Musick To Play In The Dark Vol. 2
Encyclopedia
Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 2 is an album by Coil
currently in its third pressing in CD format; it was also released in double 12" vinyl format.
Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 2 was the second of two albums attributed purely to a style called "moon music," which signify their change from a "solar" group to a "moon" group. Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 1
was the first installment.
"An Emergency" is sung by Rose McDowall
.
The lyrics of "Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)" have many references to Musaeum Clausum
written by Sir Thomas Browne
. This song was also played at John Balance
's funeral service.
as a bonus.
Four different versions of this album were pressed onto two 12" vinyl records:
The vinyl is etched with the following inscriptions:
The fourth side of the vinyl is etched, with craters, as a moon(as seen below).
This album was recorded by Peter Christopherson
, Jhonn Balance, Thighpaulsandra
, with additional vocals by Rose McDowall
on "Where Are You?" The phrase "The key to joy is disobedience; there is no guilt, there is no shame" is whispered at the beginning of "Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)".
A shorter version of "Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)" appeared on the Russian
compilation Пособие для начинающих: Глас Сéребра.
This album is currently available in CD format at Coil's official website, Thresholdhouse.com.
Side B:
Side C:
Coil (band)
Coil were an English cross-genre, experimental music group formed in 1982 by John Balance—later credited as "Jhonn Balance"—and his partner Peter Christopherson, aka "Sleazy". The duo worked together on a series of releases before Balance chose the name Coil, which he claimed to be...
currently in its third pressing in CD format; it was also released in double 12" vinyl format.
Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 2 was the second of two albums attributed purely to a style called "moon music," which signify their change from a "solar" group to a "moon" group. Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 1
Musick To Play In The Dark Vol. 1
Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 1 is a CD in its third pressing, as well as a 12" vinyl, by Coil.Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 1 was one of two albums attributed purely to a style called "moon music", which signified their change from a "solar" to a "moon" group. Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 2...
was the first installment.
"An Emergency" is sung by Rose McDowall
Rose McDowall
Rose McDowall is a Scottish musician, most notably as a vocalist in the pop band Strawberry Switchblade.-History:...
.
The lyrics of "Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)" have many references to Musaeum Clausum
Musaeum Clausum
Musaeum Clausum , also known as Bibliotheca abscondita, is a tract written by Sir Thomas Browne first published posthumously in 1684. The book contains short descriptions of supposed, rumoured or lost books pictures and objects...
written by Sir Thomas Browne
Thomas Browne
Sir Thomas Browne was an English author of varied works which reveal his wide learning in diverse fields including medicine, religion, science and the esoteric....
. This song was also played at John Balance
John Balance
John Balance , born in Mansfield, England, was the founder of the experimental music group Coil, along with his partner Peter Christopherson...
's funeral service.
Editions
The first 1,000 mail-order copies of the CD came with Coil Presents Time MachinesCoil Presents Time Machines
Coil Presents Time Machines was a live CD by Coil. This CD was produced in a limited amount of 1,000 copies and was given away with the initial mail orders of Musick To Play In The Dark Vol. 2. The CD is a live performance which took place on April 2, 2000 at the Cornucopia festival in the Royal...
as a bonus.
Four different versions of this album were pressed onto two 12" vinyl records:
- A standard edition limited to 1300 numbered copies.
- A special edition limited to 50 (see below) copies with one light blue record and one light green one.
- "60 signed and numbered copies on amethyst coloured vinyl packaged in a white gatefold sleeve with a moon & trees picture attached to the front, a handprint in off-white paint on the back, a note saying that it is "suitable for framing (but beware of sunlight!)", and two signed prints. The records themselves have plain white labels, with gold leaf attached to the label on side four." -Brainwashed.com.
- A special "Trauma" edition is said to be limited to 26 copies, which are lettered A to Z; however this edition might be limited to 13 copies, with two letters per set. "It was pressed white vinyl with plain white covers smeared with John Balance's own blood during a "psychotic/demonic episode". These also contain the cover picture and prints from the amethyst edition listed above. Initially, only 11 copies were to be sold with the remainder being held by Coil in their personal archive, but the edition was expanded due to high demand." -Brainwashed.com
The vinyl is etched with the following inscriptions:
- Side A: "REFLECTING THE MIRROR OF THE SEA"
- Side B: "HATHOR IS THE COW THAT JUMPED OVER THE MOON"
- Side C: "LAST ONE OUT TURN OFF THE LIGHTS"
The fourth side of the vinyl is etched, with craters, as a moon(as seen below).
This album was recorded by Peter Christopherson
Peter Christopherson
Peter Martin Christopherson, a.k.a. Sleazy was a musician, video director and designer, and former member of the influential British design agency Hipgnosis....
, Jhonn Balance, Thighpaulsandra
Thighpaulsandra
Thighpaulsandra is a Welsh experimental musician and multi-instrumentalist known mostly for performing on synthesizers and keyboards. As Tim Lewis, he began his career working with Julian Cope. A collaboration with Cope in 1993 followed, as the experimental duo Queen Elizabeth...
, with additional vocals by Rose McDowall
Rose McDowall
Rose McDowall is a Scottish musician, most notably as a vocalist in the pop band Strawberry Switchblade.-History:...
on "Where Are You?" The phrase "The key to joy is disobedience; there is no guilt, there is no shame" is whispered at the beginning of "Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)".
A shorter version of "Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)" appeared on the Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
compilation Пособие для начинающих: Глас Сéребра.
This album is currently available in CD format at Coil's official website, Thresholdhouse.com.
CD release
- "Something" – 5:02
- "Tiny Golden Books" – 12:19
- "Ether" – 11:32
- "Paranoid Inlay" – 7:17
- "An Emergency" – 1:18
- "Where Are You?" – 7:53
- "Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)" – 11:32
2×12" release
Side A:- "Something" - ?
- "Tiny Golden Books" - ?
Side B:
- "Ether" - ?
- "Paranoid Inlay" - ?
Side C:
- "An Emergency" - ?
- "Where Are You?" - ?
- "Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)" - ?
Participants
- John BalanceJohn BalanceJohn Balance , born in Mansfield, England, was the founder of the experimental music group Coil, along with his partner Peter Christopherson...
- Peter ChristophersonPeter ChristophersonPeter Martin Christopherson, a.k.a. Sleazy was a musician, video director and designer, and former member of the influential British design agency Hipgnosis....
- ThighpaulsandraThighpaulsandraThighpaulsandra is a Welsh experimental musician and multi-instrumentalist known mostly for performing on synthesizers and keyboards. As Tim Lewis, he began his career working with Julian Cope. A collaboration with Cope in 1993 followed, as the experimental duo Queen Elizabeth...
- Rose McDowallRose McDowallRose McDowall is a Scottish musician, most notably as a vocalist in the pop band Strawberry Switchblade.-History:...
, vocals on "An Emergency"