Featuring songs recorded in the final days of Jhonn Balance's life, as well as material originally recorded at Trent Reznor's studio in New Orleans, and now substantially re-arranged by Peter Christopherson, this album is ... more »sure to be seen as the 'classic' Coil album of all time, and is not to be missed under any circumstances! Threshold. 2006.« less
Featuring songs recorded in the final days of Jhonn Balance's life, as well as material originally recorded at Trent Reznor's studio in New Orleans, and now substantially re-arranged by Peter Christopherson, this album is sure to be seen as the 'classic' Coil album of all time, and is not to be missed under any circumstances! Threshold. 2006.
CD Reviews
It's only teenage lightening
simpcity | 05/21/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Awesomely and disturbingly designed to replicate a funeral prayer book, one can hardly be surprised to hear the cd begin as organ music: "Does death come along..."
Well, yes.
Taking off from "Lorca not Orca" (Teenage Lightening III), Jhonn Balance drives us deeper into Love's Secret Domain.
Here's what Peter Christopherson writes on the recent Steamin' Soundworks tribute to Jhonn Balance: "Jhonn Balance was my partner for 20 years, both in Coil and in bed. During that time, he delighted in scaring me by diving out into what appears, from the narrow viewpoint of our species, to be a Huge Dark Abyss."
Yes, the sum totality of Coil is that Dark Abyss. The Ape of Naples is just a way of saying goodbye to one you truly love and will deeply miss."
Its true this is the best one
Anita M. Russlemann | TAIWAMORICA | 05/07/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Isn't it ironic that coil return to their roots on their last album. With John singing more maniacally than ever, as he knew his death was imminent,and peter christopherson delving into an elegant atmosphere of noir, coil have returned to their pop rock roots but sound as if they play from 6 feet under, in a stacked coffin space. The music, although not entirely out of character, falls under uncanny timing like most good things do, because as john balance has recently passed, he and sleazy have left us with an album of funeral songs."
Brilliant and tragically prophetic
Marked Wayne | MS | 08/28/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Most casual listeners have probably never even heard of Coil, and if they did, chances are that it was their IDM masterwork, 'Love's Secret Domain.' This is a tragedy, as Coil has produced some of the most cutting-edge work in the history of electronic music, and 'The Ape of Naples' is not only no exception to this rule, but it may be their crowning achievement.
Unlike the gleefully satirical parody of the British techno scene that was 'Love's Secret Domain,' 'The Ape of Naples' is filled to the brim with sorrow and regret, as well as meditations on mortality (vocalist Jhonn Balance died almost immediately after the album was finished) and unrequited love. There is a treasure trove of beauty in these songs, balanced with painful honesty and a wonderful, ironically funereal-yet-reassuring cover of the theme song to the British sitcom "Are You Being Served?", prophetically entitled "Going Up." A must have for Coil fans, and indeed fans of music in general."
The Last Coil Album
The Esoteric Camel | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 06/16/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A farewell album of sorts to the Late Jhonn Balance, a brilliant composer of musick. His emotive vocals are prominent throughout all the songs.The album contains reworkings of older material such as "The Last Amethyst Deceiver," and "Teenage Lighting 2005." It also contains material that was originally started at Trent Reznor's Nothing Studio. The last song on the album is actually a cover of theme for the british sit-com "Are You being Served?" Guest-starring Francois Testory's high tenor, the song is tranformed into an ethereal dirge, a lament for Balance perhaps. Another fantastic highlight is "Heaven's Blade," originally conceived to be part of the now abandoned "Backwards" album, produced at Nothing Studio. It is quite different from the bootleg versions that are floating around. Mutated synth lines abound throughout Balance's engaging vocals. Along with it's catchy beats, it is dancefloor ready, and sure to be heard in upscale goth bars. Christopherson's production has become more fluid and sleek, making for perhaps their most accessible album to date. It is certainly going to become one of the Classic Coil albums ("Scatology,""Horse Rotorvator, "Love's Secret Domain," etc.). This album is an excellent introduction to the band's eclectic and interesting work, seeming to be the culmination of the band's many sounds and musical incarnations."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1