Male

Foetus (and all the variations thereof) has always been JG Thirlwell on his own, either composing using a battery of synths and programs or bringing in studio musicians to play his manic compositions. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, though, he would occasionally assemble a lineup of kindred spirits — mostly members of New York noise-rock acts like Swans and Cop Shoot Cop — and rampage onstage. Male is a double disc recorded at CBGB with guitarist Norman Westberg, Hahn Rowe on violin and guitar, Algis Kizys on bass, David Ouimet on samplers and trombone, and Vinnie Signorelli on drums. In addition to versions of Foetus classics like “I’ll Meet You in Poland Baby,” “Free James Brown” and “Anything (Viva!),” the set list includes versions of songs by Thirlwell’s side project Wiseblood and covers of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band’s “Faith Healer” and Tad’s “Behemoth.”