The pandemic has made me extra-fond of this episode, because it's one of the last "specials" I did before the lockdown, but I think this episode might be suitable for the pantheon in any timeline. I had of course already inducted Coil into the Bombast Hall of Legends, in four stages, to go along with their "equinox" / "solstice" series. Early days! But here I wind up with airtime on what would be Peter Christopherson's birthday, so it's a "proper" chance to devote the full two hours to their music (and other things, with apologies to Jhonn Balance).
I pronounce PC's surname like "Kristofferson" although I don't really know if that's correct--I become wistful about the Dif Juz HoL induction, triggered by that very question. How lucky I was that at least two of them are alive to answer the question. But not in this case. This program is for the spirits, and for the fans, and for the uninitiated.
There is no cool or interesting origin story for me and my Coil records. I'm sure that Jeremy, Friend of the Program, used to encourage me to play Scatology late at night on the radio, many years ago. And there was a kind docent at the local record store, Alex, who insisted I take home The Unreleased Themes for Hellraiser 10-inch. I'm not a pagan, I'm not into male-only onanistic rituals or anything, I'm just a black cishet guy who loves music that is unusual and good and unusually good. My tastes are probably almost as boring as I am.
I guess I stuck with Coil over the years because they were prolific and restless, building a catalog that is almost self-sufficient--not merely a "desert island disc" but a desert island body of work. In that ridiculous hypothetical, you'd hardly need anyone else's records. Also, there are only a handful of “industrial “ artists who (to me) are unproblematic. It’s a depressingly short list--Coil, Cabaret Voltaire, Chris & Cosey, Test Dept., Bourbonese Qualk, Einsturzende Neubauten, Nocturnal Emissions, Zoviet France, I'm not sure whom I'm forgetting...Everyone else seems too close to Alain Jourgensen, too close to Douglas Pearce, or is actually Genesis. This last bit is less trivial than it sounds--Coil's presence on a compilation is a really good indicator of quantity. I've "discovered" a lot of good sounds just picking up the various "various artists" records on which Coil appeared. And I take the willingness to do comps as an indicator of niceness in a person--easygoing, plays well with others, etc.
So I guess that's it.
It was a lovely evening sitting in the studio and letting the music flow through me, loudly, though I couldn’t seem to say anything correctly when it was time to speak. There is a certain magic(k) in the air whether you listen to this in blinding sunlight or at nighttime as intended.
Since this program was broadcast, 418 days ago now, I've gone "on the air" 57 times. I have delivered 53 pre-recorded episodes on account of the pandemic. I am most definitely biased but I have to say that none of those episodes are better than this one.
BOMBAST playlist, 2020 February 27, 2100-2300:
Everything is good and divine
https://www.facebook.com/radiobombast?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/KidCatharsis
Cruising Altitude Departure 30, 2018 December 8
Songs About Bad People: Transmission 436, 2018 December 5
C'mon Queenie, Let's Get With It: Transmission 435, 2018 December 1
I Make My Own True Crooked Way: Transmission 434, 2018 November 28
U_D_M Detour 34, 2018 November 17
Daddy Goes Dancing with Mommy-O: Transmission 433, 2018 November 14
Feels Like Murder But That's Alright: Transmission 432, 2018 November 7
Cruising Altitude Departure 29, 2018 November 3
No More Worlds Like This, No More Days Like That: Transmission 431, 2018 October 31
U_D_M Detour 33, 2018 October 27
People Differ in an Absolutely General Way: Transmission 430, 2018 October 24
A Love Like Ours Is Rare: Transmission 429, 2018 October 17
We'll Be the Pirate Twins Again: Transmission 428, 2018 October 14
There's Always Danger in Your Dreams: Transmission 427, 2018 October 10
Sardonicus Keeps Smiling Till the End: Transmission 426, 2018 October 3
You Broke the World That You're Not Long For: Transmission 425, 2018 September 26
Can I Be You, I Don't Want To Be Me: Transmission 424, 2018 September 19
Dare To Live in Your Body: Transmission 423, 2018 September 12
Hold Onto Your Darkness: Transmission 422, 2018 September 5
If Your Heart's Strong, Hold On: Transmission 421, 2018 August 22
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