2LP - Coil - Black Antlers

2LP - Import

In preparing for 2004’s "Even An Evil Fatigue" live series, Coil began work on their next period-defining masterpiece, "Black Antlers", which showcases late-period Coil at their purest: stripped down, tighter, and leaner. The music became more rhythmic, with a greater emphasis on beats.

The sound of "Black Antlers" is of an intoxicating energy, combining Thighpaulsandra's advanced synthesis, Balance's poetic lyricism, and Christopherson's flirtations with jazz and Ableton-aided PowerBook maximalism. Rounding out the trio were renowned hurdy-gurdy player Cliff Stapleton on a "specifically commissioned" electric variant, to merge into the band's "strange and other-worldly music", Royal Academy of Music trained percussionist Tom Edwards, and European and Near East winds specialist Mike York on pipes, bombarde, duduk and balalaika. Initially released as an "album-in-progress" in June 2004, the proper release was dealyed due to Jhonn Balance passing away that November. Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson would reunite with "Love's Secret Domain" collaborator Danny Hyde to complete "Black Antlers" by May 2006.