Released 40 years ago
Filigree & Shadow
This Mortal Coil · 1986
74 min · 25 tracks · dream pop
Ethereal soundscapes intertwine haunting vocals, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that blurs the lines between reality and reverie.
Top tracks — play these first
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I Want to Live — This track stands out due to its poignant delivery and intricate layering of sounds, encapsulating the emotional depth that defines the album's overall experience.
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Come Here My Love — With its haunting melodies and ethereal vocal harmonies, this song exemplifies the dream pop aesthetic that This Mortal Coil pioneered, leaving a lasting impression.
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Tarantula — The combination of somber lyrics and lush instrumentation makes this track a compelling centerpiece that showcases the band's ability to blend melancholy with beauty.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends covers and originals with ethereal vocals and ambient textures, creating a cohesive dreamlike experience.
What we noticed
- Many tracks employ unconventional song structures, with some pieces extending beyond typical verse-chorus formats, allowing for exploration of mood over melody.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Velvet Belly 1:19
- 2 The Jeweller 3:15
- 3 Ivy and Neet 4:48
- 4 Meniscus 2:28
- 5 Tears 0:22
- 6 Tarantula 4:58
- 7 My Father 5:58
- 8 Come Here My Love 3:42
- 9 At First, and Then 1:58
- 10 Strength of Strings 4:41
- 11 Morning Glory 2:56
- 12 Inch Blue 1:08
- 13 I Want to Live 4:05
- 14 Mama K I 0:53
- 15 Filigree & Shadow 1:19
- 16 Firebrothers 3:54
- 17 Thaïs I 1:08
- 18 I Must Have Been Blind 3:30
- 19 A Heart of Glass 3:45
- 20 Alone 4:13
- 21 Mama K II 0:34
- 22 The Horizon Bleeds and Sucks Its Thumb 2:53
- 23 Drugs 3:08
- 24 Red Rain 3:54
- 25 Thaïs II 3:13
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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