Coil – Unnatural History III

Subtitled "Joyful Participation in the Sorrows of the World". Third in a series of anthology discs collecting tracks that originally appeared on various compilations and limited edition releases.

1. First Dark Ride (1994):
Originally released as Eskaton 001 vinyl 12" c/w "Nasa-Arab".

2. Baby Food (1994):
This track was the first to utilize the recording process known as Sidereal Sound. Recorded in a storm. Originally released by Sub Rosa, Belgium in 1993 on the compilation "Chaos in Expansion". "Baby Food" is slang for the hallucinogenic anaesthetic Ketamine.

3. Music For Commercials (1987):
Originally released by Solar Lodge Records, on the the b-side of the "Hellraiser 10". These short pieces were commissioned and in most cases used in real TV commercials.

4. Panic (12" Version) (1985):
This is the Dionysian remix from the b-side of our first 12" single "Tainted Love". Its curious and somewhat clumsy construction is due to the fact that we were editing it on the original digital 3/4" video-tape system, rather than more recent 'hard drive' systems and we were playing in the dark. "'The Only Thing to Fear is Fear Itself' - huh! These days I'm scared of everything" - J.B.

5. Neither His Nor Yours (1985):
Recorded at Paradise Studios, London England May 5th, 1985. A track originally donated to John Giorno Poetry Systems to raise money for various New York based AIDS charities. [Taken from "A Diamond Hidden In The Mouth Of A Corpse" compilation LP.]

6. Feeder (with Chris & Cosey) (1988):
Originally released on "Core - Conspiracy International Project" by CTI, 1988. This track is the result of passing tapes in the post between Coil and Chris & Cosey. John Balance's lyrics and vocals are spirit voices, recorded in a deliberate trance-state.

7. Wrong Eye (1990):
Originally released with "Scope" on Shock 45 as a 7" single. There were various editions: 26 lettered and signed copies, 974 numbered copies in white sleeves, 1000 copies in yellow, and 1000 copies in green. Some came with an additional gold Demon sticker. Hell for the collector to collect. The vocals on "Wrong Eye" were twisted out of Rose McDowall. Charles Hayward provided additional drums. Both these tracks come from the "Love's Secret Domain" sessions - "Wrong Eye" being a rough sketch of "Windowpane". Contrary to rumour "Scope" is not an early version of "Her Friends the Wolves (Stripped him Naked)" but was a studio jam with Steve and John Balance both deeply experimenting with MDMA.

8. Meaning What Exactly? (1991):
This was originally intended to be an extended introduction to the track "Things Happen" which subsequently appeared on "Love's Secret Domain" featuring Annie Anxiety on stream of consciousness vocals. It eventually appeared on "The Portable Altamont" CD compilation of all the Shock45 singles.

9. Scope (1990):
See #7 above.

10. Lost Rivers of London (1996):
Originally released on "Succour - The Terrascope Benefit Album" to benefit the magazine tolmaic [sic; i.e., Ptolmaic] Terrascope. The track was written and recorded in one day to meet the deadline. Part of the text comes from "Vignettes - A Miniature Journal of Whim and Sentiment" by Hubert Crackanthorpe, published by John Lane, 1896.

On back cover:
Cover Artwork features details of 'Pope Adrian 37th' by Nick Blinko. Reproduced by kind permission of the artist.
World Serpent Distribution.
Made in England.

Packaged in a clear-tray jewel case with 8-page illustrated booklet that includes song titles, credits, and notes.