COIL + ZOS KIA + MARC ALMOND - 'How To Destroy Angels'

CSR263CD (3 August 2018)
CD in glossy 6-panel digipak.
Barcode: 0641871745159



COLD SPRING are proud to announce the complete recording of 'A SLOW FADE TO TOTAL TRANSPARENCY'. Recorded 24th August 1983, at the AIR GALLERY, London, UK. Personnel for the performance - John Balance (Coil), John Gosling (Zos Kia), Marc Almond (Soft Cell) and live mix by Peter Christopherson (Coil, Throbbing Gristle).

All audio has been remastered from the original tapes, is previously unreleased, and is EXCLUSIVE to this release.

Liner notes by Michel Faber ('Under The Skin', 'The Crimson Petal And The White').

Michel Faber "Imagine how out-of-step with the dominant culture Coil were when they unveiled themselves in the Air Gallery to perform A Slow Fade To Total Transparency. Subtitled How To Destroy Angels, the music - a backing track prepared by John Balance, John Gosling and Peter Christopherson - bears only scant resemblance to the How To Destroy Angels 12” that Coil would release as their debut vinyl the following year. Instead of the meditative ritual gongs of the 12”, what we hear here is a restless, queasy melange of industrial noise, its eerie whistles the perfect backdrop for Marc Almond as he recites a bitter tirade against an ex-lover".

All orders direct from Cold Spring receive an exclusive artcard.

Track listing:

1. How To Destroy Angels (23:23) - the complete 23 minute piece
2. How To Destroy Angels - Zos Kia Remix (8:32) - a 9 minute unheard remix by John Gosling
3. Baptism Of Fire (4:23) - an unreleased recording of Zos Kia / Coil at Recession Studios, London, England, October 12, 1983.

Reviews:

People's Choice 2018, Toneshift

"One of those rare moments in time when a seminal label digs up a thirty-five year-old gem in all it’s dusty profound glory... it recalls a lost understanding of the true underground of the era... the players here really understood the thrill of unabashed performative freedom without repercussions. This recording provides an unmasked look into the hard-edged intersection between live performance, poetry and sound for what it was, packed with unfiltered, raw energy". (Tone Shift)

"The audio of the performance has been superbly cleaned up... This is classic Almond though, uninhibited and set free from the confines of the lyrical pop song format... How To Destroy Angels is a worthwhile audio document of the raw vision of one of the earliest manifestations of Coil. The performance is visceral and extreme...[it] also marked the beginning of an enduring relationship between Marc Almond and Coil... an essential document in the early history of Coil involving performance, ritual and music". (Compulsion)

"This record is a part of the experimental & industrial music history. It brings exceptional artists together who accomplished a truly experimental and visionary work... Cold Spring Records again had brought a truly sonic legacy and industrial treasure to life! An absolute must have!" (8/10, Side-Line) 

"...this is a real rarity, which sheds new light on the origins of band whose effect has been significant and enduring. Moreover, it’s not only vastly illuminating in context of the nascent Coil sound, but a document which joints a number of dots in the wider context: and for that, this is an essential release". (Aural Aggravation)

"Marc Almond recites a long, long tirade against an ex-lover, apparently, and it is a seedy as you'd imagine the early Soft Cell surrounding to be... The Zos Kia remix of the piece is tribalistic, dark and ritualistic. From there it was a small step to shamanistic, all-night rituals. 'Baptism Of Fire' is a very direct recording, very powerful and very ritual... a fine release and not just for Coil completists" (Vital Weekly)

"No, bodiless powers cannot be destroyed, but never mind the theology lesson for now. This release featuring Industrial music icons Coil, Soft Cell frontman Marc Almond and John Gosling (Zos Kia himself). It’s something akin to a holy grail for experimental music fans, and Cold Spring should be lauded for releasing this gem" (A Miscellany Of Tasteful)

"it's historical importance is undeniable as it documents the first steps of the band and underlines their connection with performance art...a hidden gem for fans and collectors" (Chain D.L.K.)

"Almond’s always been a multi-faceted yet grimy jewel, and hearing him in such a sustained state of agitation and free of irony or archness is a rarity, and points to his kinship with the broader Coil collective despite his prior pop success." (I Die You Die)

"John Balance (Coil), John Gosling (Zos Kia) y Marc Almond (Soft Cell), junto a Peter Christopherson (Coil, Throbbing Gristle) en la mezcla del tema en directo, crearon pura magia musical en vivo y este es el registro sonoro que inmortalizo este irrepetible evento artístico tras haber sido depurado hasta su máxima sensibilidad y nitidez musical en esta remasterización... joya discográfica para amantes de la mejor música underground de todos los tiempos, destinada a convertirse en buscada pieza". (Lux Atenea)