Tovey began his musical career after studying performance art at Leeds Polytechnic, but started recording upon his move back to his native London, UK. The songs of his early career (under the pseudonym) all feature synthesizers plus, sometimes, machine sounds like that of an electric razor or an electric drill. Almost all of his songs create a dark, mystical atmosphere, with Gadget's voice hovering monotonously over then unheard of, groundbreaking and still brilliant synthesizer sound effects. The lyrics are either very earnest, discussing subjects like guilt or life and death, or convey a black, sarcastic humour.
Initially, Fad Gadget was merely a moniker for Tovey, but as time went on a band was formed (although keeping Tovey as the main focal point). His longest-serving sidekick was drummer Nick Cash. Other members were keyboardist David Simmonds, bassist Peter Balmer, guitarist & bassist David Rogers and viola player & backing vocalist Joni Sackett
Singles included Back To Nature, Ricky's Hand and Collapsing New People. Fad Gadget was the first artist signed to the then-fledgling Mute label, on which he released four full length albums, Fireside Favourites (1980), Incontinent (1981), Under The Flag (1982) and Gag (1984). After 1984's Gag, Tovey released a compilation, (The Fad Gadget Singles), and recorded five more albums under his own name, whose styles ranged from semi-industrial electronic ballads to folk-oriented protest songs. He last appeared on a European tour supporting his latest album in 1993 and then virtually disappeared for some eight years.
In 2001 Tovey (and Cash) resurfaced with a comeback appearance and subsequently supported Depeche Mode on the Exciter tour later that year, again under his pseudonym Fad Gadget and backed by members of Temple X, whose album he had been producing. (Depeche Mode cite Tovey/Gadget as an icon and a paragon, and his influences can be heard in their music.) Tovey died of a heart attack on 3 April, 2002, aged 45, having suffered heart problems throughout his life.
Coitus Interruptus
Fad Gadget Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I digress, I've tried again
All this love sick repetition
I confess, I lied again
Coitus interrupts
Emission impossible
Catch this blood clot in a vacuum
I'll do it my way
The boys sleep with girl
The boys sleep with boy
Never find that high
Never acting coy
Never acting coy
Coitus interrupts
I digress, I've tried again
All this love sick repetition
I confess, I lied again
Coitus interrupts
Emission impossible
Catch this blood clot in a vacuum
Get your cheap thrills
I'll do it my way
The boys sleep with girl
The boys sleep with boy
Never find that high
Never acting coy
Never acting coy
The song "Coitus Interruptus" by Fad Gadget is a dark and provocative exploration of human sexuality and relationships. The title itself is an allusion to the method of birth control known as "withdrawal" or "coitus interruptus." Musically, the track is built around a pulsating electronic beat and eerie, atmospheric synth sounds, creating a mood of tension and unease.
In the opening lines, the lyrics suggest a sense of frustration and repetition in sexual encounters: "I digress, I've tried again / All this love sick repetition." The singer confesses to lying, perhaps indicating that his previous attempts at intimacy have not been honest or fulfilling. The phrase "Coitus interrupts / Emission impossible" implies that climax has been interrupted or prevented, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction or even despair.
The subsequent lines suggest a fluidity and ambiguity in sexual orientation: "The boys sleep with girl / The boys sleep with boy / Never find that high / Never acting coy." The repetition of the phrase "Never acting coy" may indicate a rejection of societal norms and expectations around gender and sexual behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Coitus interrupts
Sex is interrupted
I digress, I've tried again
I got off track and tried again
All this love sick repetition
Repeating behaviors that come from love
I confess, I lied again
Admitting to lying again
Coitus interrupts
Sex is interrupted
Emission impossible
Unable to ejaculate
Catch this blood clot in a vacuum
Trying to capture a blood clot with suction
Get your cheap thrills
Find excitement for little cost
I'll do it my way
I'll do it according to my own preferences
The boys sleep with girl
Men have sex with women
The boys sleep with boy
Men have sex with men
Never find that high
Never find the level of pleasure they seek
Never acting coy
Never pretending to be shy or modest
Coitus interrupts
Sex is interrupted
I digress, I've tried again
I got off track and tried again
All this love sick repetition
Repeating behaviors that come from love
I confess, I lied again
Admitting to lying again
Coitus interrupts
Sex is interrupted
Emission impossible
Unable to ejaculate
Catch this blood clot in a vacuum
Trying to capture a blood clot with suction
Get your cheap thrills
Find excitement for little cost
I'll do it my way
I'll do it according to my own preferences
The boys sleep with girl
Men have sex with women
The boys sleep with boy
Men have sex with men
Never find that high
Never find the level of pleasure they seek
Never acting coy
Never pretending to be shy or modest
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEX HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A. E.
Coitus interrupts
I digress, I've tried again
All this love sick repetition
I confess, I lied again
Coitus interrupts
Emission impossible
Catch this blood clot in a vacuum
Get your cheap thrills
I'll do it my way
The boys sleep with girl
The boys sleep with boy
Never find that high
Never acting coy
Never acting coy
Coitus interrupts
I digress, I've tried again
All this love sick repetition
I confess, I lied again
Coitus interrupts
Emission…
Carsten Mauritz
Fantastic song & album and how proud I was when I owned it - it wonderfully reflects the early to mid 80's in a part of the black musical scene ..
I miss the time among the fantastically crazy people of that time - it was awesome, rip 🎼 🖤🍷
h aziz
MAGNIFIQUE ....HYPNOTIQUE ....MELODIQUE juste inoubliable !
A. E.
Coitus interrupts
I digress, I've tried again
All this love sick repetition
I confess, I lied again
Coitus interrupts
Emission impossible
Catch this blood clot in a vacuum
Get your cheap thrills
I'll do it my way
The boys sleep with girl
The boys sleep with boy
Never find that high
Never acting coy
Never acting coy
Coitus interrupts
I digress, I've tried again
All this love sick repetition
I confess, I lied again
Coitus interrupts
Emission…
MC Skat Cat
This I'd always stuck in my head.
#'s
Its been a week. Back in yer head it goes...😉✊❤
Enric Esteve Mir
It has a very clear Can influence, sounds like I Want More.
Andrew JS
I'll have to listen to that now. Thanks for flagging it up.
Mike Hydropneumatic
Epic.
Ann De Bondt
Nostalgie!!
theWARMJET
reminds me of Love & Rockets