Coil – Love's Secret Domain 2XCD reissue

Listening to Coil for the first time at the age of 15 (it must have been Musick To Play In The Dark 2 or Scatology or one of the Unnatural History compilations) really was a life-changing experience, even without knowing anything about their musical backgrounds or their personal identities, which I would start discovering a bit later. And I still remember the day I read about John Balance's death on a DC++ hub/chat; it was one of the few artist deaths that really shook me. And in 2002 they performed live at my hometown, I really can't describe Balance with his hoodie, the xylophones, man.

So I actually also heard Love's Secret Domain very little after I had heard the three aforementioned LPs but boy. Until then I knew next to nothing about more "conventional" electronic music and this was one experience that was confounding, to hear sth that sounded slightly mainstream - for my then black metal and hardcore punk and kinda harsh noise standards - but also so sinister, and far out and hypnotic and sensual and whatever. First I was shocked by "The Snow" and by "Dark River" and I thought, "bro how much has Ulver listened to this shit," and then "Lorca Not Orca" with that reprise of "Teenage Hospital" in the background (though I must say that the version on The Ape Of Naples is by far my favorite) and then fuuuuck "Windowpane" and how many hours I've spent watching the video clip and even playing it non-stop at my university department's occupation we did years later.

So, this is the double cd reissue with some liner notes by Stephen Stapleton if I remember correctly (the cd is in my car actually so that I listen to "Lorca Not Orca" on repeat during nighttime driving, and the second cd is full of goodies: a latin guitar rendition of "Teenage Lightning" that is different to "Lorca Not Orca" that is utterly beautiful, a rhythmic version of "Dark River," the heartbreakingly beautiful cabaret-like "The Dark Age of Love," an instrumental of the title track. Must hear, a really respectful reissue to one of the best albums of all time. 2021 2 X CD on Infinite Fog Productions.

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PS1: I reached the age of 37 to actually feel for the first time that I fell in love with a woman and actually made a move for her. I doubt she will ever read this. She is the most beautiful, confounding creature ever and she broken my bloodthirsty communist iron-clad heart to so many pieces it will never be glued again. Last Easter I spent a whole night awake with her, staring at her, caressing her, bringing tears to her eyes. After countless joints and drinks I said goodnight to her with an embrace and a kiss on her forehead. She drove home and I slept in my car for two hours until the morning came to drive to my hometown 500 km away for Easter holidays. When I got into my car, I played Love's Secret Domain and sent her a link to "Lorca Not Orca." She loved it. I loved her. I love her. But it was destined to die from the first moment. So I destroyed it. Now the memories of her will continue with the musics I sent her and that I loved and that I hoped we would listen to together.

PS2:

 

That was in your words the best Thursday of your life. Do you remember that the quintessential breakup song of all time was the song that brought us together? A day earlier you told me that I was that excerpt from Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human. And do you remember that I told you that I pictured you as the following lyrics from "Black?" 

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life 

I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky, but why 

Why, why can't it be, oh can't it be mine? 

Do you remember the road overlooking the whole city? Do you remember that blue dress you wore just for me? You looked like an angel, just the incarnation of your name. Do you remember the stockings you tore with your nails so I could penetrate you? Do you remember how much I wanted to be with you but was scared because I knew you would be a star in somebody else's sky, but it couldn't be mine? And that that desperation drew you to me? Yes, I eventually broke that promise I gave you that day, but I did it because you wanted me to act in contrast to my promise. And next year, on the anniversary of that Thursday I will go again up there, on that road. And how I wish there would be a miracle and you would come up there too to wipe the tears from my eyes.

Coil ‎– Astral Disaster Sessions Un/Finished Musics

With COVID-19 waiting outside our door, it's incredibly hard for me to do regular posts. I am a teacher and my job has been indefinitely closed so I'm at home, but me and my wife and disinfecting the house all day to protect our baby boy, and when I go out twice a week to shop we follow a fucking protocol with clothes, gloves, bags and disinfect all shopped products. Plus, I have to do skype lessons so no time left. Thus, any time I am able to post anything, it will probably be without any comments/review thing. Here's Coil's unreleased tracks from the majestic Astral Disaster. 2018 LP on Prescription.

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Coil - Live - Copenhagen 2002

A rather noisy concert performed by Coil in Copenhagen in 2002 which is now offered for free on Thighpaulsandra's website. It features, among others, a very heavy and dark version of "Are You Shivering?", a trippy one of "Ostia The Death of Pasolini," and a cover of "Bang Bang," along with a very obviously heavily drunk John Balance. You can get it either from the source, or from my upload, it's your call.

Coil - Swanyard 2 X Cd

Rather passable compilation of early version of tracks that later appeared on Backwards, The New Backwards, and The Ape of Naples, as well as other 1990s unreleased tracks that sound more like sketches than fully-crafted songs. But I guess like most people who have bought this, we cried oooohhhh Coil archive material and bought it at the blink of an eye. Btw, these tracks come from Danny Hyde's archive, which have made it even more tempting to buy the thing. 2019 2 X CD on Infinite Fog Productions.

Disc 1
Disc 2

Coil ‎– The Gay Man's Guide To Safer Sex +2

Don't quite understand the necessity of this compilation, but it's still fun. You get the two versions of the "Theme to the Gay Man's Guide To Safer Sex," plus two version of another track on the same TV program, plus the two "Nasa-Arab" songs from Stolen And Contaminated Songs which you already know and love. So, the two title tracks sound to me as the most commercial Coil ever reached and that's a great thing! Very relaxing and sensual acid house/psychedelic dub with an awesome female vocal loop, that really woke me up as I was driving home last night on the highway. The other two songs, Exploding Frogs/Omlagus Garfungiloops, have the same dark cabaret bass line and some far out keyboards, vocals, and sax which remind me a little bit of what Throbbing Gristle unsuccesfully tried to do on Part Two-The Endless Not in a more house approach, and I love it as well. The key words here are sensual and erotic, and it is a great listening suggestion for this fucking heatwave across Europe these days. 2019 cd on Musique Pour La Danse.

PS. Some days earlier I was again driving on the highway at midnight, and I was listening to Neurosis' Times of Grace at quite a high volume and it gave me the creeps! I then stopped at a highway toilet in the middle of nowhere just with trees and stopped lorries with drivers sleeping inside and so scared was I that I peed like ultrafast and didn't even wash my hands!

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Throbbing Gristle - Heathen Earth remastered & reissued

This is the Throbbing Gristle album that really lives up to their musical reputation of being the bleakest group of their time. I'd be brave enough to say that up till that point every album of theirs, including DOA had some lighter moments that took something away from the industrial ominousness they promised and strove for. But in this live recording in front of their friends, everything is appropriately horrid, with the highlights being a gruesome version of "Six Six Sixties" from 20 Jazz Funk Greats and an amazing instrumental rendition of "Something Came Over Me." The second cd of the reissue features various live recordings of songs that have already appeared in the TG24. This is the 2018 Mute remastered re-release of the original 1980 album.

Disc 1
Disc 2 (Bonus)

Mutant Throbbing Gristle tribute cd

 


This is a tribute/remix cd of TG classics ("United," "Hot on the Heels of Love," Hamburger Lady," "Still Walking," "Persuasion," and "What A Day"), revisited by Carl Craig, Motor, Hedonastik, Two Lone Swordsmen, Ratcliffe, and Carter Tutti themselves. Some of the tracks have too much of a modern electronic, almost club-ish vibe, but a few manage to stay faithful to the TG spirit (if not letter), like Hedonastik's "What A Day," which also has a late Coil-like feel to it, or Carl Craig's "Hot on the Heels," which sounds as late-70ish as the original one. Good for collecting reasons. 2004 cd on NovaMute.

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Throbbing Gristle ‎– Kreeme Horn: In Praise of The Grotesque

This is probably one of the first - if not the first - group recordings of TG in 1975, albeit not including Sleazy, who would complete the line-up in 1976 I think. This is mainly Genesis and Chris Carter doodling in the studio with synthesizers, violins and guitars, while Cosey is also present with morre guitar blood-chilling. The signs of TG filth are already here, as horror synth effects and sinister guitar delays mix with schizophrenic little rhythms and melodies, which would all characterize the evil of the wreckers of civilization. My favorite track is the third one, "Raw Mode of Life," which has more of a psychedelic medieval drone mood somewhat similar to Popol Vuh and other German Kosmische groups. Necessary stuff. 1997 cd on Dossier.

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