Coil released The Snow in 1991. It was lifted from the outfit’s now legendary album, Love’s Secret Domain – a set heavily influenced by their experiences during the height of acid house and rave. However, rather than a “dance” record, according to co-founder Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson, LSD was meant to be psychoactive (the clue’s in the title : ). Sleazy and creative / life partner John Balance were less interested in the clubs, than the places the clubbing chemicals took you to. Just like Spacemen 3, they were “taking drugs to make music to take drugs to”… and lots, tons of them. The sessions were infamously “heroically” Ecstasy soaked, they were all super high the whole time, and contributors, such as Rose McDowall, were even paid in E. They experienced group hallucinations during, of Amazonian warriors and Babylonian kings, and break-ups and breakdowns following. The Snow seems an odd choice for a single, since it was uncharacteristically close to “conventional” techno and house, and band member Stephen Thrower absolutely hated it. Nonetheless the song was remixed for a CD and 12, and it’s since become sought after. Transmigration have now licensed the package via Coil collaborator Danny Hyde.

The original album mix borrows bits of its rhythm from Civilles & Cole’s house smash Seduction, and its b-line is pure old school Chicago jack. However, as is the way with Coil, the devil, of course, is in the detail. Labyrinthian layers of ghostly gated sequences, rattlesnake electricity, choirs (The Kings Singers’ The Oak And The Ash), and runs of jazzy keys. Coil themselves, in various combinations, contribute three reworks. Balance, with Rose’s then husband Drew, produced As Pure As?, which is 6 and a half minutes of frantic looped flickering. A piece of poignant piano, pinched from Wobble/Liebzeit/Czukay’s How Much Are They?, providing a guiding light. Sleazy submits two takes. The first, Out In The Cold is still banging and busy, but somehow more chilled. The tune now features additional freaky phasing effects, and a hurdy gurdy. The second, The DriftMix, swaps the techno for a slow, stoned hip hop beat. Outsider Jack Dangers – of Meat Beat Manifesto – names his number, Answers Come In Dreams. Based on this evidence, his R.E.M. must be filled with heavy, hypnotic EBM. Pounding, hammering, sonic S&M. Establishing a relentless, brutal, breakbeat loop, he lets spectres of the OG float in and out. Samples of a southern preacher, and a conversation concerned with death, plus our place in nature’s compost heap, significantly up the spookiness. A Part II then bumps the break from the fore, and focusses instead on bleeps and bass.

Coil’s The Snow is out now on Transmigration.

For the full skinny on Coil you really need to read David Keenan’s excellent England’s Hidden Reverse.