Filigree & Shadow

by

This Mortal Coil

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I heard of This Mortal Coil through a soundtrack, and I bought this CD on a whim--probably the best impulse buy I ever made. I first listened to it a few weeks later at three in the morning while smoking a cigarette and watching tree branches scrape my window. When you hear this music you will understand that it perfectly fit the moment. Dominic Appleton has the voice of a faceless lover in a gothic dream, and the instrumental pieces are quite haunting. "At First, and Then" is a gorgeous progression from calm to chaotic and frenzied that I see as a musical interpretation of either sex or death. "The Jeweller" is simply the best, most beautiful song I've heard, period. I found the Pearls Before Swine original version since I liked the cover so much, and the arrangement and vocals of This Mortal Coil's version make it far superior. This album also makes the best psychedelic music I've ever heard, bar none. It is great to chill out to--very relaxing, yet visionary. If I could own only one CD, this would be it.

I may be the lone voice of dissent on this page, but I must say, I have owned all three This Mortal Coil compilations for some time, and of the three, "Filigree and Shadow" is the weakest. It's not bad. But unlike the raw beauty of the "It'll End in Tears" tracks (which is mostly a Cocteau Twins/Dead Can Dance concoction - 4AD chief Ivo Watts-Russell hadn't yet a roster large enough by then!) and the epic sweep of "Blood" (which has a couple of guitar-laden clunkers but is otherwise packed with dark and soaring emotional stunners), this album has a more ambient feel, and thus lacks much personality or punch. I've listened to it several times and most of it just feels samey to me. It's good, but as a listening experience, the album is strictly a flat landscape, with few peaks or valleys.

Obviously many people here feel differently. But to those who may have been curious about This Mortal Coil, but aren't sure which CD to get first, I highly, highly recommend you start your journey with "Blood." Then rush out and get "It'll End in Tears." Heck, get them both at the same time.