"The Orchids" first appeared on post-punk greats Psychic TV's 1983 album Dreams Less Sweet as a sparse, elegant ballad with a scrappy punk sensibility. It came to me via Califone's dreamier experimental folk-rock cover from 2005's Roots And Crowns, and revisiting that cover now, I'm reminded that we as a society simply don't talk about Califone enough. Lately, Iceage frontman Elias Rønnenfelt has been covering the song live, and today we get the studio version.
Rønnenfelt has been on a prolific streak lately. He released his debut solo album Heavy Glory in the fall of 2024 and followed it up a year later with Speak Daggers. In between, he and Dean Blunt dropped their excellent Lucre LP. His version of "The Orchids" hews closer to Psychic TV's original, but with a slightly hallucinatory edge, and it includes an audio excerpt from Psychic TV co-founder Genesis P-Orridge's final interview.
Some context from Rønnenfelt via Instagram:
A Psychic TV cover. One of my favorite songs.
Features an excerpt from the final interview recorded of Genesis P-Orridge.
Cover Photo: Breyer P-Orridge “Tongue Kiss”, 2003. Used with permission by the Estate of Genesis P-Orridge.
Before a show, Iceage had been having dinner with Psychic TV at the now departed Pacific Dining Car.
Everyone lulled and entranced by Gen, who, at the end of the table, was pouring out hazy stories on voodoo dolls, ketamine, and Lady Jaye.
I had remained pretty much quiet throughout dinner, not wanting to interfere with the moment.
After, we all walked a number of blocks back to the venue, and Gen came up beside me and took my arm. She, at this point, was walking with a cane and explained she could use some support.
In this simple and literal manner, I was able to give back to someone who had given me so much.
To assist in carrying some of the hindered weight, for a brief while, of someone I consider a paragon.
Listen below.
