Taking Sides: Dead Can Dance vs This Mortal Coil

Big surprise, I pathetically adore both. Hurrah! I listen to both fairly equally, though DCD ultimately get more of an ear from me. Both bands (well, band and project) thrive as mix-and-match ventures from a variety of musical sources, and should be seen in that light rather than as extensions of particular traditions per se. The essentially amorphous TMC line-up means a lot of different singers wedded to a particular ethos of hushed gloom and mysteriousness, while the albums almost always introduced new songs and musicians to me thanks to all the cover choices, or else brought out striking new interpretations if I was already familiar with them. DCD, meanwhile, was more insular by default -- Brendan Perry, Lisa Gerrard and rotating others -- but brought a beautiful focused obsessiveness to their all-over-the-globe reinterpretations and combinations. It was never 'just' a recreation of medieval European music, thank heavens, and it took specific advantage of the studio as well.

TMC Search = the first two albums, specifically the covers of "Song to the Siren," "Kangaroo," "Not Me," "Holocaust," "The Jeweler," "Alone." But particular credit as well to "A Single Wish," an original sung by Gordon Sharp that's just wonderful, one and a half minute of stellar beauty.

DCD Search = most everything. The first album is the overt Goth rock effort (emphasis on rock), the last good enough, but everything else pretty damn wonderful. "The Host of Seraphim" on The Serpent's Egg in particular is a song to take to the grave -- what a performance.

Dead Can Dance are a very 'songs'-oriented group for me. The only album of theirs I've loved all the way through is "Into the Labyrinth." Otherwise, I'm about 50-50, some songs are good, some I don't enjoy.

This Mortal Coil's first album, "It'll End in Tears," was their best in my opinion, mostly flawless .. and it's got that skin-tingling, hair-raising cover of Jeff Buckley's "Song to the Siren," with Elizabeth Fraser on vocals. The later two albums began to trail off in quality.

Both groups can lapse into a laughable pretension. More often, though, their ambition is rewarded. A fairer comparison might have been Dead Can Dance vs. This Mortal Coil vs. Cocteau Twins, since members of the first and last made the middle so worthwhile.

--Dead Can Dance-- I see 'Into the Labyrinth' as their crowning achievement. "Ariadne" in particular grips me like an emotional vise. And 'Toward the Within' is also superb... It's well worth seeking out the recent box set for the DVD.

Love them both, but This Mortal Coil seem a bit more immediate to me, less caught up in the machinations of the music than in creating a very specific mood.

But both classic. This Mortal Coil's weakest (probably BLOOD) is still superb. Dead Can Dance's finest hour, for my money, is the live album, TOWARD THE WITHIN.

Dead can dance= got serpent's egg. Fantastic album. They are a great vocal group and they sound unique. What else could you want. Will try and get as many of their other records as I can.

This mortal coil= Got a comp off my record library. Not as good. Too 'ambient' for my liking. And try to be too melancholic and it sound really fake.

I don't understand all of this "_Blood_ is the weakest one" nonsense. My perceptions may be colored by the fact that I heard that one first, but of the three it's easily my favorite.

I still said BLOOD was superb, Dan!

Dan was too busy honouring the fire to note your comment in full.

I read that, Alex. I was really responding more to others (NED) who appeared to be discounting _Blood_ out of hand.

I think I've only heard one Dead Can Dance album... or was that Clan of Xymox?

This is probably heresy, but I'd like DCD a lot more if it wasn't for Lisa Gerrard's voice. Yeah, I know, I know.

I thought TMC's version of "Kangaroo" was dreadful, but "You and Your Sister" totally made up for it. The Hope Blister record is terribly boring, though.

Haven't listened to either in quite some time, but as far as the recent offshoots er whatevers are considered, I love Eye of the Hunter and like Smile's OK. The limited edition Hope Blister record is v. droney and minimal inna GRATE fashion.

I was really responding more to others (NED) who appeared to be discounting _Blood_ out of hand.

I've only heard it the once. I think. I know it's around here.

I think I've only heard one Dead Can Dance album... or was that Clan of Xymox?

Now I'll be singing "Michelle" the rest of the day. :-)

This is probably heresy, but I'd like DCD a lot more if it wasn't for Lisa Gerrard's voice. Yeah, I know, I know.

DEMON. Or something.

I thought TMC's version of "Kangaroo" was dreadful

For me and for a lot of other people, I'm betting, that was the version of the song heard first, so that influences my esteem of it. And indeed, Chilton's take seems sorta dull in comparison.

I love Eye of the Hunter and like Smile's OK

Yes to both descriptions. :-)

Love both. Like Ned said, what a big surprise. Threads like this make me think I am Ned. Hurrah ;)

One question for those in the know: I have all of the DCD albums but for the new box set with the DVD in it. Is there any point to getting this set apart from the DVD? Is it worth the 80bux (Canadian bux)? DO TELL.

Threads like this make me think I am Ned. Hurrah ;)

Ah, excellent. Now abjure your Godspeed love and all is well.

The box set does have various rarities and things, so there is that.

I'd go for Dead Can Dance, and pick "Aion" out as their best rekkid. I keep plugging Eleven Shadows to no avail it seems. They are a bit similar to DCD, but more classical/operatic orientated in their sound. Their album "Caro Mio Ben" is super. Search that as well, eh?

x0x0x

Yet no one mentioned the other great Chris Bell cover, I Am The Cosmos (also on Blood)? And surely Tarantula cover is great too seeing as it doesnt sound like Young MC at all. The Jeweller, Dreams Are Like Bubbles plus You and Your Sister are all great.
Not to say DCD werent bad.

Does anyone else think that that guy who sings for Dead Can Dance sounds like the guy in the old Kodak commercial "Good morning yesterday. . . You wake up and time has slipped away, etc."? (I bet most of you won't know what I'm talking about.)

"and suddenly it's hard to find, the memories you left behind...remember, do you remember, the times of your life."

It's Paul Anka, DeRayMi. Ha!

I always thought he sounded more like Neil Diamond, but there was someone else he reminded me of a bit more recently...damned if I can remember who it was though.

ronnie recent/brendan perry used to sound quite like green day back in the scavengers/marching girls days.

Gotta love them punk roots.

If my punk roots start showing again, I'll have to get a pop dye-job. Probably bright Pink.

pink = punk, lord custos

Pink is the new punk?
I guess Im in trouble then.