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.
http://www.thresholdhouse.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coil_(band)
Magnetic North
Coil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blue sapphire six-pointed star
Blue sapphire six-pointed star
Deep ruby-red inverted pyramid
Deep ruby-red inverted pyramid
And red rose ??? the skull
Red rose filling the skull
Red rose filling the skull
Yellow cube, yellow cube
Silver moon crescent below the navel
Red ruby inverted pyramid
White-winged globe defines the forehead
White-winged globe defines the forehead
Between the eyes, between the eyes
Black oval egg occupying the throat
Black egg within the throat
And red rose filling the skull
Red rose filling the skull
Heaviness, heaviness
Blue sapphire six-pointed star
Deep ruby-red inverted pyramid
Deep ruby-red inverted pyramid
And red rose ??? the skull
Red rose filling the skull
Red rose filling the skull
Yellow cube in the lower pelvis
Yellow cube, yellow cube
Silver moon crescent below the navel
Red ruby inverted pyramid
White-winged globe defines the forehead
White-winged globe defines the forehead
Between the eyes, between the eyes
Black over back occupying the throat
Black egg within the throat
And red rose filling the skull
Red rose filling the skull
Heaviness, heaviness
The lyrics of Coil's song Magnetic North are filled with vivid imagery and references to various symbols and archetypes. The repeated phrase "Heaviness, heaviness" suggests a deep gravity or weight to the symbols being described. The first two lines reference a blue sapphire six-pointed star, which could be a reference to the Star of David or other esoteric symbols. The deep ruby-red inverted pyramid could be interpreted as an inverted representation of the typical pyramid shape, which is often associated with power structures and hierarchy.
Other symbols mentioned include a red rose filling the skull, which could represent the beauty and fragility of life or the idea of death and decay. The yellow cube in the lower pelvis is likely a reference to the sacral chakra, which is associated with creativity and sexual energy. The silver moon crescent is below the navel, which could indicate a connection to the lunar cycles and feminine energy. The white-winged globe, which defines the forehead, could represent a universal consciousness or a higher plane of existence.
The black oval egg occupying the throat could be interpreted as a reference to the voice or expression, which is often stifled or silenced in modern society. Finally, the repetition of "And red rose filling the skull" and "Heaviness, heaviness" throughout the song underscores the weight and importance of the symbols being described.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaviness, heaviness
A repeated phrase that sets the tone for the song's heavy and intense themes.
Blue sapphire six-pointed star
A powerful symbol of guidance and protection, likely referencing the third eye chakra.
Deep ruby-red inverted pyramid
A symbol of force and power, representing the base chakra and primal instincts.
And red rose ??? the skull
The red rose likely symbolizes love and passion, possibly filling the skull with these intense emotions.
Red rose filling the skull
Reinforcement of the powerful feelings of love and passion taking over.
Yellow cube in the lower pelvis
A symbol of stored energy and power, likely referencing the sacral chakra and sexual energy.
Yellow cube, yellow cube
Repetition for emphasis on the significance of this symbol.
Silver moon crescent below the navel
A symbol of intuition and the feminine, related to the sacral chakra and creative energy.
Red ruby inverted pyramid
A symbol of force and power, representing the base chakra and primal instincts.
White-winged globe defines the forehead
A symbol of enlightenment and spiritual awakening, linked to the crown chakra and higher consciousness.
Between the eyes, between the eyes
Repetition for emphasis on the importance of this location, likely referencing the third eye chakra and intuition.
Black oval egg occupying the throat
A symbol of communication and expression, related to the throat chakra and the power of speech.
Black egg within the throat
Reinforcement of the importance of communication and the throat chakra's power.
Heaviness, heaviness
A repeated phrase that emphasizes the powerful and intense nature of the symbols and themes present in the song.
Contributed by Sebastian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SauloA333
Thanks Mr. Balance
@razieltheangel
Thank you.
@darylcumming7119
Close your eyes and think postive thoughts?
@satyros2
thank you
@andreitarkovsky3214
who are you?
@himalayantongue
where are you?
@pinkmoon4086
yes
@TheCavale40
this sounds like a yoga nidra meditation that is extremely powerful.......
@chadmartinez1594
Its from the Golden Dawn Tattva Vision: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattva_vision
@gwendolynking6303
yes