Without Mercy (album)

Without Mercy is the fourth studio album by English band The Durutti Column, released in October 1984 on Factory Records. After the band and label boss Tony Wilson were unanimous in their dislike of Another Setting (1983), Wilson pushed the band towards progressing to a new, classical-inspired sound. The band went on to record Short Stories for Pauline, which went unreleased when Wilson refused to release it, though one track, "Little Mercy", kept Wilson's attention. He asked the band to use it as the foundation for a different album, ultimately becoming Without Mercy.

With a dramatically extended line-up, featuring classical musicians such as cello player Caroline Lavelle and Tuxedomoon violinist Blaine L. Reininger, Without Mercy was recorded in Strawberry Studios. It was partly an attempt by Wilson to push Durutti Column band leader Vini Reilly into spending more than three days recording an album, although the album was recorded in only five days. The album is an album-length, two-part modern classical piece, also titled "Without Mercy", using the narrative of John Keats' poem "La Belle Dame sans Merci", which also gives the album its name. Using a blend of new and old instruments, the piece is subdued and orchestrated, with strong elements of minimalist and chamber music.

The extended line-up premiered the album at Hammersmith's Riverside Studios in October 1984 before playing at Wilson's nightclub The Hacienda and the Institute of Contemporary Arts. The album sleeve, designed by 8vo and featuring Henri Matisse's Trivaux Pond painting glued onto card, has been cited as innovative. Upon its release, the album reached number 8 on the UK Indie Albums Chart and also found success in Japan. Critics have been generally favourable, generally complimenting the piece's peaceful nature and seeing it as a progression in the band's sound, though some contemporary and retrospectives have more mixed opinions, and Reilly has disowned the album. The album has been re-released several times.