Search - Coil :: Constant Shallowness Leads To Evil

Color : Sound : Oblivion

A Consumer | SF BAY AREA | 01/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Coil's latest foray into the mystically shrouded realms of auditory hallucination yields an experimental work teeming with innovative sounds that evoke a plain, albeit mysterious, sterility. The first track on the album presents a series of electronic drones manipulated with the deft precision not unfamiliar to devotees of Coil's musickal repertoire. The shining star on this CD is the second track (entitled "I Am the Green Child"). Thirteen-plus minutes of absolute beauty, buttressed by the stellar compositional techniques of Messrs. John Balance, ThighPaulSandra, and Peter Christopherson. Without a doubt one of the best tracks I've heard by the band in recent memory. The clang-tint of the marimbas(?) accompanied by the ubiquitous electronic drones and the sepulchral tones of John Balance's vocalizations creates an eerie ambience reminiscent of some of John Cage's "prepared piano" compositions. I love this album, and for those of you who are shameless enough to slander it with unequivocal disdain I offer these three words in the age-old tradition of admonitory repute: "Fie on you!""

Coil Does Not Go Japanoise!!

skin job | Dallas, USA | 12/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Despite the opinions of other reviewers, I found this to be one of the most entertaining of all coil CD's. I write this with an incredible amount of enthusiasm, as this wonderful CD has come into my posession at a time when I had almost given up hope on finding any "noise" that held my attention.I, in fact, do not consider this album "noise," but rather hail it as yet another peice of work from one of the only bands (pertaining to the immediate members and many of those they work with) that still can produce works of art that defy any fully encompassing classification. "Experimental Electronic," otherwise known as Coil, is a dying breed and deserves the respect given to any artist who does not cease to produce work which (although many do not realise it) CREATES classifications.From the moment this album started, I listened to swelling loops of sounds that, over time, shifted to reveal almost every color of noise my mind could withstand. "I Am The Green Child" reminded me of the "peaking" melodies of "Stolen And Contaminated Songs:" Silly yet hiding a deeper meaning if one only listens with their being, and not ears accustomed to conventional music structure.Over the next 30% of the album, swells of cross-modulating chaos-patched soundscapes sent me to a level of uneasy serenity (I don;t quite understand it either) and gave me a natural endorphine high that I have not experienced since I first listened to live Throbbing Gristle.Sudden etherial, echoing vocals over crunchily churning beats and slow oscillations lull me into a trance as track 10 introduces the deep, bellowing vocals that so many Coil fans have slept uneasily to.Although the last track (Warbling laughter from Coil and friends) is a bit unnerving, I certainly hope that it is NOT, in fact, a mockery of their fans. This is a fear that has long lingered under the surface of my pleasure in their music since its suggestion to me, but I feel that I will never know Peter Christopherson, John Balance, and company any more than I will ever know myself......As one who is constantly in doubt of everything, I can honestly say that I quite enjoy the level of control that this album has over me, and look forward to many more, like or unlike it, from my "special friends" at Coil."

Challenging, but rewarding and worth the effort.

Steward Willons | Illinois | 04/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Constant Shallowness Leads to Evil" gets a lot of mixed reviews and it's not hard to see why. It's some of the most uncompromising music Coil has ever made - even noisier than "Time Machines." It's light years away from the style of Horse Rotovator or Scatology, and it's definitely not for all tastes.



Some would say this album doesn't contain music at all. I think that's going too far, but I'm also aware that taste is subjective and what I may call music, you may not (or the opposite). As a big Merzbow fan, I wasn't shocked or surprised by the sounds on this album. However, I can't say it won't be jarring to those unfamiliar with this type of extreme music. I don't mean to imply that this sounds like Merzbow at all - it's just a handy point of reference for the fringes of music.



If we can momentarily set aside the "is it music?" debate, lets talk about how to listen to the album. You won't find rhythm, beats, or even a pulse. Nor will you find chords, harmonic progression, or single notes. Dark, droning clusters and some sweeping bands of noise are pretty much the material of this album.



Since it contains almost nothing of standard music, I don't think we can afford to listen to this album as we would a standard CD. Rather than try to fit some sort of logic based on my previous experience with music, I prefer to hear this as a purely sensual experience. For the duration of the album, I enter a foreign sound world of otherworldly ambience. It's a unique experience. I recommend listeners just sit back, turn out the lights, and let the sound wash over them as Coil assaults the eardrums.



Some have expressed the opinion that this is just a big joke or that Coil is behind on their rent and threw some crap together to have another album for sale. I would urge these listeners to revisit the work and listen for the details. Does it sound like it was thrown together? Aren't there themes and motives at work here? Although the compositional method is much different from their other work, I would argue that it sounds as composed as anything they've ever done. It's just a lot different.



I wouldn't expect everyone to like this, even with an open mind. It's just not going to appeal to some listeners, and that's fine. I hope that everyone can at least understand where Coil is coming from, even if they ultimately don't like the results. It's difficult music and since it doesn't conform to any normal sense of "beauty" or pleasure, it makes considerable demands on the listener.



As for me, I rank it amongst my favorite Coil records because, even for such an innovative group, it's utterly unique. If you decided to give "Constant Shallowness" a chance, listen with an open mind and be prepared for a wild ride."