The Lyrics

1982
1986
1987
1988
1989
1991
1992 Voyager
1992 Ultraconformist
1993
1995
1996 20 Vodka Jellies
1996 Stop This!
1997
1998


Lusts Of A Moron
'Lusts Of A Moron', the complete lyrics of Momus 1982-92, was published by Black Spring Press in 1992.

ISBN 0-948238-14-3. Black Spring Press, 63 Harlescott Road, London SE15 3DA

The NME reviewed it thus:

HERE IS a suitably bold and uncompromising artefact to consolidate Nick Currie's reputation as self-appointed poet-spokesman for North London's bohemian netherworld. A decade of lyrics in two dozen random typefaces, all spilling promiscuously across wide white sheets of virgin paper and soiling them forever. No background, no biography, with only the odd picture of some slightly suggestive flowers for illustration.

There is progression here, with 1982's bittersweet love poetry quickly fleshing out into morally-ambivalent Euro-drama and allusion-laden wordplay. The weighty historical and religious trappings of 1986's 'Circus Maximus' make heavy reading, but just a year later 'all I dream about these days is sex with strangers'. Kinky couplings and their resulting emotional knots become his consuming obsession.

For half a decade Momus trawls through seedy suburbs and becomes 'Marquis of Sadness... leading light of the Bitterati'. Equal parts Maoist, masochist and misogynist, he is splendidly two-faced in 'The Homosexual' and sneakily quotes Mick Jagger on 'Hairstyle of the Devil', the best sexual jealousy song ever written. By 1992, however, our jaded libertine is traversing the endless void of space and Siberia's arctic wasteland, seemingly above carnal concerns.

The haughty arrogance of this anthology - even Lou Reed provided footnotes and interviews for his collection - is almost its downfall. But being gorgeously packaged and well-crafted enough to repay close attention, Currie's elegant musings will doubtless find themselves spreadeagled across coffee tables in select salons.

Stephen Dalton


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