COIL
Initially established in 1983 as a solo outlet for vocalist and
percussionist John Balance, the experimental sonic manipulation
unit Coil became a full-fledged concern a year later following
the arrival of keyboardist/programmer Peter Christopherson, a
founder of Psychic TV as well as a member of Throbbing Gristle.
After debuting with the 17-minute single "How to Destroy
Angels," the duo recruited the aid of Possession's Stephen
Thrower, J.G. "Foetus" Thirlwell and Gavin Friday to
record their full-length 1984 bow Scatology, an intense, primal
work of sculpted industrial noise thematically devoted to the
concepts of alchemy and transmutation.
Coil spent the next period of its existence exploring visual media:
in late 1984 they recorded a rendition of the Soft Cell smash
"Tainted Love," producing a widely banned, hallucinogenic
video clip featuring Mark Almond as the Angel of Death; despite
considerable controversy at home, the video ultimately found its
way to the archives of the Museum of Modern Art. After spending
several years working with filmmaker Derek Jarman on the feature
The Angelic Conversation, Coil issued a remixed edition of their
soundtrack; following 1986's Nightmare Culture, a collaboration
with Boyd Rice produced as split release with Current 93, Christopherson
and Balance invited Stephen Thrower to join the group in a full-time
capacity. As a trio, they recorded 1986's Horse Rotorvator, an
LP introducing classical, jazz and Middle Eastern textures into
the mix, as well as the EP The Anal Staircase.
After 1987's Unreleased Themes From 'Hellraiser' -- a collection
of atmospheric Gothic instrumentals commissioned for, but ultimately
cut from, the Clive Barker horror film -- Coil issued 1988's Gold
Is the Metal With the Broadest Shoulders, a remixed history of
the group's first several years of work. 1990's Unnatural History,
another career overview, effectively ended the first phase of
the band's career; when Coil resurfaced a year later with Love's
Secret Domain, their music reflected the strong influence of the
acid-house culture.
Another long layoff brought on by financial difficulties ended
in 1995, when the group -- now consisting of Christopherson, Balance
and Dean McCowall -- signed to Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent
Reznor's label nothing to release Backwards. Additionally, they
recorded the LP Worship the Glitch, issued under the name ELpH,
and in 1996 cut Black Light District: A Thousand Lights in a Darkened
Room, the first in an ongoing series of "Black Light District"
releases.
