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.

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)

Chris & Cosey ‎– Pagan Tango cd

Two days ago I got Cosey Fanni Tutti's Art Sex Music memoir in the mail and I have been devouring it with much interest. I'm about halfway through, right after the breakup of TG and just into her pregnancy and beginning of C&C. She talks extensively about pre-TG activities, COUM Transmissions, her torturous relationship with Genesis P-Orridge (who is portrayed in way less than flattering ways, abusive, physically violent, sexist...) and her youth in Hull , her loving mother, her strict father. I felt particularly sad about the cutting off of contact with her mother as a result of the infamous ICA "wreckers of civilization" exhibition, about which, however, she talks rather little given how important for TG's reputation that event was. In fact, the TG part takes up much less pages than early life/COUM. I'm looking forward to reading about the reunion and second demise of TG. As a tribute to this extraordinary woman who has been central in the shaping of my musical tastes, and with whom I was in love as a teen (there are a few striptease photos inside, too) I'm posting the ninth album of her shared music group with fellow TG-er Chris Carter (her recounting of sexual experiences as a trio with either GPO or Sleazy are fun, plus their making of snuff films), which I heard when I was about 15 from "Big Bear," a scary guy who lived close to mine but whose house I frequented a lot during my teens, because he burned me cdrs of albums by Coil, TG, Current 93, Death In June, etc. When I heard this album I was starting to discover noise and I had read about TG's abrasiveness and horror so I was kinda shocked to hear that this was electro/synth-pop stuff with a hint of dub without any terror inside. But I was especially drawn to Cosey's sensuous, erection-inducing vocals and the dark electronic sound and I now consider it a masterpiece of a music genre I'm not particularly fond of. 1991 album on Play It Again Sam Records.

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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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TGT (The Genetic Terrorists) ‎– White Stains LP (Lustmord & Throbbing Gristle)

Many years ago I shoplifted this LP along with the first Psychic TV album, thinking it was an album by the Scandinavian Satanic band White Stains which had released an album with Genesis P-Orridge. But after some search I discovered that it was in fact a side project of Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni-Tutti along with Lustmord and a guy called B. Ghod. I guess most of us would hope that such a collaboration would produce some frightening and earth-shattering industrial/ dark ambient but this is decidedly not the case as they play 1980s EBM with a minimal bend, kinda like a harder version of Chris & Cosey's late-1980s/early-1990s stuff, combined with manly group vocals, perhaps a more monotonous version of old Front 242. EBM isn't really my cup of tea, but this album is important for historical reasons so snatch it. 1990 LP on Wax Trax!

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