The Bathers are a Scottish Chamber Pop band. Formed in Glasgow in 1985 after the band Friends Again split up, they are essentially the vehicle for singer songwriter Chris Thomson. They have released several albums in the 20+ years since they formed and have been likened to Tom Waits, The Blue Nile, Scott Walker and This Mortal Coil. Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins recorded several tracks with them on 1993's Sunpowder and performed live with them in Glasgow.The music of The Bathers is typically moody and beautiful with a late - night feel , mostly played on piano and acoustic guitar with occasional string backing . Highly recommended ! In 2005 The Scotsman put Sweet Deceit as one of their five lost Scottish classic albums.