If you aren't familiar with Coil, you should be. Nothing can really be said about Coil that hasn't been said already. They were and remain one of the most singular, forward looking artists to grace this planet with their presence. They left behind a legacy that will forever influence those that come after, both directly and indirectly.
How to Destroy Angels had the subtitle "ritual music for the accumulation of male sexual energy" and the cover has a statement of Coil's intent in the creation and manipulation of music and sound. It is a statement that they never deviated from. The music within is a rising and falling tide of clanging metal, low synths and various effects that can have an effect similar to being frightened yet sedated. It is definitely a journey over the course of 17 minutes. It also provides a sound or feeling that would generally be present throughout many of Coil's works to a greater or lesser extent for the rest of their existence.
This 12" had a number of different pressings. The "b-side" is called "Absolute Elsewhere" is not contained herein because it doesn't exist. The b-side is blank. No grooves. There were other pressings that had unplayable grooves, test tones, lock grooves and other things. When the "track" ended up on the How to Destroy Angels cd, it was blank. That cd was also several remixes of the original but not the original itself. The original version is available on the Unnatural History compilation but in mono not stereo. Gotta love Coil. The only way to get the stereo original is to have a copy of the 12".
Coil - How to Destroy Angels 12"
I picked this up at RRRecords in Lowell many years ago for a good price. Now I just need to find the other pressings with all the wacky b sides.
Enjoy!
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