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)
Who'll Fall
Coil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What happens, what goes through your head, between throwing yourself off, and actually dying? I wondered what you thought of it. Perhaps you could call me and tell me because it would help me, because I have a terrible fear of heights, and for me, just the idea of falling, so far, and being alive... And I just wondered if things go through your head - you know, people that you love, and that, or things that you feel that you should've done - flash before you, but you can't do anything about it. I just wondered what you thought
You're probably the only person that I can call right now. And... I'd like to see you, because I think, in a funny way we're doing that... we're just... don't really connect. One day, you know, you're gonna fall, or I'm gonna fall, or something's gonna happen and... anyway. Well, I'm very sad. You know my number. Hope you're both well. Lots of love. Bye
The lyrics to Coil's song "Who'll Fall" depict a phone conversation between two individuals, where one person is informing the other about the suicide of their friend, Peter. The singer shares the shock and sadness they are experiencing upon hearing the news. They express their curiosity about the moments and the thoughts that go through a person's head between the act of throwing oneself off a cliff and the eventual death. The singer contemplates if certain thoughts and emotions about loved ones or regrets flash before one's eyes during that time. The singer reaches out to the person they are speaking to, seeking comfort and connection in the midst of their fear and grief. The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability, uncertainty, and a longing for understanding in the face of tragedy.
Line by Line Meaning
Peter, a friend of mine's just committed suicide.
A person named Peter, who was a friend of mine, has recently taken their own life.
He was a great friend of mine, and it's... I've come back, and I heard that, and it's shocked me a bit and I wanna tell you because, um, not that you know him - that's not the point.
Peter was a dear friend of mine, and upon learning about his suicide after my return, I feel a deep shock and need to share this with you, even though you may not have known him personally.
And he planned it out he had a... he left his boyfriend... I mean, um, he left notes... and things.
Peter had carefully planned his suicide, as evident from the notes and messages he left behind, including one addressed to his boyfriend.
But he... he threw himself off a cliff, Peter, and... I just wondered what you think that feeling is like
However, Peter chose to end his life by jumping off a cliff, leaving me curious about the sensations and emotions one experiences during such an act.
What happens, what goes through your head, between throwing yourself off, and actually dying? I wondered what you thought of it.
I am intrigued by the thoughts and processes that occur in one's mind during the interval between the act of jumping and the moment of death. I am curious to know your perspective on this matter.
Perhaps you could call me and tell me because it would help me, because I have a terrible fear of heights, and for me, just the idea of falling, so far, and being alive... And I just wondered if things go through your head - you know, people that you love, and that, or things that you feel that you should've done - flash before you, but you can't do anything about it. I just wondered what you thought
I request that you consider reaching out to me to share your thoughts, as it would provide me solace. Since I have an intense fear of heights, the mere concept of falling from great heights while still alive disturbs me. I am curious if thoughts concerning loved ones and regret for unfulfilled actions cross one's mind in those moments, even though they are powerless to change anything.
You're probably the only person that I can call right now. And... I'd like to see you, because I think, in a funny way we're doing that... we're just... don't really connect.
At this moment, I believe you are the only individual I can reach out to. I desire your presence because, in a peculiar manner, it feels like we are engaged in a similar struggle, where true connection eludes us.
One day, you know, you're gonna fall, or I'm gonna fall, or something's gonna happen and... anyway.
Someday, whether it be myself or you or someone else entirely, we will face our own descent or experience an unforeseen event, regardless.
Well, I'm very sad. You know my number. Hope you're both well. Lots of love. Bye
In the midst of my great sadness, I want to remind you that you possess my contact information. I hope that both of you are in good health. Sending you abundant love. Goodbye.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: John Balance, Peter Christopherson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@spkelse8677
Peter Christopherson and John Balance talking about the message and voice from this song in an interview: PC: That was a genuine message that was left on our answerphone.
JB: It's just slightly edited to take the names of certain people out - that's all. The rest is as it was left. We came in one evening and there it was on the answer machine, so. . .
PC: We released that and about six months after that we heard that this guy had committed suicide. . . no, I got mixed up.
JB: The guy who left that message is a good friend of ours and he has that kind of mind. . . the cover for the single of "Who'll Fall?" it came out as a 7" on Clawfist and we took the photographs for the cover from a bedroom window of a Coil fan who'd committed suicide while on LSD and he jumped through a 13-storey window. . . so again. . . who'll fall?
PC: Apparently he'd been playing "Windowpane" over and over again on the day he died just before jumping through the window.
JB: He also had wings tattooed on his ankles.
PC: It's his karma. . .
@ohar7237
"Some day either I'm going to fall, or you're going to fall..."
RIP, Jhon Balance.
@geltech6490
This is one of the most crushing pieces of music I’ve heard
@gustavfreipeitsch3810
Yeah, forgot about this song and listened to it today more or less by accident.
don't wanna listen to it, but have to, again and again. devastating. piece of art.
fuck me.
@iblackmovement
This is the most therapeutic track to my existence
@holden6104
So much pain in this song. One of my favorites from them.
@Rin-eq666
My heart cries everytime I listen this one. An unknown emotion covers the whole me.
@Erstlaub
The 'Is Suicide a Solution?' version came out as a 7" and has some extra bits of lovely noise at the start and end while 'Who'll Fall' appears on the compilation 'A guide for Beginners' without them as far as I can tell. Still, one of my many, many favourite Coil tunes ever. I'm also really intrigued from having recently seen Herzog's "The Great Ecstasy of the Woodcarver Steiner' about the similarity between Popol Vuh's soundtrack, the high speed camera depictions of flying/falling and this.
@rosafiammante5027
Heard this song tonight for the first time, and immmediately tought of popul vuh Steiner...
@julianvw3203
Running on a treadmill with this song on repeat and I'm not even suicidal
@verhaeghen
When the gods want to punish you, they answer your prayers.