This Mortal Coil

The brainchild of producer and 4AD co-founder Ivo Watts-Russell, music collective This Mortal Coil delivered a critically-acclaimed slew of cover albums marked by their lush, gothic dream pop stylings. Formed by Watts-Russell and John Fryer, the group helped showcase the work of many 4AD-adjacent artists such as Cocteau Twins, Pixies, and Dead Can Dance. They made their official debut in 1983 with the EP Sixteen Days / Gathering Dust, which included the B-side “Song to the Siren,” a Tim Buckley cover featuring Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie. The track quickly became an underground hit and paved the way for This Mortal Coil’s studio debut, 1984’s It’ll End in Tears. Propelled by “Song to the Siren” and the band’s rendition of Big Star’s “Holocaust” and “Kangaroo,” the LP peaked at Number 38 on the UK Albums Chart. A second full-length titled Filigree & Shadow followed in 1986, reaching Number 2 on the UK Independent Music chart. Watts-Russell announced This Mortal Coil’s dissolution after 1991’s Blood and continued to release music under the moniker The Hope Blister during the late 90s and early aughts.

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