Filigree & Shadow is the second album by the 4AD collective This Mortal Coil. Released in September 1986, the album features a loose grouping of guest musicians and vocalists brought together by label boss Ivo Watts-Russell, most of whom are from the 4AD roster.

Background and recording Watts-Russell and John Fryer had produced the album, with Fryer and John Turner as the recording engineers.

Of the 25 tracks, 13 are instrumental, including the title track. This was the first double-LP released on 4AD, and introduced the "DAD" (for double album) prefix into the label's catalogue. Watts-Russell took careful consideration in shaping the album's four sides so they flowed together as individual wholes. This is lost somewhat on compact disc, as the entire album fits on one CD.

Release The album entered the UK Independent Music chart on 11 October 1986 and peaked at number 2, spending 16 weeks on the chart in total. A remastered and repackaged CD edition of Filigree & Shadow was issued with the complete This Mortal Coil recordings in a self-titled box set, released in late November 2011. The CD was released individually shortly thereafter.

Track listing Double vinyl LP (DAD 609)

CD (DAD 609 CD)

Personnel Musicians

Dominic Appleton (Breathless) – vocals Deirdre Rutkowski – vocals Louise Rutkowski – vocals Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins) – guitar, bass, keyboards Richard Thomas (Dif Juz) – saxophone David Curtis (Dif Juz) – guitar Jon Turner – keyboards Alison Limerick – vocals Jean (recorded as Jeanette on Survival Records) – vocals Peter Ulrich (Dead Can Dance) – percussion Keith Mitchell – guitar Nigel K. Hine – guitar Anne Turner – background vocals Les McKeown – background vocals Martin McCarrick – background vocals Hubertus "Richenel" Baars – vocals Chris Pye – guitar Caroline Seaman (Heavenly Bodies, ex-members of Dead Can Dance) – vocals Alan Curtis (Dif Juz) – guitar Mark Cox (The Wolfgang Press) – keyboards Andrew Gray (The Wolfgang Press) – guitar Steven Young (Colourbox) – drum programming Tony Waera – didgeridoo Gini Ball – violin, viola John Fryer – programming Ivo Watts-Russell – music, keyboards

Visual Concept and art direction by Ivo Watts-Russell and Nigel Grierson Photography by Nigel Grierson Design by Vaughan Oliver at v23 Design assistance by Erwin Esen Cover model: Pallas Citroën

References

External links Filigree & Shadow at Discogs