Song to the Siren - This Mortal Coil feat. Elizabeth Fraser
May 23rd 2008 16:36
It'll End in Tears by This Mortal Coil
There are not many songs that can touch you directly on the soul. The eye of the storm within human beings, the quiet, all-balanced core, can not be easily triggered. Until one listens to the heavenly Song to the Siren, that is. Depending on your mood, this innovative track belonging to the pyrotechnics of This Mortal Coil, can ease your troubles, calm your fears or encourage to spill those oceans dammed up behind your eyes.
This Mortal Coil is not a band but a project of the Biritish independent record label 4AD. The label is famous for being pioneers of dream pop (and supporting many hallmark artists such as Cocteau Twins, Colourbox and This Mortal Coil) which is the genre you may experience with Song to the Siren. Dream pop can be primarily summarized as atmospheric pop with ambient and shoegazing elements included. Rich orchestrations are extinct in these lands thus, arrangements are mostly minimal or eccentric. Out-of-this-world, meditative textures are definitive aspects of the genre alongside breathy/softly performed, high pitched/angelic or spoken/moody vocals.
Elizabeth Fraser is one of those vocals who can nail all of the above. Her performance catapults Song to the Siren into celestial planes and her ability to sing various ranges still inspires and amazes me. In this track she sings firm and low which conveys the mood perfectly. She is at the top of her angelic soprano at the unforgettable This Love of Craig Armstrong (from the Cruel Intentions soundtrack. Colorblind and Bitter Sweet Symphony featured in Phantasmelodia are also from this soundtrack) and her breathy, legendary vocals at the ageless Teardrop of Massive Attack.
Song to the Siren sets one upon a dreamy sea voyage by relying heavily on the guitar (yes that instrument you'll hear at the beginning is a guitar, indeed) and Fraser's powerful voice in reverb. The track's serene, breezy entree blows softly into the lyrics,
"On the floating, shipless, oceans
I did all my best to smile
'Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle"
I did all my best to smile
'Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle"
as they hand the picture of a person re-finding hope in a tempting call from love. The lonely, silent, dull and repetitive cycle of everyday life is broken by this unexpected call. Joy comes hand in hand with this new-found excitement and hearts pound as if it can't wait to break the chains of immurement and run towards the possibilities. The question marks yet to be answered swarm in the air but the suspense of unknown is overwhelming.
The insides keep repeating an expectant "what if...?"
However, it is this same expectant "what if...?" which is responsible for crushing against the rocks when hopes are left unfulfilled. If the object of love remains hesitant to participate in the mutual dance, one feels like a penniless child looking at the window display of a candy shop.
"Did I dream you dreamed about me?
I am puzzled as the newborn child
I am troubled at the tide"
I am puzzled as the newborn child
I am troubled at the tide"
The lover needs an explanation from the beloved. Was he/she misled? He/she shall gladly pursue or retreat but he/she knows that lingering in this state of not knowing will kill him/her in the end. How many times does one find themselves in no man's land throughout their lives? If not given proper directions, the confusing, ambiguous signals of the beloved causes the lover to deviate from the route and make a mistake which will inevitably lead to:
"Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken lovelorn on your rocks"
Broken lovelorn on your rocks"
As the lover, in other words love, dies, the ending gets more ironic. It is too late to call out one last time and the sea (life) is as benevolent as she is unforgiving:
"Hear me sing, "Swim to me, swim to me,
Let me enfold you,
Here I am, Here I am,
Waiting to hold you"
Let me enfold you,
Here I am, Here I am,
Waiting to hold you"
But those words are destined to drown like the love itself...
Ink Blots
Also related: Alice by Cocteau Twins
Browse music online at IMEEM
Buy It'll End in Tears online from 4AD
Meet the artist This Mortal Coil at 4AD-This Mortal Coil
Meet the artist Elizabeth Fraser at Wikipedia
Read the entire lyrics at Always on the Run
Also related: Alice by Cocteau Twins
Browse music online at IMEEM
Buy It'll End in Tears online from 4AD
Meet the artist This Mortal Coil at 4AD-This Mortal Coil
Meet the artist Elizabeth Fraser at Wikipedia
Read the entire lyrics at Always on the Run
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Comment by Anna Neon
Comment by Ayda
Phantasmelodia
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
And Tear Drop is amazing. I have the 12" of that with a sensational dubbed-out Mad Professor remix and a more abstract Primal Scream re-working.
Comment by Ayda
Phantasmelodia
Gee, am I jeaolus of your records mister!? Hehe...
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Ayda
Phantasmelodia