 1997)
OKFM / Spite Your Face 7″ (Self Immolation, 1981)
Wash It All Off / 333 7″ (Self Immolation, 1981)
Ache CD / LP (Self Immolation, 1982 / Thirsty Ear, 1997)
Custom Built For Capitalism 12″ (Self Immolation, 1982)
Tell Me, What Is The Bane Of Your Life 7″ (Self Immolation, 1982)
Calamity Crush 12″ (Self Immolation + Some Bizarre, 1984)
Hole CD / LP / LP + 12″ /  Cass Self Immolation + Some Bizarre, 1984 /Self Immolation, 1984 / PVC, 1984 / 1988 / Nippon Columbia, 1984 / Thirsty Ear, 1995 / Some Bizarre, 2007)
Finely Honed Machine 12″ (Self Immolation + Some Bizarre, 1985)
Nail CD / LP / Cass (Self Immolation, 1985 / Some Bizarre, 1985 / Homestead, 1985 / 1986 / Nippon Columbia, 1985 / Rough Trade Germany, 1985 / Thirsty Ear, 1995 / Some Bizarre, 2007)
Wash / Slog 12″ (Self Immolation + Some Bizarre, 1987)
Ramrod EP 12″ (Self Immolation, 1987 / Relativity, 1987 / Some Bizarre, 1987)
Rife 2×12″ (Rifle, 1988)
Thaw CD / LP (Self Immolation, 1988 / Torso, 1988 / Rough Trade Germany, 1988 / Self Immolation + Danceteria, 1988 / Thirsty Ear, 1995 / Some Bizarre, 2007)
Sink CD / 2xLP (Self Immolation, 1989 / Wax Trax!, 1990 / Thirsty Ear, 1995 / Some Bizarre, 2007)
Butterfly Potion CD / 12″ (Big Cat UK, 1990 / Wax Trax! + Self Immolation, 1990 / Wax Trax + TVT, 1994)
Reflex / Quit Split (Reflex Flexi #13) 6″ (Reflex Magazine + Self Immolation, 1990)
Vice Squad Dick CD / 7″ (PCP Entertainment, 1994)
A History Of The Future (with Einstürzende Neubauten) CD (Thirsty Ear, 1995)
Gash CD (Big Cat UK, 1995 / Columbia, 1995 / Sony Australia, 1995)
Null EP CD / 12″ (Columbia, 1995 / Big Cat UK, 1995)
Verklemmt / Be Thankful 7″ (Columbia, 1995)
Boil CD (Big Cat UK, 1996 / Blue Noise, 1996 / Cleopatra, 1996)
Null / Void EP CD / 2xCD (Big Cat UK, 1997 / Blue Noise, 1997 / Cleopatra, 1997)
Uberschall 1996 (With Faust and  Stereolab) 7″ (Die Stadt + Uberschall, 1996)
Flesh Volcano / Slut CD (Some Bizarre, 1997)
Violent Silence / Flesh Volcano CD (Some Bizarre, 1997)
Blow CD / 2xLP (Nois-O-Lution, 2001 / Thirsty Ear, 2001)
Flow CD (Nois-O-Lution, 2001 / Thirsty Ear, 2001)
Male DVD (Atavistic, 2003)
(Not Adam) CD (Birdman + Ectopic Ents, 2004)
Love CD + DVD (Birdman + Ectopic Ents, 2005)
Damp CD (Ectopic Ents, 2006)
Vein CD (Birdman + Ectopic Ents, 2007)
Limb CD + DVD (Ectopic Ents, 2009)