Coil
...And the Ambulance Died in His Arms

Listening to And The Ambulance Died In His Arms plunges us into a sonic abyss, a journey into the depths of tormented and genius souls. Recorded towards the end of Coil's career, this live album captures the raw essence of the internal and external turbulences that marked the duo's final years, formed by John Balance and Peter Christopherson. The album stands as a rare document of Coil's fragile existence during that period. Their performance, characterized by an improvised structure, reflects the tumultuous circumstances surrounding them: the end of Balance and Christopherson's relationship, Balance's struggle with alcohol addiction, and frequent concert cancellations. These factors make And The Ambulance Died In His Arms a unique and unrepeatable experience, a performance pulsing with vulnerability and intensity. For many, it is their best live album (unfortunately, the CD is now available at collector's prices).

Funereal Atmosphere and Whispered Hope

Before performing "A Slip in the Marylebone Road," Balance declares: "Today we are doing a quiet set. We've screamed too much in the last year." This statement defines the atmosphere of the entire album: spectral, minimalist, and dark, but at the same time, deeply passionate, with a thin thread of hope weaving through the notes. The performance is mesmerizing, with songs that unfold like sonic monoliths, inviting the listener to lose themselves in their intricate and mysterious textures.

The Evocation of Cold and Regret

Listening to this live album is like walking on a cold night without a coat, accompanied only by your regrets. Dark stories, electronic pulsations, industrial noise, and repetitive and unsettling words create a soundscape that haunts and fascinates. Balance's texts, poetic and cryptic, offer a new and deep perspective once deciphered, while the carefully used synthesizers add layers of complexity and beauty to the music.

Moments of Transformation

Among the five long tracks, two versions of the gothic and hypnotic "Triple Sun" stand out, which would later appear in The Ape of Naples. In the long and improvised "Snow Falls into Military Temples," Balance emerges as a dark priest, his disorienting vocal evolutions enveloping the listener in a sacred and unsettling atmosphere. A completely altered and hallucinatory version of "The Dreamer Is Still Asleep" from Musick to Play in the Dark offers a new and surprising interpretation of a Coil classic.

Most of the record seems to be improvised, especially in tracks like "Snow Falls on Military Temples" and "Triple Sons and the One You Bury," where Balance seems to channel his lyrics from another plane, suggesting phrases that he then repeats and transforms into something entirely new. This improvisational nature reveals a side of Coil rarely seen in their studio albums, making And The Ambulance Died In His Arms one of the most satisfying and revealing live documents of their career.

And The Ambulance Died In His Arms is a sonic monument in times of personal crisis. The performances are long, deep, and monolithic, an experience that must be lived as a whole. With its frightening and minimal atmosphere, the album manages to be both a requiem and a celebration of the evocative power of Coil's music. An essential listen for anyone who wants to understand the essence of their tormented and visionary genius.