Biography

Combining elements of romantic imagery, post-modern nostalgia and minimalist art into an intense and atmospheric soundscape, Seattle's C'est La Mort are a dark and driving band who take their cues in nearly equal measure from post-punk antecedents like the Chameleons, and the Cocteau Twins, darkwave forbearers such as Tones on Tail and the Cure, and later shoegazers like Lush and the Pale Saints. There's something refreshingly organic and genuine – not to mention wonderfully old-school -- about the particular variety of atmospheric goth-indie-pop that C'est la Mort is creating. Compellingly, their melodies bring back the best of memories (recalling a time when just saying "4AD" actually meant something) while simultaneously producing something altogether new and very much their own. Vocalist Kim House's melodic drive on her Rickenbacker bass propels every song from start to inevitable powerful conclusion, while Geoff Cox and Jim Biggs erect the perfect wall of sound with dueling guitars layered and enhanced through an array of effects that would make Robin Guthrie proud.

C'est La Mort formed in 2004 by Kim House and Geoff Cox with their friends Karyn Gold and Kirstin Epting. They were quickly picked up for a Seattle-based compilation project of up and coming bands called "Strength in Numbers," which lead to glowing reviews and live dates in the Seattle area. Unfortunately, the project seemed cursed: within months of release, several of the included bands had split up. C'est La Mort were dealt a pair of setbacks of their own, as their original drummer and guitarist left to pursue other paths in late 2005. Their seats were filled in the following months by Jim Biggs on guitar (most recently of Seattle shoegazers Black Nite Crash) and, eventually, Machell Collier on drums (formerly of punk/metal/hardcore band Free Verse). Jim and Machell have brought new energy to much of the existing material and have added their own style of noise (Jim) and drive (Machell) to the collaborative blend.

Most recently, C'est La Mort has been featured on the weekly podcast for the French magazine Les Inrockuptibles, received radio airplay locally in Seattle and in Germany, and were chosen as a finalist for the best unsigned band in the NW Source People's Picks for 2006.

With a stable lineup intact, C'est La Mort is set to go to release their debut album in the fall of 2008 with live dates up and down the west coast to follow soon after.

Instrumentation
Kim House (bass + vocals)
Geoff Cox (guitars + effects)
Jim Biggs (guitars + vocals)
Machell Collier (drums)

Discography
"Collapse" & "Ashes, Ashes" on Strength In Numbers compilation (USA, 2006), "Among the Ruins" on Crawling Tunes magazine and compilation (Germany, 2008), "No Time for Goodbye" on Smoke and Spotlight, vol. 3 (Germany, 2008).

Featured on Les Inrocktables podcast (French music magazine), airplay on Radio Flora (Hanover, Germany), On the Edge (KNHC, Seattle).