The three albums released by 4AD Records collective This Mortal Coil — led by label founder Ivo Watts-Russell, and featuring contributions from members of the Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, Throwing Muses, Pixies and more — will be reissued next month in deluxe CD and LP editions.
The studio project, anchored by Watts-Russell and Blackwing Studios house engineer John Fryer, released three albums over its eight-year run, featuring original music and covers of songs by the likes of Tim Buckley, Big Star, Talking Heads, Syd Barrett, Colin Newman, Rain Parade, Emmylou Harris and more.
The group’s three albums — 1984’s It’ll End in Tears, 1986’s Filigree & Shadow and 1991’s Blood — will be reissued Oct. 26 by 4AD on vinyl and CD. The vinyl pressings, with audio remastered from the original analog tapes by the late John Dent, will be housed in high-gloss gatefold sleeves with artwork “re-imagined” by Watts-Russell and 4AD house designer Vaughan Oliver.
The CD editions will be packaged in gatefold paper sleeves originally made available for the group’s limited-edition box set in 2011. These versions, though, will be UHQCDs (Ultimate High Quality Compact Disc) rather than HDCDs (High Definition Compatible Digital), according to the label.
They can be pre-ordered now via 4AD’s website.
Below, see the artwork, tracklistings and 4AD’s product descriptions for the upcoming reissues.
It’ll End in Tears
“This Mortal Coil’s debut album It’ll End In Tears (1984) forged the template; helping to crystallize 4AD’s emerging signature sound whilst shining a light on some of their stable with Cocteau Twins, Colourbox, Dead Can Dance and The Wolfgang Press all involved. The line-up was completed by arranger Martin McCarrick, violinist Gini Ball, Howard Devoto of Buzzcocks/Magazine fame and Cindytalk’s Gordon Sharp.”
A1. “Kangaroo”
A2. “Song To The Siren”
A3. “Holocaust”
A4. “Fyt”
A5. “Fond Affections”
A6. “The Last Ray”
B1. “Another Day”
B2. “Waves Become Wings”
B3. “Barramundi”
B4. “Dreams Made Flesh”
B5. “Not Me”
B6. “A Single Wish”
Filigree & Shadow
“Released two years after their debut album, This Mortal Coil’s Filigree & Shadow (1986) was no less ornate than its predecessor; a double album with each of its four sides a self-contained unit. New faces joined the cast for this record, including a variety of singers Ivo handpicked like Alison Limerick, Jeanette, Dominic Appleton (Breathless), sisters Deirdre and Louise Rutkowski (Sunset Gun), and Richenel.”
A1. “Velvet Belly”
A2. “The Jeweller”
A3. “Ivy And Neet”
A4. “Meniscus”
A5. “Tears”
A6. “Tarantula”
B1. “My Father”
B2. “Come Here My Love”
B3. “At First, And Then”
B4. “Strength Of Strings”
B5. “Morning Glory”
C1. “Inch-Blue”
C2. “I Want To Live”
C3. “Mama K” (1)
C4. “Filigree & Shadow”
C5. “Fire Brothers”
C6. “Thaïs” (1)
C7. “I Must Have Been Blind”
C8. “A Heart Of Glass”
D1. “Alone”
D2. “Mama K” (2)
D3. “The Horizon Bleeds And Sucks Its Thumb”
D4. “Drugs”
D5. “Red Rain”
D6. “Thaïs” (2)
Blood
“Landing at the start of a new decade, after much had happened in both producer Ivo Watts-Russell’s life and with his 4AD label, the final part of the This Mortal Coil trilogy, Blood (1991), felt like a perfect conclusion. Meticulously orchestrated, vocalists Alison Limerick, Deirdre and Louise Rutkowski return from the second album with Caroline Crawley (Shelleyan Orphan/Babacar) and 4AD signees Heidi Berry, Kim Deal (Pixies/The Breeders), Tanya Donelly (Throwing Muses/The Breeders/Belly) and Pieter Nooten all enlisted.”
A1. “The Lacemaker”
A2. “Mr. Somewhere”
A3. “Andialu”
A4. “With Tomorrow”
A5. “Loose Joints”
A6. “You And Your Sister”
B1. “Nature’s Way”
B2. “I Come And Stand At Every Door”
B3. “Bitter”
B4. “Baby Ray Baby”
B5. “Several Times”
C1. “The Lacemaker II”
C2. “Late Night”
C3. “Ruddy And Wretched”
C4. “Help Me Lift You Up”
C5. “Carolyn’s Song”
C6. “D. D. And E.”
D1. “‘Til I Gain Control Again”
D2. “Dreams Are Like Water”
D3. “I Am The Cosmos”
D4. “(Nothing But) Blood”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- ‘Facing the Other Way: The Story of 4AD’ to explore history, legacy of iconic indie label
- This Mortal Coil’s ‘Tears in the Dropbox’ Blu-ray release shelved over ‘packaging issues’
- This Mortal Coil box set due in November, ‘Tears in the Dropbox’ Blu-ray in the works
- Beggars Archive prepping This Mortal Coil box set, plus CD, vinyl and Blu-ray reissues
The first album almost wins on the strength of the opening trifecta and the Fraser/Guthrie take on “Song to the Siren” alone. But as a complete and unique artistic statement, Filigree and Shadow remains unmatched. What a brilliant record.