- published: 06 Feb 2013
- views: 1468821
Time Machines is Coil's landmark drone music album, released under the alias Time Machines. It consists of four tracks which are composed of a single tone, called a drone. Each tone represents a certain hallucinogenic chemical (see track titles). It is similar to Brian Eno's early ambient albums, except instead of creating an atmosphere of calm, it facilitates time travel, according to band founder John Balance. Each tone was tested and retested in the studio for maximum narcotic potency. John Balance described the album as an attempt to create "temporal slips"
When Time Machines was first released, the band was very conscious that it not be labeled as a Coil album, due to how abstract and different it is compared to previous Coil albums. This pressure has lessened in recent years as the band feels that people no longer expect a specific sound from the band. This has led to the 2000 follow-up album Coil Presents Time Machines to bear the Coil name on it.
A five-disc Time Machines box set was announced in 1998, but never developed. A two-disc version was announced in January 2006 as a future release, but there has been no further evidence on this being released either.
And i looked back upon my back
Through my book of memories
Thinking of all the things
That i used to do
How i missed it so
So secure in their arms, in their arms
No harm, no distractions, always laughin’
Oh i do love to see
One day, one time, a reunion of what was
[Refrain]
I want a place to stay
Somewhere far away
[Chorus]
If i could be away from me
Then i would be with you
If i see the way from way from me
I’ll play safe for me and you
If only, if only
Picture this, walking down this dark alleyway
There’s a sunset up ahead, silhouette of buildings
Enclosed in a maze
And as the hands of time, it ticks away
In a subtle but righteous way
I try to find more peace
I try to stand at ease
Cos we’re runnin’, runnin’, runnin’
In no direction