Coil — Time Machines
Like much of Coil’s highly respected & influential back catalog Time Machine has been out-of-print since the early 2000’s. Here from Dais Records, we get a welcome reissue of the album- either as a CD, or as a double vinyl pressing in five different variations- black, clear( 100 copies), Red(400 copies), grey( 500 copies), or clear orange(1000 copies). Both CD & vinyl editions reproduce the albums original brown card & glossy inked circled design. As well as the series of five colorful stickers which take in graphics relating to each of the hallucinogenic substance covered. I’m reviewing the CD version of the reissue, which is as far I can summarise an unlimited edition
For this album Coil where are three-piece taking in Drew McDowall, Peter Christopherson, and Jhon Balance. And unlike many of the projects albums, the sound here is purely instrumental- with each of the four tracks focusing in on a selection of manipulated tones & drones, which try to recreate both the psychological & physical effects of the chosen chemicals.
The album opens with “7-Methoxy-â-Carboline: (Telepathine)”- this nearing twenty-three & a half minute track begins with a slowly appearing, rising, and slightly oscillating drone- this opening makes one feels like it wouldn’t be out of place on the dark Sci-fi space music classic that is Tangerine Dream’s 1972 album Zeit. But as the minutes tick by the mood starts to both expand & deepen the feeling of dark throbbing & tunnelling sonic psychedelics- as the three-piece carry on looping the initial revolving drone, feeding off it oscillating, spinning, and slowly accelerate sub-tones- these seem to suck you deeper & deeper into the drone, while also( at the right volume) somewhat effect ones balance. In its second half we move into a blend of more pulsing & simmering drone making, which nicely flits between bleak & pressing atmospherics, and building brooding tension.
Track three is “5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyl: (5-MeO-DMT)”, and is the shortest track here. And instead of focusing in on the brooding & unbalancing tunneling vibe of the first track; it homes in on a brighter & more rapid collection of drones- these are fed out into jittering & flicking patterns. All of which nicely mimicking the speeding-then-showing white-hot rush of Dimethyltryptamine/ DMT.
The other two tracks “2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Ethyl-Amphetamine: (DOET/Hecate)”, and
”4-Indolol,3-[2-(Dimethylamino)Ethyl],Phosphate Ester: (Psilocybin)” are each of these are equally brain expanding & frying in their unfolds, offering up there own distinct effects. But I won’t go onto detail them here, as it’s nice to go into some of the album with out any hints or guidance on what to expect- so one can form their own experience.
Time Machines is not a Coil album that I’ve returned to a huge amount over the years- as it’s purely either a sitting in a room with volume turned-up album or a lying wearing headphones record. I’ve tried both doing other tasks( like cooking), walking, or trying to concentrate on something else while playing it- and it just can’t be done, you either feel dizzy, lose your footing, or stop what you were doing. But the lack of playing settings & options doesn't lessen the impact & skill of the release- if you want to see what drone can & will do to both your body & mind- Time Machines is the release for you.