WHO THE HELL ARE...

Coil

Rebooted: In the world of electronic music, where obsolescence is almost built in, few bands manage to keep up with the pace of technological change. The software scrapyard is littered with knob-twiddling names from the past, their clunky sounds long ago replaced by newer, sleeker upgrades. But some older versions have survived, and are being hailed by the current generation for the part they've played in the development of all things electro. One such band is Coil, one-time pioneers of computer sampling who are still extant more than 20 years after their first incarnation. Coil are headlining this year's Dublin Electronic Arts Festival (DEAF), bringing their uncompromising ambient-industrial-experimental sound to the Dublin City Hall in Dame Street on Saturday 23rd. With a pedigree that includes Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV, and a list of collaborators that includes Nine Inch Nails, Boyd Rice and Gavin Friday, these guys sure as hell ain't Erasure.

Occult following: At the core of Coil are John Balance and Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson, who began playing together in Psychic TV, the band formed by Genesis P Orridge as an offshoot of Throbbing Gristle. As a one-time member of TG, Christopherson was well versed in off-kilter experimental noise, and found a kindred spirit in Balance. When the pair formed Coil, the scene was set for a journey into the darker depths of electronica, with the odd stopover at psychedelia, techno, kinky sex and the occult. They were admirers of Aleister Crowley, and contributed music to the soundtrack of Clive Barker's Hellraiser.

Sleazy listening: If you're thinking of buying some Coil records for all the family, you could start with 1984's 17-minute long release How To Destroy Angels, which the band describe as "ritual music for the accumulation of male sexual energy". Then check out their nice, catchy début album, Scatology, or their 1984 version of Soft Cell's Tainted Love, which would give even Marilyn Manson the heebee jeebees. Go on to stronger stuff such as Nightmare Culture, Horse Rotovator and Anal Staircase. After all that deviant sex and satanic imagery, you might want to lighten the mood a bit with 1991's Love's Secret Domain. It's Coil's "dance" album - if psychotic jerking is your idea of dance.

Back in black: Along with their headlining slot at DEAF 2004, Coil will be playing at Aldwych Disused Tube Station in London in November, as part of the Seed Records 4th birthday celebrations. Meanwhile, Throbbing Gristle will be appearing at A Nightmare Before Christmas in Camber Sands, organized by All Tomorrow's Parties. Seems like old electroheads never die - they just wait for technology to catch up with them.

Kevin Courtney