This Mortal Coil/4AD recs

Client Eastwood

Well-known member
Can you suggest some CD's on 4AD (or any other labels but I thought 4AD a good starter) along the lines of This Mortal Coil. I've been listening to the This Will End In Tears album a lot recently and it's the only thing I have of this style atm. Perfect autumnal listening for me.
 

Ness Rowlah

Norwegian Wood
Dead Can Dance's first two should be a safe bet (on 4AD) and I quite like
virtual unknowns Elend as well (http://elend-music.org/)
(a couple of free MP3s on their site, try "Newborn Sailor" for size).

Both of these a bit more heavy (pretentious) than TMC, but for some autumnal listening quite ideal.
 

mistersloane

heavy heavy monster sound
All of the Cocteau's albums are essential, if you're not familiar.

It's well worth checking out all of Cindytalk's output as well, although Gordon went more into noise, but still, what a voice.
 

slowtrain

Well-known member
I will second the first two Dead Can Dance.

Also, I think some of the Twins albums can get a bit silly - I think the best way to go is pick up the big 'Lullabies to Violaine' set which has all of their EPs on it - the EPs are the best stuff.
 

MatthewH

makes strange noises.
Cocteau Twins greatest hits is an excellent place to start, plus the Aikea-Guinea ep.

Oh lord that's a good EP.
 

zhao

there are no accidents
yes listen to dead can dance. and after that, when you are ready, listen to all the music they were inspired by and try to imitate. :)
early cocteau twins of course is so amazing... genuinely intense and chilling.
but none of these are at all like the lyrical surrealism of TMC...

that was really a special little thing wasn't it? produced a unique and singular sound and aesthetic even.
i feel like nothing of the sort has happened since.

but if it's that sorrowful, ominous mood and emotional depth you are after...
and on the "music dead can dance were trying to copy" tip,
check some Armenian Duduk (flute) recordings. and maybe some artists like Hamza El Din.


 
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skull kid

Well-known member
yeah the first cindytalk record is beyond classic (the recent ghost-in-the-laptop ambient stuff on mego is also pretty sublime)

one of my favourite 4ad bands, and perhaps the most underrated, is dif juz. understated, unravelling twin guitar instrumentals with major dub inflections. start w/ Soundpool, a compilation of their two classic eps, then get the robin guthrie produced Extractions

 
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skull kid

Well-known member
if you're digging this mortal coil you should check out the first julee cruise album Floating Into The Night. supposedly lynch and badalamenti were greatly influenced by this mortal coil's cover of "song to the siren" when they were writing the twin peaks music, and lynch had unsuccessfully tried to license it for the blue velvet soundtrack (he eventually used it in lost highway)
 

Client Eastwood

Well-known member
Thanks for all the suggestions. A bit sort on cash so I can only afford another of TMC albums and the Lullabies to Violaine 1 and 2. And then decide what to get next month. I had forgotten about the Julie Cruise album, I had it on cassette ages ago.
 

mistersloane

heavy heavy monster sound
I think all of the Cocteau's things have merit, they're a band that will be a joy to discover, after the greatest hits I'd persoanlly go back and listen to each of the albums, eps and asides in order, they had a real narrative.

Thanks for the Dif Juz tip, I don't know them at all - one of those missed points - and I kinda like them, i think. They're proving nice at the moment anyway.
 

Ness Rowlah

Norwegian Wood
Listening to Felt today (it's that kind of weather in London it makes me reach for airy guitars (not air guitars)) and they did this one track with Liz Frazer "Primitive Painters"

 
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