The last year was the year I finally gave in and accepted that I’m getting older. I listened as usual to a lot of music in all formats, but what excited me most with only a bunch exceptions where lost & found reissues actually with some current releases of old names thown in.
The year started quite promising with a Sign from Adi Newton as Clock DVA, together with his recent partner in crime TeZ and affiliates Rizosfera the first new DVA album since an eternity after various singles and remixes spread into the world since reactivation ca. 2014. ‘Neosis’ came in various formats, CD was my choice as it beared more content in form of 4 extra tracks. Marketing was on spot this time arround, various limited packages and appeareances accompanied this event and I had quite high expectations. In the long run I listened to it only a few times, musicwise it was exactly what one can expect from Clock DVA, the sonority of Adi’s vocal, semi Kraftwerkian coldness and dark hints between tech and occultism. Actually a solid but not surpsrising album I would have listened more often if it hadn’t gone lost due it’s unhandy A5 digipak folder ArmComm settled on as standard with it’s releases so they need to be stored somewhere other than in a current pile.
Besides he also released solo compositions and various collaboration, check adinewton.bandcamp.com , Spectral Unit (with Enrico Marani), Psychophysicst (without A. McKenzie) and The Anti Group with some more elusive stuff from the archives via a subsription option.
On a sidenote : BEF’s “Music For Stowaways” feat. Adi on one track was finally reissued with all tracks included that where on this and the “Music For Listening To” issues on CD/LP/DL via Cold Spring.
After years of silence a hell of activity, but at least some new material after VOD most likely published every single tape recording from the beginnings in three boxed LP sets starting from 2012-2019. Sorry Adi but this was too much for my bank account so I gave up in completing DVA/TAG.
Another band I gave upon collecting after years was COIL, there where just to much reissues, remasters, half-legal attempts and color variations with few new tracks I obviously had to have. As much as I welcome their music and legacy being widely available I felt amibigious about “Queens Of The Circular Library” being forced on Vinyl. This was always meant to be listened to as a whole as I understood it and not split in sections. To a lesser degree the same applies to ‘Tunnel Of Goats’ from “Constant Shallowness Leads To Evil” but imho this was best experienced live anyway. Coming in March via Dais is “Moon’s Milk (In Four Phases)”, the compilation of their 4 solstic EP’s published (of course in various variations) throughout 1998 together with the 2002 appendix of the bonus disk added to the Eskaton 2CD Reissue. This might be one of the last offerings as all releases when Drew McDowall and / or Thigpaulsandra (excluding the live ones) where involved are available now again. Danny Hyde seems to have published all his outtakes and mixes too so the big question is still open : Will their 80’s releases and early Albums up to “Love’s Secret Domain” ever be reissued ?
As of now VOD announced a John Balance 8LP Box Set in a woodcase with t-shirt and whatever determined to be a collectors item containing earliest recordings and collaborations and earliest Coil (solo & with Sleazy) in two editions, regular version 666 copies + 133 extra limited ones which can’t be purchased without the other. Most likely this is the last of his Vinyl endavours as the gobal postage and economical pressures took his toll. We’ll see, as next project he’s announced CD Box Sets already and if they’re made with the same care they can’t be bad.
At least David Kenaan’s English Hidden Reverse Book on Current 93 / Nurse With Wound and Coil got finally a repress via Strange Attractor with some expansions now and hopefully a little more Coil and less C93 content now but as far as I read it’s only already published material about artists who interesected with them originally as Furfur. But of course it’s not over with Memorabilia to be plundered, Timeless Editions published a facsmile collection of pages from John Balance’s notebooks. See for other items in various editions for your pleasure if interested.
Drew McDowall, who had left Coil and the UK after “Musick To Play In The Dark I”, published a 6CD Box Set including his 4 solo Albums with added Live and Outtake Recordings via Dais. Just after I completed getting his 4 Vinyl / digital only Albums. I was still tempted, especially after his strong Lamina LP from 2020 and finally seeing him live in 2020 (post Covid restrictions) with his Time Machines interpretation.
While looking after the whereabouts of ex-Coil members there was also a remarkable release by Stephen Thrower with David Knight in the ongoing Modulism Series as digital only release in the guise of UnicaZürn. As all parts of the series linked to an extensive interview and additional photos. If you dig deeper you’ll find Thighpaulsandra there too with another exclusive release.
