This Mortal Coil - Filigree And Shadow (CD)

• This Mortal Coil was the inspiration of Ivo Watts-Russell, the founder of 4AD. Initially the project was to re-record a medley that Modern English performed live and the B-side featured Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins performing an obscure Tim Buckley composition, ‘Song To The Siren’. 

• The plaudits for this recording encouraged Ivo to continue and an album, ‘It'll End In Tears’, was released in 1984. Featuring new interpretations of songs that inspired him, mixed with original compositions and musical links, this forged the template for This Mortal Coil. 

• ‘Filigree & Shadow’, which followed two years later, was even more cohesive and flowed over the four sides of the original album. With no defined breaks between tracks it was created to be listened to as a piece and the core of musicians added to the continuity. 

• 1991’s ‘Blood’, the final part of the trilogy, was also a double album. “By avoiding drums a lot of the time, and by not experimenting with new technology for the sake of it, we somehow pushed it away from the era’s norm, those string-synth sounds and huge reverbs. Also in terms of content: we gave as much significance to a foghorn or helicopter as a Tim Buckley composition. Sometimes I’d want a track to sound “more blue”, or “more purple”...” says Watts- Russell now. 

• All three albums have been re-mastered from the original analogue studio tapes by John Dent at Loud Mastering, to achieve the best digital sound available today. 

• The HDCD albums are packaged in paper sleeves printed to the highest standard by the Ichikudo company in Japan, along with inner sleeves and booklets. 

• Re-designed sleeves by Ivo Watts-Russell and Vaughan Oliver, 4AD’s long time visual partner, which cater to the reduced size, feature gatefold sleeves, and remain inspired by the originals. 

• “Luminously remastered” - Mojo 

• “The ultimate digital version... A Beautifully luxurious production... The pinnacle in the digital domain in terms of sonics and packaging” - Hi-Fi World 

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