Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 1 is a CD in its third pressing, as well as a 12" vinyl

Gramophone record

A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...

, by Coil

Coil (band)

Coil were an English cross-genre, experimental music group formed in 1982 by John Balance—later credited as "Jhonn Balance"—and his partner Peter Christopherson, aka "Sleazy". The duo worked together on a series of releases before Balance chose the name Coil, which he claimed to be...

.

Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 1 was one of two albums attributed purely to a style called "moon music", which signified their change from a "solar" to a "moon" group. Musick to Play in the Dark Vol. 2

Musick To Play In The Dark Vol. 2

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

is the sequel album.

The initial CD pressing was limited to 2,000 copies. Approximately 1,000 of those copies that were ordered directly from Coil include a certificate of provenance, numbered and signed by Peter and John.

The 12" version of this record features "edited" versions of the songs as they appear on the CD. It was released on translucent white vinyl in an edition of 500. "FOR YVES TANGUY

Yves Tanguy

Raymond Georges Yves Tanguy , known as Yves Tanguy, was a French surrealist painter.-Biography:Tanguy was born in Paris, France, the son of a retired navy captain. His parents were both of Breton origin...

" is etched in side A of the vinyl. "IT'S JUST A PHASE WE'RE GOING THROUGH" is etched on side B.

This album is currently available in CD format at Coil's official website, Thresholdhouse.com.

Songs

"Are You Shivering?" is about the drug MDMA, colloquially known as Ecstasy.

The song "Red Birds..." is based on the album Rubycon

Rubycon (album)

Rubycon is an album released in 1975 by German electronic music group Tangerine Dream. It is widely regarded as one of their best albums. Rubycon further develops the Berlin School sequencer-based sound they ushered in with the title track from Phaedra.Although not quite matching the sales figures...

 by Tangerine Dream

Tangerine Dream

Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...

. The name for this song was taken from Nostradamus

Nostradamus

Michel de Nostredame , usually Latinised to Nostradamus, was a French apothecary and reputed seer who published collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide. He is best known for his book Les Propheties , the first edition of which appeared in 1555...

 book The Prophecies.

Piano on "Red Queen" is performed by Thighpaulsandra

Thighpaulsandra

Thighpaulsandra is a Welsh experimental musician and multi-instrumentalist known mostly for performing on synthesizers and keyboards. As Tim Lewis, he began his career working with Julian Cope. A collaboration with Cope in 1993 followed, as the experimental duo Queen Elizabeth...

 and is about the media spreading lies.

The spoken line on "Strange Birds" is taken from Aleister Crowley

Aleister Crowley

Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...

.

"The Dreamer Is Asleep" is about William Blake

William Blake

William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...

.

CD Release

1. "Are You Shivering?" – 9:40
2. "Red Birds Will Fly Out Of The East And Destroy Paris In A Night" – 12:40
3. "Red Queen" – 11:02
4. "Broccoli" – 9:21
5. "Strange Birds" – 7:37
6. "The Dreamer Is Still asleep" – 9:56

12" Release

Side A:

1. "Are You Shivering?" - ?
2. "Red Birds Will Fly Out Of The East And Destroy Paris In A Night" – 8:41
3. "Red Queen" - ?

Side B:

1. "Broccoli" – ?
2. "The Dreamer Is Still Asleep" - ?

Participants

• John Balance
  John Balance
  John Balance , born in Mansfield, England, was the founder of the experimental music group Coil, along with his partner Peter Christopherson...
  
  
• Peter Christopherson
  Peter Christopherson
  Peter Martin Christopherson, a.k.a. Sleazy was a musician, video director and designer, and former member of the influential British design agency Hipgnosis....
  
  
• Thighpaulsandra
  Thighpaulsandra
  Thighpaulsandra is a Welsh experimental musician and multi-instrumentalist known mostly for performing on synthesizers and keyboards. As Tim Lewis, he began his career working with Julian Cope. A collaboration with Cope in 1993 followed, as the experimental duo Queen Elizabeth...
  
  
• Drew McDowall
  Drew McDowall
  Drew McDowall is a Scottish musician, most notably as a member, collaborator and remixer for influential music groups...
  
  

External links

• Moon Musick website