This Mortal Coil

This Mortal Coil was a loose collective of musicians led by Ivo Watts-Russell, who founded the project in 1983. Watts-Russell had previously been involved with The Birthday Party, and the name This Mortal Coil came from Percy Bysshe Shelley's writings. The group operated more as a studio project than a traditional band, with a rotating cast of collaborators creating atmospheric soundscapes that drew from folk, goth, ambient, and dream pop.

Their 1984 debut album 'It'll End in Tears' featured their version of Tim Buckley's 'Song To The Siren,' which became one of their most recognizable tracks. That cover, along with songs like 'You And Your Sister' and 'Kangaroo,' helped define their sound, characterized by sparse instrumentation, ethereal vocals, and a haunting quality that felt both intimate and expansive.

Watts-Russell's approach was uncompromising, and the project's shifting lineup and unconventional nature sometimes created tensions. They released several albums through the 1980s and early 1990s, including 'Blood' in 1991, before Watts-Russell eventually moved on to other work. The music remains a particular kind of mood piece, less about traditional songcraft than about creating specific emotional spaces through sound.