Gold is the Metal with the Broadest Shoulders
by Jonathan Barrett - jbarrett@bluesky.net.au
This album is basically a collection of odds and sods
that did not make it onto Horse Rotorvator, as well as some tracks from
elsewhere (including stuff intended for The Dark Age of Love which
became Love's Secret Domain). Despite the fact that it is a
compilation, it manages to come together as a cohesive whole quite
nicely.
The album opens with The Last Rites of Spring and ends with The First
Five Minutes of Violent Death. The former sounds like the dark forces
are banging on the door, forcing it open to run manically around
screaming and chanting. The later is about the most resigned sounding
Coil track, the corpse being well and truly gutted. In between we have
premium late 80's Coil, that combines a flair for esoteric melody with
chaotic noise and seemingly random samples. As a link between Horse
Rotorvator and Loves Secret Domain it is perfect.
Stand out tracks include;
- For Us They Will a Scatalogical digging, and one of the more intensely
atmospheric tracks on the album. John Balance (I think) rambles on a
bizarre rabid monologue concluding that "You have to burn to shine".
Reminds me of Tenderness of Wolves.
- Boy in a Suitcase is perhaps the best track on the album. It is a relic
of early coil sessions and features a rare performance by Peter
Christopherson. It sounds quite reminiscent of Psychic TV, and features
a nice quirky brass insert by Andrew Poppy. Unfortunately it is too
short.
- Cardinal Points is a fantastic film score that evokes images of lakes,
fog and towering Monoliths rising out of the gloom. Very filmic, sweet
yet driving at the same time. This tracks points towards the Hellraiser
score, as well as ChaosTrophy
- Of free enterprise and Aqua Regalia include the live takes of the
Acapulco brass band heard on Herald, mixed in with a minor key reversion
of Greensleeves. This works really well as ominous Orwellian theme
music.
- Either His, or Yours is an alternative mix to a John Giorno/Coil
collaboration and becomes a rather groovey little tune as it slowly
builds steam.
- The Wheal, with a rather unCoil-like fuzz guitar improvisation courtesy
of Alex Fergusson (PTV). It reminds me of a New Order outake and is
quite sweet.
Overall, I'd say that, while it doesn't have the greatest tracks, it is
perhaps the most cohesive sounding of the Compilation Coil stuff.
Rather like a soundtrack to some piece of Inner Cinema, motifs and
sounds revolve, disappear and return. Essential for the completists and
a good intro to their soundtrack stuff as it is a little more abrasive
than Hellraiser. 3 1/2 out of 5
Lloyd Barrett 20/5/97
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