The gothic dream pop collective This Mortal Coil was one of the most representative bands on the 4AD label, not least because they were run by 4AD president and co-founder Ivo Watts-Russell. Whether they played covers (of Watts-Russell's favorite artists) or originals, their material epitomized the haunting, ethereal sound that came to be associated with the label. Lush, swirling arrangements drenched in echo, reverb, and other effects were the project's stock-in-trade, often approaching ambient music.
A rotating cast of vocalists and musicians supplied the sounds heard on record, all overseen by Watts-Russell and co-producer John Fryer. A studio entity only, the group started out as something of a 4AD all-star unit, but evolved into a way for Watts-Russell to collaborate with up-and-comers and other artists not signed to his label.
Whoever was performing, the music was united by its gentle surges of melancholy and by Watts-Russell's highly influential aesthetic.

*I’ll End In Tears (1984) - Released in 1984, It'll End in Tears featured musical efforts from 4AD staples like Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins), Steven and Martyn Young (Colourbox), Brendan Perry (Dead Can Dance), and Mark Cox (Wolfgang Press), among others, with vocals from Gerrard, Sharp, Modern English's Robbie Grey, and Howard Devoto (Buzzcocks/Magazine). Watts-Russell and Fryer handled any additional instruments or programmed loops as needed. The track listing featured two songs from Big Star's Third/Sister Lovers, plus numbers by Roy Harper and Wire's Colin Newman, in addition to band originals. It'll End in Tears helped crystallize 4AD's emerging signature sound, and helped win a wider audience for their stable of artists.

*Filigree And Shadow (1986) - Filigree & Shadow, which was released in 1986. A sprawling and more varied collection, Filigree & Shadow covered songs by Tim Buckley, Colin Newman, Talking Heads, Pearls Before Swine, Gene Clark, Judy Collins, and Van Morrison in between the original compositions. The Cocteau Twins' Simon Raymonde was still a significant presence, and string player/arranger Martin McCarrick took a bigger role this time around; Steven Young and Mark Cox both returned, and members of Dif Juz were also prominent. Most vocals were by Dominic Appleton (also of Breathless), Deirdre and Louise Rutkowski, and a pre-dance diva Alison Limerick.

*Blood (1991) - Much of the same core cast -- Watts-Russell, Fryer, McCarrick, Appleton, Limerick, and the Rutkowskis -- was on hand for the third and final This Mortal Coil album, the tighter Blood, issued in 1991. New guest vocalists included Caroline Crawley of Shelleyan Orphan, Kim Deal and Tanya Donelly of the Breeders, and Heidi Berry. Covers this time out included two by Big Star's Chris Bell, Rain Parade, Spirit, Syd Barrett, and Rodney Crowell, among others. Watts-Russell had announced that he would retire the This Mortal Coil name following Blood, and remained true to his word


THIS MORTAL COIL

Discography

It'll End In Tears 1984 / Filigree & Shadow 1986 / Blood 1991




3CDs / 320Kbps


1 It'll End in Tears - 1984:
01 Kanga-Roo.mp3 8 MB
02 Song to the Siren.mp3 8 MB
03 Holocaust.mp3 8 MB
04 Fyt.mp3 10 MB
05 Fond Affections.mp3 9 MB
06 The Last Ray.mp3 9 MB
07 Another Day.mp3 7 MB
08 Waves Become Wings.mp3 10 MB
09 Barramundi.mp3 9 MB
10 Dreams Made Flesh.mp3 9 MB
11 Not Me.mp3 9 MB
12 A Single Wish.mp3 6 MB

2 Filigree & Shadow - 1986:
01 Velvet Belly.mp3 3 MB
02 The Jeweller.mp3 7 MB
03 Ivy and Neet.mp3 11 MB
04 Meniscus.mp3 6 MB
05 Tears.mp3 1 MB
06 Tarantula.mp3 11 MB
07 My Father.mp3 14 MB
08 Come Here My Love.mp3 8 MB
09 At First, and Then.mp3 5 MB
10 Strength of Strings.mp3 11 MB
11 Morning Glory.mp3 7 MB
12 Inch-Blue.mp3 3 MB
13 I Want to Live.mp3 9 MB
14 Mama K.mp3 2 MB
15 Filigree & Shadow.mp3 3 MB
16 Firebrothers.mp3 9 MB
17 Thaïs.mp3 3 MB
18 I Must Have Been Blind.mp3 8 MB
19 A Heart of Glass.mp3 9 MB
20 Alone.mp3 10 MB
21 Mama K.mp3 1 MB
22 The Horizon Bleeds and Sucks Its Thumb.mp3 7 MB
23 Drugs.mp3 7 MB
24 Red Rain.mp3 9 MB
25 Thaïs.mp3 7 MB

3 Blood - 1991:
01 The Lace Maker.mp3 9 MB
02 Mr. Somewhere.mp3 7 MB
03 Andialu.mp3 7 MB
04 With Tomorrow.mp3 6 MB
05 Loose Joints.mp3 6 MB
06 You and Your Sister.mp3 7 MB
07 Nature's Way.mp3 8 MB
08 I Come and Stand at Every Door.mp3 9 MB
09 Bitter.mp3 15 MB
10 Baby Ray Baby.mp3 5 MB
11 Several Times.mp3 7 MB
12 The Lacemaker II.mp3 3 MB
13 Late Night.mp3 7 MB
14 Ruddy and Wretched.mp3 7 MB
15 Help Me Lift You Up.mp3 12 MB
16 Carolyn's Song.mp3 9 MB
17 D.D. and E.mp3 2 MB
18 'Til I Gain Control Again.mp3 11 MB
19 Dreams Are Like Water.mp3 20 MB
20 I Am the Cosmos.mp3 9 MB
21 (Nothing But) Blood.mp3 9 MB