Harman Patil (Editor)

Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 2

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Released
  
September 2000

Artist
  
Coil

Producer
  
Coil

Genre
  
Experimental music

Length
  
56:56

Release date
  
September 2000

Label
  
Chalice

Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 2 httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb1

Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 2 (2000)
  
Coil Presents Time Machines (2000)

Similar
  
Coil albums, Experimental music albums

Coil musick to play in the dark vol 2 full album


Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 2 (written as Musick to Play in the Dark² on the packaging) is an album by Coil currently in its third pressing in CD format; it was also released in double 12" vinyl format.

Contents

Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 2 was the second of two albums attributed purely to a style called "moon musick," 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 and Peter Christopherson described it as "a language that only he knows".

Editions

The first 1,000 mail-order copies of the CD came with Coil Presents Time Machines as a bonus.

Four different versions of this album were pressed onto two 12" vinyl records:

  1. A standard edition limited to 1300 numbered copies.
  2. A special edition limited to 50 (see below) copies with one light blue record and one light green one.
  3. "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.
  4. 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, 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 unavailable in CD format.

    CD release

    1. "Something" – 5:02
    2. "Tiny Golden Books" – 12:19
    3. "Ether" – 11:32
    4. "Paranoid Inlay" – 7:17
    5. "An Emergency" – 1:18
    6. "Where Are You?" – 7:53
    7. "Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)" – 11:32

    2×12" release

    Side A:

    1. "Something" - ?
    2. "Tiny Golden Books" - ?


    Side B:

    1. "Ether" - ?
    2. "Paranoid Inlay" - ?


    Side C:

    1. "An Emergency" - ?
    2. "Where Are You?" - ?
    3. "Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)" - ?

    Participants

  • John Balance
  • Peter Christopherson
  • Thighpaulsandra
  • Rose McDowall, vocals on "An Emergency"

    • Songs

    1Something5:03
    2Tiny Golden Books12:20
    3Ether11:32

    References

    Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 2 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA