This Mortal Coil

Last updated

This Mortal Coil
OriginUnited Kingdom
Genres
Years active1983–1991
Labels 4AD
Past members Ivo Watts-Russell
John Fryer

This Mortal Coil were a British music collective led by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. [4] Although Watts-Russell and John Fryer were the only two official members, the band's recorded output featured a large rotating cast of supporting artists, many of whom were otherwise associated with 4AD, including members of Cocteau Twins, Pixies and Dead Can Dance. [5] The project became known for its gothic, dream pop sound, and released three full albums, beginning in 1984 with It'll End in Tears . [6]

Contents

Background

Watts-Russell had founded 4AD in 1980, and the label established itself as one of the key labels in the British post-punk movement.[ citation needed ] Following several releases, Watts-Russell developed the idea of collaborating under the name This Mortal Coil. [7] The name is taken from lyrics to the song Dream Within A Dream by Spirit ("...Stepping off this mortal coil will be my pleasure..."), [8] which in turn is a quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet ("... what dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil...").

The 4AD website said:

This Mortal Coil was not a band, but a unique collaboration of musicians recording in various permutations, the brainchild of 4AD kingpin Ivo Watts-Russell. The idea was to allow artists the creative freedom to record material outside of the realm of what was expected of them; it also created the opportunity for innovative cover versions of songs personal to Ivo.

One of the label's earliest signings was Modern English. In 1983, Watts-Russell suggested that the band re-record two of its earliest songs, "Sixteen Days" and "Gathering Dust", as a medley. At the time, the band was closing its set with this medley, and Watts-Russell felt it was strong enough to warrant a re-recording. When the band rebuffed the idea, Watts-Russell decided to assemble a group of musicians to record the medley: Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins; Cindy Sharp of Cindytalk; and a few members of Modern English. [7] An EP, Sixteen Days/Gathering Dust , resulted from these sessions. A cover of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren", performed by Fraser and Guthrie alone, was recorded as a B-side for the EP. Pleased with the results, Watts-Russell decided to make this the A-side of the 7" single version of the EP, and the song quickly became an underground hit, leading Watts-Russell to pursue the recording of a full album under the This Mortal Coil moniker, 1984's It'll End in Tears . [7]

In June 1998, Watts-Russell began releasing albums in a similar vein to his TMC projects, under the name The Hope Blister. [9]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
UK
[10] 		UK Indie
[11] 		NL
[12] 		NZ
[13]
It'll End in Tears
  • Released: 1 October 1984
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: LP, MC
381—42
Filigree & Shadow
  • Released: 22 September 1986
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: CD, 2xLP, 2xMC
532——
Blood
  • Released: 22 April 1991
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: CD, 2xLP, MC
28—58—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

TitleAlbum details
Dust & Guitars

Box sets

TitleAlbum details
1983–1991
  • Released: 30 March 1993
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: 4xCD
This Mortal Coil
  • Released: 7 November 2011
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: 4xHDCD

EPs

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
UK
[10]
Sixteen Days / Gathering Dust
  • Released: 2 September 1983
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: 12"
100

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[10] 		UK Indie
[11] 		BE (FL)
[14] 		NL
[15] 		NZ
[16]
"Song to the Siren"1983663—398It'll End in Tears
"Kangaroo"1984922———
"Come Here My Love"/"Drugs" (limited release)1986902———Filigree & Shadow
"You and Your Sister" (Benelux and France-only release)1991——4213—Blood
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Contributions

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References

  1. ↑ Steve Huey. "This Mortal Coil | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  2. ↑ Frank Deserto. October 31, 2017. 40 Years of Goth: Essential Albums from the Genre's Beginnings Archived 2019-01-19 at the Wayback Machine . Post-Punk.com.
  3. ↑ Staff (21 March 2013). "13 Best Goth Albums of All Time". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  4. ↑ "This Mortal Coil". 4AD. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  5. ↑ Huey, Steve. "This Mortal Coil". AllMusic . Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  6. ↑ Steve Huey. "This Mortal Coil | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 460. ISBN   1-85227-969-9.
  8. ↑ Douridas, Chris (13 March 1998). "Morning Becomes Eclectic interview with Ivo Watts-Russell". KCRW. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  9. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 987–988. ISBN   1-84195-017-3.
  10. 1 2 3 "THIS MORTAL COIL | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  11. 1 2 Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980–1989. Cherry Red Books. ISBN   0-9517206-9-4.
  12. ↑ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  16. ↑ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
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