Cold Spring Schallplatten & CDs

Review: In 1992, Coil followed up their critically acclaimed '91 album "Love's Secret Domain" with a set of outtakes, unreleased songs and alternate versions recorded during the same sessions. Of course, little they produced in that period was ever less than inspired, and "Stolen and Contaminated Songs" was a far better set than its "odds and ends" nature suggested it would be - as this timely reissue proves. Flitting between string-drenched neo-classical, exotic Indian soundscapes, otherworldly ambient-jazz, Cabaret Voltaire style industrial-electro, contemporaneous ambient house dreaminess, beat-free soundscapes and weird electronic experiments, it's a kaleidoscopic and hugely entertaining affair that's well worth a place in your collection.

Review: In 1992, Coil followed up their critically acclaimed '91 album "Love's Secret Domain" with a set of outtakes, unreleased songs and alternate versions recorded during the same sessions. Of course, little they produced in that period was ever less than inspired, and "Stolen and Contaminated Songs" was a far better set than its "odds and ends" nature suggested it would be - as this timely reissue proves. Flitting between string-drenched neo-classical, exotic Indian soundscapes, otherworldly ambient-jazz, Cabaret Voltaire style industrial-electro, contemporaneous ambient house dreaminess, beat-free soundscapes and weird electronic experiments, it's a kaleidoscopic and hugely entertaining affair that's well worth a place in your collection.

Review: There is little to say about Coil apart from the fact that have been one of the most important groups in the industrial scene since the mid-1980s, and that they've had a massive effect on the state of electronic music today. The band formed and led by John Balance is particularly important for the latter because of the Backwards sound that they developed into the 1990's. This present compilation by Cold Spring is a comprehensive review of the Backwards sound, an incredible blend of dance beats and raucous noise infusions powered by an unmistakable EBM flavour that links up nicely with the likes of Nitzer Ebb, and that whole posse. "Fire Of The Green Dragon" is one of our personal favourites, a gorgeous twist of dubbed-about beat mechanics, and "Heaven's Blade" is exactly the sort of psychedelic, voice-driven techno that we're into these days. This is a must. For fans of all electronic music types. Killer.

Review: Where do we even start with the Cold Spring label? The UK institution has been putting out any music that's remotely related to the industrial domain for over twenty years, and they have featured some pretty legendary names on the label. Names like Psychic TV, Merzbow, Genesis P-Orridge and Skullflower, among many others, and have even mashed that up with visionary legends like Sun Ra. They've got a pretty special line-up this time with Zos Kia, Coil, and Ake all appearing on the same LP. Enough said, brothers and sisters. John Gosling might be the only remaining member of legendary 80s industrial outfit Zos Kia, but it's clear from the sounds of his first five segments that he's still operating with exactly the same menace and dexterity behind the mixing board; this is your thing if you're into bizarre noise infusions and gnarly power electronics. The man teams up with legendary band Coil, spear-headed by ex-Psychic TV member John Balance, and together they offer some pretty foreboding noise-rock cross-overs. Ake's final two tracks tie things off with a devilish twist of tooled-up field recordings that give the term 'bleak' a new meaning. A special release. Don't miss this.