Black Antlers

While 2004’s Black Antlers was not the last formal release by Coil before Jhonn Balance’s death – the live album …And The Ambulance Died In His Arms, which appeared the following year, had already been planned and prepared by him and Peter Christopherson – it was the last (mostly) studio effort completed by them together. Either in its original CDr form or in the 2006 rerelease by Christopherson with one track substitution and three further songs, it was an unplanned, unasked-for conclusion for a remarkable partnership. With the core duo assisted by Thighpaulsandra and live ensemble members Tom Edwards, Cliff Stapleton and Mike York, the album showcases a relatively more straightforward song approach than they’d done recently due to its focus on compilation tracks, rerecordings and a live performance cut. Balance’s vocals were more in evidence throughout the album, whether sung and spoken, including the two-part “Sex With Sun Ra.” Two covers further flesh things out, the folk standard (via Current 93) “All The Pretty Little Horses” and Bam Bam’s acid house track “Where’s Your Child?”