Jehovahkill is the eighth album by Julian Cope, released in 1992. Its original version was titled Julian H. Cope. The album cover depicts the Callanish Stones, a site with a cruciform layout that predates Christ by at least 2,000 years. Moving into what he later described as the second part of a trilogy of albums, Jehovahkill sees Julian Cope's focus shift from environmental collapse to raging against the destructiveness of mainstream religion and an attendant celebration of earlier, heathen impulses. The artwork and design draw this out further, with Cope providing commentary on a number of ancient megalithic temples and sites, along with attendant poetry. As with Peggy Suicide, though, the music is what is first and foremost, and following that earlier album's success Cope was on a roll. With only Skinner and Cosby making up the core band this time out, plus a variety of guest performers and snippets (including cult musician / astronomer Dr. Fiorella Terenzi on the crazed Krautrock / funk of Poet Is Priest...), Cope turned in another 70-minute-long effort. Soul Desert, the opening number, actually almost picks up where Peggy Suicide left off, with Las Vegas Basement, with the same low-key late-night vibe. Cope's voice is again at full strength, whether gently singing or just going all out; here he's able to do both as the song amps up further about halfway through. From there Jehovahkillmove through three phases, much like Peggy Suicide was divided into four. The overall tone of the record is looser than Peggy, with Cope's various celebrations and condemnations often sounding like they were captured on a first-time run-through. He definitely sounds like he's more performing intense rituals instead of songs, as on the powerful, building intensity of Up-Wards at 45 Degrees and the awesome The Tower. Combined with everything from the rural blues-goes-drone rock of The Mystery Trend and the combined Neu! / Stooges tribute The Subtle Energies Commission to the amusing Julian H. Cope, it adds up to another fine Cope album.
2LP - Double 180 Gram Vinyl with Download.