Astral Disaster

Underground UK psych musician Gary Ramon started recording and releasing work around the same time as Coil fired up, with about as much interest in mainstream success and playing the industry game as the group did. So perhaps little surprise that their similar mutual interests in work and in mind-expanding sonics resulted in a one-off album as part of a multi-artist effort overseen by Ramon called the Drug series, released in two separate versions by Ramon and by Coil between 1999 and 2000: the amazingly titled Astral Disaster. Even more notably, this was the first full album released by Coil under that name since 1994’s The Angelic Conversation, helping to signal a return to that core identity for the next few years. The continuing trio of John Balance, Peter Christopherson and Drew McDowall were formally joined by Thighpaulsandra, each on a variety of electronic instruments, while Ramon guesting briefly on guitar. The songs are divided between intriguing improvisations and shorter compositions, while Balance, though not taking a major voice role overall, delivers his spare words with a reflective, focused air.