COH Vinyl & CDs

Review: Ivan Pavlov aka CoH's new experimental electronic opus Radiant Faults makes a point of its creation deriving from the use of a rare new synthesizer, the Silhouette Eins. Developed by the artist Pit Przygodda, the Eins is the centrepiece of this album for good reason: it is a unique bit of gear, in that it uses real-time video signal as its carrier for sound synthesis. This direct interfacing of visual and auditory realms inspired a haunting praxis in Pavlov, who began the album as a means to commune with ELpH, one of the "celestial beings" first communicated with and summoned by the supergroup Coil. Pavlov continues what Coil devilishly started here, fleshing ELpH out evermore into whispery echoes and sinewy traces.

Review: mSometime Coil affiliate CoH has spent the last few years combing his cutting-edge experimental techniques and love of mind-altering electronics with what counts - in his sphere of interest at least - as traditional rock and pop song structures. He continues that theme on WYGG: While Your Guitar Gently, a collection whose laudable attempts at accessibility are partially countered by his experimental instructs and love of curiously processed, otherworldly sounds. In truth, it's a very enjoyable and entertaining listen, with the long-serving producer combining fractured, manipulated guitar sounds with bullish, glitchy electronic rhythms, pulsating electronic motifs, copious amounts of mind-altering effects and a genuine sense of wide-eyed excitement. In other words, it's off-kilter minimalism dialled up to the max, with added musical vibrancy.