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THE REVIEW
I am a fanatic of everything that "sounds" like the eighties, especially if it leans towards those musical expressions known as new wave and post-punk. I've managed to appreciate strongly "pop-oriented" groups like the Smiths and The Sound (for The Sound, the pop turn concerned their later works). I've even managed to appreciate the Cure! Not only the Cure of the first four immense albums but also the ones from the sugary "Disintegration". However, I've always had some issues with This Mortal Coil.
They are good, they used to be often mentioned, they showed a certain originality but, overall, their albums don't convince me!
But who are This Mortal Coil? First of all, it's worth clarifying that we are not talking about a proper band, but rather a supergroup composed of artists from the 4AD label stable. A supergroup born and bred under the supervision of the label's all-rounder and president, Ivo Watts-Russell.
The project involved members of Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, and Colourbox. However, the high peaks reached by these groups are very far, and fortunately, from the mediocrity that characterizes this "Filigree & Shadow".
First downside of the album: the record is composed largely of covers of Van Morrison, Tim Buckley, and Talking Heads. The covers differ from the originals, as they should, but they have a somewhat too naive "gothic" flavor.
Second downside: the original tracks on this album are few and, sad but true, they are vaguely ambient sound interludes. These are not monstrosities, let's be clear, but they come across as mundane background music. Not dark and unsettling ambient, therefore... but of the tranquil ambient for yuppies, yuppies eager to spend some quiet moments with their lady.
Third downside: overall, this "Filigree & Shadow" appears fragmented, inconsistent, and without a well-defined and decipherable form.
Someone told me, not without reason, that This Mortal Coil were quickly forgotten. Very true. But it is also true that records like this, unfortunately, do not leave a mark!
Bittersweet, autumnal, faint, and melancholic music. Music that might surprise more than one person but, alas, does not withstand the test of time.
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Summary by Bot
The reviewer appreciates 80s new wave and post-punk but finds This Mortal Coil's Filigree & Shadow underwhelming. The album’s reliance on covers with naive gothic tones and ambient interludes makes it feel inconsistent and forgettable. Despite the pedigree of contributing artists, the album fails to deliver a cohesive or memorable experience.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
This Mortal Coil
This Mortal Coil is a British 4AD project curated by Ivo Watts-Russell with producer John Fryer, active from 1983 to 1991. Featuring a rotating cast from the label (including members of Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, and others), the collective released three albums—It'll End in Tears, Filigree & Shadow, and Blood—blending ethereal covers and atmospheric instrumentals. Their version of Tim Buckley’s Song to the Siren became an enduring touchstone.05 Reviews
