I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Peter Cristopherson’s first post-Coil outing.  Of course, it wouldn’t be the same without John Balance, but would it be empty, unenchanting, or just too different to satisfy?

There was no need to worry.  Though Form Goes Rampant bears some of the trademark sonic signatures that set Coil apart from the pack, The Threshold HouseBoys Choir heads off in new, undreamed directions.  Beautiful electronic experimentation pairs with computer generated and manipulated vocals to forge rich hauntological textures.  The dichotomy of sacred and profane lyricism that Balance brought to Coil is absent, but in its place the music finds a new space to breath.  And it breaths a heady, exotic mist.  Spirals of slithering sound weave in and out, crepuscular forms blossom and die off, doors open and are filled with light.  This is remarkable, unexpectable music.

The accompanying DVD sets the music of The Threshold HouseBoys Choir to footage from a vegetarian festival in Thailand.  The disc’s opening warning is not to be ignored; the scenes therein depict some fairly extreme piercing and self-mutilation.  For the faint of heart there is just the music, and the music is enough.

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