This Mortal Coil's "Dust & Guitars" Makes Life Worth It

This Mortal Coil's "Dust & Guitars"

A couple of years ago, This Mortal Coil released a box set of their three albums, released mostly in the '80s, along with a "greatest hits" type compilation, "Dust & Guitars", taking selections from their library and digitally remastering them in HD.

For those of you who don't know, This Mortal Coil is the pet project of Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the prestigious British record label, 4AD, and John Fryer.  The project was used to showcase musicians from the label's line-up.  Usually, they did covers of songs from the '60s and '70s that influenced Watts-Russell, as well as original pieces.

It is hard to describe This Mortal Coil, or to place them in a genre.  This is definitely mood music.  The songs are all laced together by samples, orchestra arrangements, and electronica to form a stream of consciousness, dreamy texture and sonic landscapes.

And to listen to this - remastered in HD - divine!  One of my chief complaints about 4AD's early releases are poor production quality.  To listen to these sings enhanced by technology is nothing short of miraculous.  This is the way they were meant to be heard.

My only complaint about this particular collection - these albums were conceptual.  It's really hard to listen to a song on its own without the rest of the pieces that stand with it.  This is one of the reasons that I rarely add TMC songs to my playlists.  I don't like to separate these songs.

The compilation starts with bit of a rarity.  The very first This Mortal Coil release was a cover of Modern English's "Sixteen Days" and "Gathering Dust."  Watts-Russell would frequently cover at least one song from his label's catalog, and Modern English was one of the first bands to sign on 4AD.  For those who remember Modern English as the happy-go-lucky one-hit-wonder that sang "I'll Melt With You" might be surprised at the darkly gothic selection that was reflective of their early music.  This is old school gothic - sung by Elizabeth Fraser and performed by Robin Guthrie, both of Cocteau Twins, with Gordon Sharp of Cindytalk performing background vocals.  All driven by a drum beat a la "Bela Lugosi's Dead" (also an early 4AD release).

Ivo Watts-Russel, founder of 4AD and This Mortal Coil

"Song To the Siren" is also here - arguably one of This Mortal Coil's most famous releases - also with Liz Fraser and Robin Guthrie performing this cover of Tim Buckley's classic, a hint of the future relationship Fraser would have with Buckley's equally talented son, Jeff.

Other selections from "It'll End in Tears" are "Kangaroo" and the title track from that record - both sung by Gordon Sharp and dominated by piano and string arrangements.  The pieces from "Filigree & Shadow" include "Drugs", a Talking Heads cover, a revamped version of "Thais (Bird of Paradise)", and my favorite, "Come Here My Love", a Van Morrison cover, a tidal wave of samples. keyboards, and Allison Limerick's vocals that evoke that dream-like feel of their music that I have come to love.

There is also an unreleased track called "We Never Danced" and surprisingly no selections from their final album, "Blood".  There is, however, "Acid, Bitter, and Sad", taken from the "Lonely Is An Eyesore" compilation.  This song starts out with wind chimes and drums, and fades into a liquid keyboard and Allison Limerick's voice.  Limerick is a regular fixture on all of TMC's albums.

This compilation is a good way to become familiar with This Mortal Coil's music.  Turn down the lights.  Turn on the lava lamp.  Let these sounds wash over you...