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.
Contents
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
Personnel
Musicians
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