This Mortal Coil – Song To The Siren

"Song To The Siren" is a true classic that stands out from most of the music that came out of the 80s. However, it's b-side and 12" remix came across as dated even in the year it was released. Everyone needs to start somewhere.

Ubangistomp states below Song to the Siren should have been issued as an A side and then could have been a number one. Could it? [It reached number 3.] Firstly, Song to the Siren IS issued as an A side (check the 7”, which is what counted). The Eighties were pretty good for indie music, the playing field had become much more level. In fact New Order’s Blue Monday was there that year, but that is quite poppy. So TMC’s Song to the Siren did have a real chance. Come on punters get your dosh out! Vote!

1983 – songs are competing alongside Michael Jackson, Culture Club, Wham! Shakin Stevens. Google it: Song to the Siren, as an A side 7”, lost to all those other ‘83 acts. In fact, Autumn of ‘83, Song to the Siren would have been losing to Karma Chameleon (also released September ’83). It goes to show, top of the charts, well: what does it mean? All the more reason why it is important to respect 4AD for its way of presenting music: they did it THEIR way. And I’m not sure what kind of quality is measurable via chartometer.

In order to be a Number One now, with our current music industry, the 4AD singing siren would be under similar, perhaps more pressure. It would probably need to be linked to a film like Frozen, then it would become famous. Yay! Streaming to all earbuds, heard in all the Tescos! But no; instead of Frozen, Song to the Siren appears as a f**ksong in Lynch’s Lost Highway (hilarious).

Fair enough all those other hits are still important today, but also . . . to this day, the 12” EP and its siren song remains a weird assault of beauty and frenzied sound. Everything about this 12” is a work of carefully considered art. You first see the cover image of the dark house. What goes on there then? I am glad the Sixteen Days / Gathering Dust track is the opening track. It starts slowly with eerie, repeating notes and background noise, after a minute it slowly picks up pace like a gathering storm, a sharp drum comes in, and finally, 20 secs before the four-minute mark the singing duet between childhood friends Elizabeth and Gordon, begins, like a whirling dervish of repetition. “Inspiring dreams all shattered and blown away . . .” Arriving to the perfect setting for the eye of the storm, Song to the Siren to enter.

Larry Beckett wrote the lyrics and Tim Buckley put it to music.

Nick Warren played Song To The Siren over Chicane's - Offshore on a couple of Essential Mixes and it couldn't of worked out any better the haunting vocals just seem to fit perfectly over the classic Offshore.

An odd pairing as many have said, its not that Sixteen Days is a bad tune but more a poor choice as an A Side. As for Song To The Siren what more can be said about this most sonically beautiful of songs. It surely should have been an A Side and if issued as such with airplay could have been a number one. To this day when I play this song to people for the first time it leaves them stunned. An incredible piece of music sung superbly. This is the sound of heaven. There is very little that sounded like this before or after.
I’m a massive Tim Buckley fan but even if he had lived to hear it I’m sure he would have said that’s it,it’s your song now.

My copy has reverse labels. Curious if this was widespread or a mispress (?)

I need to get into more Coil and Twins (or even just '80s 4AD) if stuff like this is in store. The A side is my favorite.

I was introduced to this by a friends boyfriend, who reminded me of Peter Murphy, barmaids would swoon over him. Such a charmer.
I rushed out and bought it. Never had a barmaid swoon over me but got one of the best 12" records of the 80's.

Totally agree with andrewstuart - I love this 12". The A side is a 9 minute whirlwind. Gordon Sharpe and Elizabeth Fraser make a dramatic vocal duo. One of the best of the 4AD catalogue.

Kaboom, an explosive wall of sound and great reimagining of the Modern English original.

16 Days is a UK 80s fucking GOTH masterpiece, like a mix between The Cure of Pornography and The Sisters of Mercy of First and Last and Always. Nowadays It is a breakout hit in any Goth Club. Just brilliant! The other song, yes, is a beautiful and good song, but , It's a simple Tim Buckley's cover. That's my opinion. Cheers