Coil - Unnatural History

A superb, genuine opener to Coil's excellent series of 'Unnatural History'. Ever since their earlier inception sometime in 1982, it became of a blueprint to 'expect the unexpected' (and vice-versa) for Coil continuously managed to provoke thought to impressive extremes with their concept of musical menace.

While from one side we have their ultimate demonic and angelically innocent selves on the other, Coil fractured the image of life and afterlife into a bizarre sound philosophy - very rich, very fearful and truly fascinating. When I once lent 'Unnatural History' to a friend, he responded Coil is the most necrophiliac music he's ever heard. This response was actually very funny yet the sincerity of his confusion (or fear) from the offered material seemed very real. Besides 'sound' - organized or disorganized - if you're an autosuggestion freak, then you shouldn't be bothered with this collection. Albeit facing that inner fear we're all running from for the reason society constantly manages putting into our heads is not the bad idea from liberating ourselves.

On this compilation Coil are evidently obsessed (and fascinated) with everything marked 'chaos'. The opening piece called 'Various Hands' featuring deadly fierce orchestral manifest and horrifying bombs exploding is there just for the start. 'The Swelling Of Leeches' goes further into aurally compelling territory (the group seem to have this unexplainable fascination with Horses on the verge of the apocalypse) while the most frightening (and equally brilliant of an idea) seems to be the third piece called (significantly) 'The Pope Held Upside Down'; in all, a pretty gross sound excursion into a pigsty, with layers of screaming and over-processed pig sounds.

A bit childish by title while musically just as frightening, 'His Body Was the Playground For the Elite' demonstrates musical frenzy when in creative hands - Coil coupled with Boyd Rice here, choose to experiment with inaudible white noise drill over orchestral spins. 'Homage to Sewage' or better - 'obsession with feces', contains far more structured, hypnotic loops - a stunning performance. Scary during both - night or day. 'Here To Here' by title suggests a strange walk around in circles. Soothing ambient with powerful use of a fearful sound scape.

'S is For Sleep' works in equal terms of psychological foreplay - a bizarre suggestion that 'S is for Silence, S is for Sleep' tackles the fear of dying during a dream, while 'Dream Photography' demonstrates the dreaming stress, an REM phase during which the sleeper faces exhausting multidimensional image unable to calm. Amazing!

'Comfortable' and one of the most beautiful neoclassical pieces of music called 'Never' seem to provide lonesome means of soothing escape here. While 'Comfortable' aims at finding peace within oneself, 'Never' is an ultimate demand for sadness followed by some tragic aftermath. (the latter is originally sort-of a love snippet from divine 'The Angelic Conversation' film by Derek Jarman). Well, that's as far as Coil vouch for 'peace' on this compilation of compilation tracks - continues the brutality of the excellent walkie-talkie exchange 'Penetralia II', with impressive, groovy sound collage. 'Sicktone' is as it says - quite impossible to comprehend; a simple but in abrasive way, tuneless scrap of drum program and ultimate aural mess. If this is the sound of a notoriously aggressive person's mind, then Coil managed to reach that fact the closest with 'Sicktone'. After exposing yourself to it you lose your common sense; not immediately but slowly drifting into frustration and over-sensitivity.

The closing number, 'How To Destroy Angels' follows the calm pattern concept of 'Comfortable'. More of an audio documented ritual, Coil sustain their excellent run of mood shifting music. Either pure genius or pure nihilism, 'Unnatural History' demands attention - it is not easier after one, two or several listens. It is pure mood music - sometimes it works perfect and sometimes you wish you never purchased it. Still it is a masterpiece that lasts.