Laibach: Opus Dei Revisited, new double vinyl (first LP is a reworking of Laibach themselves, second LP brings original 1987 album producer’s Rico Conning remixes).

Label: MUTE

Opus Dei (translation: God’s Work) was the band’s first album for Mute, garnering acclaim and throwing a worldwide spotlight on Laibach. Opus Dei Revisited presents two distinct new versions of the work, allowing the band to challenge perceptions and expectations, in keeping with the original where they reimagined Opus’ ‘Live Is Life’ (as ‘Opus Dei’) and Queen’s ‘One Vision’ (‘Geburt einer Nation’), two key highlights of the album.

The first LP of the Double vinyl is a reworking by Laibach themselves which was initially crafted, and then refined, for their current Opus Dei Revisited Tour. The challenge to re-evaluate, reinterpret and rebuild the tracks was an artistic imperative.

For the second LP they invited Rico Conning (Wire, Pere Ubu, Swans, Front 242, William Orbit), who produced and mixed the 1987 version, to also Revisit the material. Conning was given an open brief to explore new territories with what was on the original master tapes. The results emphasise and eviscerate in equal measure, bringing wide ranging new perspectives and a strident aural attitude. Whilst many expected elements of the artistic masterpiece remain, they sit in exciting new landscapes and frames, which are anything but expected.