England's Hidden Reverse: A Secret History of the Esoteric Underground

England's Hidden Reverse chronicles the musical underground that emerged in Britain during the late 1970s through the 1990s. The book focuses on three experimental groups - Coil, Current 93, and Nurse With Wound - who operated at the fringes of post-industrial and avant-garde music. Through extensive interviews and research, author David Keenan traces the interconnected histories and artistic evolution of these influential but obscure acts. The narrative follows their development from early DIY recordings and mail-order distribution networks to their later works and lasting impact on experimental music. The book documents the occult interests, outsider philosophies, and unorthodox recording techniques that shaped these artists' output. Keenan includes rare photographs, flyer artwork, and detailed discographies that help reconstruct this shadowy musical movement. This cultural history reveals how underground British music served as a vehicle for esoteric knowledge and radical artistic expression in the late 20th century. The book maps connections between experimental sound, occult practice, and countercultural movements that continue to resonate.

Readers appreciate the detailed research and interviews that document the underground music scene of Coil, Current 93, and Nurse With Wound. Many note the book provides cultural context and captures the atmosphere of 1980s-90s experimental British music. Positives: - In-depth coverage of rarely documented bands and scenes - Extensive first-hand accounts and primary sources - Quality photographs and visual materials - Personal stories that humanize the musicians Negatives: - Writing style can be unfocused and meandering - Some readers find the tone too reverential - High price point of both original and reprint editions - Several note factual errors about dates and events Ratings: Goodreads: 4.26/5 (243 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (31 reviews) Reader quote: "Keenan manages to document a scene that actively resisted documentation, while maintaining the mystery that made these artists compelling." - Goodreads reviewer

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🎵 This groundbreaking book traces the interconnected stories of three pioneering British experimental music groups: Coil, Current 93, and Nurse With Wound, who collectively shaped the post-industrial underground scene of the 1980s and 1990s. 🔮 Author David Keenan conducted over 100 interviews over a 20-year period to compile the material, including rare conversations with notoriously reclusive artists like Peter Christopherson of Coil. 📚 The first edition, published in 2003, became a highly sought-after collector's item, with copies selling for hundreds of dollars before Strange Attractor Press released an expanded edition in 2016. 🎨 The book reveals how these artists were heavily influenced by occultist Aleister Crowley and artist Austin Osman Spare, incorporating their esoteric philosophies into both their music and visual aesthetics. 🏰 Many recording sessions detailed in the book took place in unusual locations, including a former monastery in the Peak District and Peter Christopherson's restored 13th-century palazzo in Thailand.