lundi 7 Jul 2008, 15h16m
Let me start by apologising. When I started this series, I knew updating irregularly was a better move than promising bi-weekly updates ;) I never ever expected to be tied up for about two years. But then again, I never planned to become a moderator here either, and loads of other things that happened in these two years. A lot has happened these last few years, not everything really necessary to be mentioned here, so I won't.
I want to express my apologies for the fact that part of this review was written two years ago, and (although re-read) not rewritten. I think it might turn into a sloppy review, but I'd like to go on. For one reason or the other, this album does not appeal to me as much as some of the others, although I dread some of the ones yet to come…
Time to move on to the next album in line…
Stolen and Contaminated Songs is to Love's secret domain like Gold is the metal (with the broadest shoulders is a companion to Horse Rotorvator. A companion indeed. Filled with outtakes, alternative version and other goodies.
Released in 1992. Originally in a limited edition of 2000 copies, but thanks to bootleggers this title became widely available in 1993. I recall 1992 as the year of the broken and fixed releases. The latter containing a track that was taken apart by Coil and re-assembled again. The year Front 242 released a live-album, showing what they were worth to all who never saw 'em and the first release of a Laibach-album in the new decade. And one of Holland's best kept secrets Spasmodique decided to do a farewell-gig. (A few years later they returned, trying to get us back in an 80's world of new wave again… it wasn't the same…)
The world remembers 1992 because of (amongst other things) Slovenia and Croatia becoming independent states again, instead of Yugoslavian states, a few months later followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina. The European Union became a fact. Just as Windows 3.1… and Euro Disney. Since 1992, according to the Catholic Church, the Earth circles the sun. (It took them almost 360 years to admit that…)
We all could mourn people like Isaac Asimov, Marlene Dietrich and John Cage. And wonder what happened to a world that was profetisied as both the year HAL9000 was activated, and the year Blade Runner was supposed to happen ;)
1992. School, which I started a year before, turned out to be time- and money-consuming in a way that forced me back to just working. I got my first own place to live and started working in a small club in Rotterdam. This way I met a lot of new friends and musicians. For some-one with a music-affection it was a very nice way to stay in tune.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ab/CoilStolenAndContaminatedSongsAlbumCover.jpg
Track list:
Further
Original Chaostrophy
Who'll Tell?
Omlagus Garfungiloops
Inkling
Love's Secret Domain (original mix)
Nasa Arab
Who'll Fall?
The Original Wild Garlic Memory
Wrim Wram Wrom
Corybantic Ennui
Her Friends the Wolves…
Light Shining Darkly
Since this album is so closely connected to "Love's Secret Domain" it is almost as open and divers as LSD. Funny thing is that, while LSD had lots of people helping, "Stolen and Contaminated Songs" was an effort of just Coil (or at least, the people that were Coil at that time)
Since the original release has seen numerous problems, an unlimited release was pressed. Almost traditionally things went wrong there too, resulting in wee errors whilst printing the inlay and some tracks getting different titles. I will stick here to the titles brainwashed.com has on the site.
My copy of this album is my third… After a burglary I bought a new one and can tell you now: Never lend an album you love to people you like to impress… changes are, you never see either of them again.
Introductions are a bit short, I know, but I am not very sure what sort of news to tell you all more. I am continuing track by track:
Further
Odd voices calling: "This is the dark age of Love" and then there are voice-like sounds… never really understandable, but they are there. Most of the voices here are samples. The track is related to dance, it just isn't danceable. The mentioned voices/samples are partly instruments, or very close to it.
I must admit that movie-samples make me sort of curious and want to see the original movie… which is called Wizard of Gore
Original Chaostrophy
In my "Love's Secret Domain"-review I already mentioned that this is one of my all-time favourite Coil-tracks. Here the white noise and static are not used, leaving a lovely, light melody that stays in your head almost instantly. Only problem is that the track last less than 2 minutes, and is thus way, way too short.
Who'll Tell?
A rather jazzy track with simple repeated lyrics. The result is almost like a mantra. There is nothing happening here, and still you can listen to it for hours. The lyrics are sampled from Charles Laughton telling the story of the movie 'Night of the Hunter'.
Omlagus Garfungiloops
This track is even jazzier. It is teasing. Perhaps I can best describe it as a (little) boys track… The eerie atmosphere, the nonsense words in the beginning and then the "have you been exploding frogs again"-sample. It is almost like seeing the little Jhonn Balance Geff Rushton playing near a pond. Coming home with scabbed knees and pieces of frog in his hair…
Inkling
Still jazzy. I think this album is on the whole jazzier than LSD, an instrumental track. It starts with a piano and some 'organic beats'. Ending in something computer generated and nicely flowing into
Love's Secret Domain (original mix)
I said it before, I am in awe of this tune. I think it is one of the best Coil did until then, and it always manages to strike me… right where it hurts. I still am waiting for that opportunity to whisper this in someone’s ear…
Nasa Arab
Released as a dance track by coil vs. the eskaton. And, after a lengthy intro easily the most danceable track of the album. Together with "Original Chaostrophy" and "Love's Secret Domain (original mix)" the clearest link with the original LSD. I think it is a better choice for floor than "Windowpane". The flow is better. Step by step the track unwinds and slowly reveals its twists and beats. One of my favourites of this album, although also one of the reasons I tend to play this album less. A shame it never became a real floor filler… although I never saw it kill a floor either.
Who'll Fall?
A tragic story left on Peter's answering-machine. The story and the musick… Hell, if only one could be remembered like this. And of course there is the tragedy in the lines:
one day you're gonna fall, or I'm gonna fall…I know this track is not prophetic, but it is striking…
The Original Wild Garlic Memory
I am a sucker for garlic… I love the taste, and the scent. Say what you like, it is recognizable in this track. Most people will admit that -although they might like the garlic themselves- it is different when it comes from another person.
This track is a bit like that. A rather classical piece, with some electronic whistles that might be like a whiff of garlic breath from that unknown guy next to you…
Wrim Wram Wrom
Did this track get its title from the sounds at the start, or was it the other way around? Whatever the order of things, once more on this album everything resembling drums is left out. Play the track loud… you'll hear feel the basses at times. And once again… once you get into it… it is over again.
Corybantic Ennui
Too short, too short!!
Just an enigmatic tune on a clarinet. It does remind me of for Elsie, but I guess that is one for idiots like me ;)
Her Friends the Wolves...
Growling, that is how this track starts. A mechanical sound, an engine made to sound like a musical instrument. My first impression is more bear-like than wolf-like. Slowly more sounds are added, until a very low voice is added, repeatedly chanting (is it chanting??)
her friends the wolves stripped him nakedand just like some of the other voices, loops, samples you start to wonder what was in the mind of Coil at that time.
The track ends like it began. Leaving one to wonder.
Light Shining Darkly
I once read/heard the original plan for "Love's Secret Domain" was to have all tracks be abbreviated as LSD. Obviously that never really worked out. However, it does explain this title. This track is more two tracks in one. And I am fairly certain it is a remix of "Chaostrophy". Cut in two pieces. The first part is a very spaced-out rework of the melody, the second part (divided by a second or two of silence) is a variation of the 'radio-tuning' as can be heard in the "Chaostrophy" on LSD.
The album is a bit like a teaser, keeping the fans occupied whilst something new was cooked (and again, that took a while). It is not better than LSD, it supplements it perfectly though. It is not as exciting, but one can listen to it for hours… and hours, and hours. Always being set on the wrong foot, by either something that was not quite finished, or so perfect it is setting the album that little bit more in the spotlight. Even now, I am not all together sure how I like this album.
Previous reviews:
Zos Kia - Transparent
Coil - Scatology
Coil - Horse Rotorvator
Coil - Gold Is The Metal (with the broadest shoulders)
Coil - Unnatural History - Compilation Tracks Compiled
Coil - Love's Secret Domain