Coil spent the next period of its existence exploring visual media. In late 1984 they recorded a rendition of Tainted Love (originally recorded by Gloria Jones, but made popular by Soft Cell in the 80s), producing a widely banned, hallucinogenic video clip featuring Marc Almond as the Angel of Death; despite considerable controversy at home, the video ultimately found its way to the archives of the Museum of Modern Art. After spending several years working with filmmaker Derek Jarman on the feature The Angelic Conversation, Coil issued a remixed edition of their soundtrack. Following 1986’s Nightmare Culture, a collaboration with Boyd Rice produced as split release with Current 93, Christopherson and Balance invited Stephen Thrower to join the group in a full-time capacity. As a trio, they recorded 1986’s LP Horse Rotorvator, introducing orchestral, jazz, and middle Eastern textures into the mix; this album included The Anal Staircase.
In 1987, Coil issued The Unreleased Themes for Hellraiser, a collection of atmospheric gothic instrumentals commissioned for but ultimately cut from the Clive Barker horror film, followed by compilation album Gold Is the Metal (With the Broadest Shoulders), a remixed history of the group’s first several years of work. Unnatural History, another career overview, effectively ended the first phase of the band’s career in 1990; when Coil resurfaced a year later with Love’s Secret Domain, their music reflected the strong influence of the acid house culture. Another long layoff brought on by financial difficulties ended in 1995, when the group - now consisting of Sleazy, Balance, and Drew McDowell - signed to Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor’s Nothing Records to release Backwards, an album which was never officially released, although it is available in a number of bootleg versions. Additionally, they recorded the LP Worship the Glitch, issued under the name ELpH, and in 1996 cut A Thousand Lights in a Darkened Room as Black Light District.
1998 marked a significant stylistic shift for Coil, as the group moved away from the industrial dance sound they pioneered in the first half of their career towards what Balance referred to as "Moon Musick". This began with the release of four seasonal EPs throughout that year, coinciding with the equinoxes and solstices; this marked the group making further forays into ambient and neoclassical styles. Lyrically, there was a push towards naturalistic, pagan imagery, and an emphasis on free form, improvisatory chants. All four of these releases were later collected and released as Moons Milk (in Four Phases) in 2002. Coil also put out a purely drone based project, Time Machines, under that alias the same year.
In 1999 Coil started to work with Thighpaulsandra, and with him released the chilling Musick to Play in the Dark, a dark, meditative work featuring mostly intoned vocals from Balance, and exploring deeper electronic textures and pitches. A second volume followed in 2000. After years of refusal to do so, Coil started to perform live again in 1999. They released a number of albums containing the various shows they did in the period 2000 - 2004. Coil have released a lot of material in very limited editions, and have distributed certain records only at concerts. In 2003 they started a project to re-issue these tracks. Amidst their sporadic touring, and growing internal tensions within the group, Black Antlers was released in 2004, consisting of many of the songs played in concert at the time. This would prove to be the last studio recording put out in Balance's lifetime.
Jhonn Balance’s long-time struggle with alcoholism led to his death on 13th November, 2004. He fell from the second floor window at his home, while drunk, and died a short time after. Coil’s last live performance took place at Dublin’s City Hall on 23 October 2004 and is expected to appear on the forthcoming DVD box set “Colour Sound Oblivion”. A number of songs that were (as good as) ready were released in autumn 2005 as a last farewell to Jhonn.
Peter Christopherson passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 25, 2010. Instead of sending flowers in memory of Peter Christopherson, people were asked to donate money to help children affected by AIDS in Thailand, the country he loved and died in.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coil_(band)
ロイヤル・ストレート・フラッシュ
Coil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
階段を下りきって僕は扉を開いた
Welcome
投げ出されたカードとチップが混ざり合っている
高額の駆け引きの中でくり返しているんだ
手に光る その上に光る何かをさがしているんだ
タバコの煙りの向こうで北叟笑む奴ら
冗談と皮肉織り交ぜて探り合っているんだ
Go ahead
手にある この胸にある何かを犠牲にしていくんだ
目に浮かぶ この腕に抱く鐘は鳴りつづけているんだ
手に光る その上に光る何かをさがしているんだ
目に浮かぶ その夢に向かう彼方は闇にとけだしたんだ
These lyrics are from the song "Royal Straight Flash" by the band COIL. The song tells the story of a person who is tired of the monotony of everyday life and is searching for something more. The person enters a room where a high-stakes game of cards is taking place. They see the discarded cards and chips on the table, and they are struck by the thrill of the game and the high-stakes environment. They feel a pull towards something that glimmers in their hand and in their dreams, but they also see the dark, uncertain path that lies ahead.
The second verse describes a group of people on the other side of the room, smoking and laughing. They are engaged in friendly banter and playful competition as they search for the same thing as the singer. As the singer reflects on their own desires and temptations, they recognize that they will have to make sacrifices in order to pursue their dreams. They can see a bell that they hold in their arms, ringing continuously, urging them towards their destiny.
The lyrics of "Royal Straight Flash" evoke a sense of restlessness and a desire for something more. The imagery of the high-stakes card game and the dark, uncertain path ahead highlight the risks involved in pursuing one's dreams. The lyrics are open to interpretation and invite listeners to reflect on their own desires and aspirations.
Line by Line Meaning
たいがいの出来事にはうんざりしていた
I was feeling bored with most of the things that were happening around me
階段を下りきって僕は扉を開いた
I went down the stairs and opened the door
Welcome
Welcome
投げ出されたカードとチップが混ざり合っている
Thrown cards and chips are mixed together
高額の駆け引きの中でくり返しているんだ
I'm repeating the high-stakes game
手に光る その上に光る何かをさがしているんだ
I'm looking for something that shines in my hand and on top of it
目に浮かぶ その夢に向かう彼方は闇にとけだしたんだ
The direction towards the dream that comes to mind is melting into darkness
タバコの煙りの向こうで北叟笑む奴ら
Guys laughing boisterously from behind the smoke of cigarettes
冗談と皮肉織り交ぜて探り合っているんだ
They're teasing each other with jokes and sarcasm
Go ahead
Go ahead
手にある この胸にある何かを犠牲にしていくんだ
I will sacrifice something that I have in my hand and in this chest
目に浮かぶ この腕に抱く鐘は鳴りつづけているんだ
The bell I hold in this arm that comes to mind keeps ringing
手に光る その上に光る何かをさがしているんだ
I'm looking for something that shines in my hand and on top of it
目に浮かぶ その夢に向かう彼方は闇にとけだしたんだ
The direction towards the dream that comes to mind is melting into darkness
Contributed by Reagan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.