Date:    Wed, 14 Oct 1998 11:05:40 -0000
From:    Roy Burns <roy@LEWISCOMMUNICATIONS.COM>
Subject: I'm a rabid 4AD whore!!!!

This Mortal Coil Blood (4AD)
 
The final chapter in the TMC trilogy, Blood combines melodic songwriting
with lush instrumentation and enchanting, yet haunting vocals. Once
again, Ivo and co-producer/engineer John Fryer team up with string
composer Martin McCarrick and singers Alison Limerick and Diedre
Rutkowski to cover songs from a vast musical repertoire, while creating
beautifully cerebral material of their own. This double album represents
This Mortal Coil's best produced work, brimming with great covers and
amazing new songs like "D.D. and E.," "The Lacemaker" and "Dreams Are
Like Water." Not as minimal or experimental as the previous albums, Blood
retains the moody atmosphere, containing renditions of songs by Spirit,
Emmylou Harris, Chris Bell, The Byrds, Syd Barrett and Rain Parade,
interspersed with instrumentals, sonic bits and strong original songs.
Once again, Ivo employs some of his favorite vocalists to complete his
musical vision. Kim Deal (Pixies/Breeders) and Tanya Donnelly (Throwing
Muses/Belly/Breeders) shine on the gorgeous duet "You and Your Sister"
(originally recorded by Chris Bell). Limerick gives another overwhelming
heartfelt performance on Spirit's reflective "Nature's Way." Caroline
Crawley (Shellyan Orphan) adds her soothing, childlike vocals to The
Apartments' "Mr. Somewhere," Syd Barrett's eerie "With Tomorrow" and
interpretive singer Mary Margaret O'Hara's inspirational and teary-eyed
"Help Me Lift You Up." While Dominic Appleton (Breathless) returns with a
lisp-ridden performance of Chris Bell's "I Am The Cosmos."
 
--Craig M. Roseberry