Pope Joanna - Holy Furnace
Pope Joanna – Savior of Power Electronics
by Arvo Zylo
There are plenty of music fans who listen to experimental music, but not especially harsh noise. Others are satisfied to listen to the more prominent artists such as Merzbow, or any of the more hip power electronics artists, but not dig too much deeper.
Pope Joanna is a harsh noise and power electronics project that began in the early 2000s. For around fifteen years, I've been regarding it among my favorites of the genre. Not just sonically, but also conceptually, and it's not limited to layers of distortion. There are organs and synthesizers, and in general, a certain thorough, regal authority that a lot of other releases lack.
Pope Joanna, the solo work of one (pseudonym) Clarisse Ducasse, has a sparse discography, and the work seemed to be an incognito aside to religious studies at Notre Dame in the early 2000s. Somehow, over 20 years later, she was convinced to finish her last full length release under this banner, around 10 years in the making.
Holy Furnace is a CDR limited to 26 copies on Ballast, a thoroughly intimate label. Each box comes with a numbered, signed booklet that has lyrics, an interview, and also pieces of the ecclesiastical attire (“pontifical gloves, stole, and mitre”) that was employed during early performances.
In its 44 minute duration, the audio is dynamic and deeply engaging. Ducasse mentioned being influenced by Diamanda Galás and Masonna, among others. Although I can't say there is necessarily a direct comparison to be made, Holy Furnace does have the intensity of Masonna's material, and dare I say, a hint of the maverick ceremonial audacity that can be found in some releases by Diamanda Galás.
According to the enclosed interview, Pope Joanna is inspired by a mythical Pope Joan from the ninth century, and the general arch of lyrics therein lean toward reflecting “the hypocrisy of religion” by way of its trappings.
Congratulations garbage beast / You always secured the last word, beating everyone into submission with your scripted one-upmanship / All I seek is your silence...
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