Cocteau Twins | ||
| Allmusic Biography : A group whose distinctly ethereal and gossamer sound virtually defined the enigmatic image of the record label 4AD, Cocteau Twins were founded in Grangemouth, Scotland, in 1979. Taking their name from an obscure song from fellow Scots Simple Minds, the Cocteaus were originally formed by guitarist Robin Guthrie and bassist Will Heggie and later rounded out by Guthries girlfriend Elizabeth Fraser, an utterly unique performer whose swooping, operatic vocals relied less on any recognizable language than on the subjective sounds and textures of verbalized emotions. In 1982, the trio signed to 4AD, the arty British label then best known as the home of the Birthday Party, whose members helped the Cocteaus win a contract. The group debuted with Garlands, which offered an embryonic taste of their rapidly developing, atmospheric sound, crafted around Guthries creative use of distorted guitars, tape loops, and echo boxes and anchored in Heggies rhythmic bass as well as an omnipresent Roland 808 drum machine. Shortly after the release of the Peppermint Pig EP, Heggie left the group, and Guthrie and Fraser cut 1983s Head Over Heels as a duo; nonetheless, the album largely perfected the Cocteaus gauzy formula, and established the foundation from which the group would continue to work for the duration of its career. In late 1983, ex-Drowning Craze bassist Simon Raymonde joined the band to record the EP The Spangle Maker; as time wore on, Raymonde became an increasingly essential component of Cocteau Twins, gradually assuming an active role as a writer, arranger, and producer. With their lineup firmly solidified, they issued The Spangle Maker, followed by the LP Treasure, their most mature and consistent work yet. A burst of creativity followed, as the Twins issued three separate EPs -- Aikea-Guinea, Tiny Dynamine, and Echoes in a Shallow Bay -- in 1985, trailed a year later by the acoustic Victorialand album, the Loves Easy Tears EP, and The Moon and the Melodies, a collaborative effort with minimalist composer Harold Budd. With 1988s sophisticated Blue Bell Knoll, the trio signed an international contract with Capitol Records, which greatly elevated their commercial visibility. After 1990s Heaven or Las Vegas, the Cocteaus severed their long-standing relationship with 4AD; notably, the album also found Frasers vocals offering the occasional comprehensible turn of phrase, a trend continued on 1993s Four-Calendar Cafe. In 1995, they explored a pair of differing musical approaches on simultaneously released EPs: while Twinlights offered subtle acoustic sounds, Otherness tackled ambient grooves, remixed by Seefeels Mark Clifford. On the other hand, 1996s Milk & Kisses LP marked a return to the bands archetypal style. Cocteau Twins quietly disbanded while working on an uncompleted follow-up. Posthumous releases followed, such as 1999s BBC Sessions, 2000s Stars and Topsoil, and 2005s Lullabies to Violaine. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 24 Title: Garlands Released: 1982-09-01 Tracks: 14 Duration: 57:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Blood Bitch (04:35) 2 Wax and Wane (04:02) 3 But I’m Not (02:42) 4 Blind Dumb Deaf (03:55) 5 Shallow Then Halo (05:15) 6 The Hollow Men (05:02) 7 Garlands (04:29) 8 Grail Overfloweth (05:24) 9 Dear Heart (03:39) 10 Hazel (03:25) 11 Hearsay Please (04:25) 12 Blind Dumb Deaf (03:44) 13 Speak No Evil (03:54) 14 Perhaps Some Other Aeon (02:57) |
| Garlands : Allmusic album Review : Those hearing Garlands for the first time who only know the bands other material will likely be more than a little surprised. Whereas the typical vision of the Twins is of beautiful washes of sounds and exultant vocals from Fraser, on Garlands the trio is still only part of the way there. Instead, the best comparison points are to the Cure on Faith and Pornography, perhaps Metal Box-era PiL, a touch of Joy Division here and there -- in sum, deep, heavy mood verging on doom and gloom. Bassist Will Heggie, in the only full album he did with the Twins, clearly follows the Peter Hook/Simon Gallup style of low, ominous throb, while Guthries guitar work more often than not screeches loudly than shimmers. Frasers singing has a starker edge, unsettling even at its most accessible, sometimes completely disturbing at other times. The strongest track, "Wax and Wane," has the trio creating a powerful but also surprisingly danceable track, the crisp drumbox beat working against Guthries compelling atmospherics and Frasers vocal hook in the chorus. Beyond that and a couple of other moments, though, Garlands falters due to something the band generally avoided in the future -- overt repetition. Too many of the songs rely on a unified formula that rarely changes; one need only compare to the multiplicity of styles tried on Head Over Heels to see the difference. As a debut effort, though, Garlands makes its own curious mark, preparing the band for greater heights. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 24 Title: Lullabies Released: 1982-10 Tracks: 3 Duration: 16:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Feathers–Oar–Blades (04:26) 2 Alas Dies Laughing (03:39) 3 It’s All but an Ark Lark (08:04) |
 | Album: 3 of 24 Title: Peppermint Pig Released: 1983-04-04 Tracks: 3 Duration: 11:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Peppermint Pig (05:02) 2 Laugh Lines (03:19) 3 Hazel (02:49) |
 | Album: 4 of 24 Title: Head Over Heels Released: 1983-10-31 Tracks: 10 Duration: 36:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 When Mama Was Moth (03:04) 2 Five Ten Fiftyfold (05:00) 3 Sugar Hiccup (12″ version) (03:40) 4 In Our Angelhood (02:59) 5 Glass Candle Grenades (02:44) 6 In the Gold Dust Rush (03:39) 7 The Tinderbox (of a Heart) (04:56) 8 Multifoiled (02:36) 9 My Love Paramour (03:40) 10 Musette and Drums (04:36) |
| Head Over Heels : Allmusic album Review : Losing original member Heggie might at first have seemed a troubling blow, but in fact it allowed the duo of Fraser and Guthrie to transcend the darkened one-note gloom of Garlands with Head Over Heels. The album introduces a variety of different shadings and approaches to the incipient Cocteaus sound, pointing the band towards the exultant, elegant beauty of later releases. Opening number "When Mama Was Moth" demonstrates the new musical range nicely; Frasers singing is much more upfront, while Guthrie creates a bewitching mix of dark guitar notes and sparkling keyboard tones, with percussion echoing in the background. Other songs, like the sax-accompanied "Five Ten Fiftyfold" and "The Tinderbox (Of a Heart)" reflect the more elaborate musical melancholy of the group, while still other cuts are downright sprightly. "Multifoiled" in particular is a charm, a jazzily-arranged number that lets Fraser do a bit of scatting (a perfect avenue for her lyrical approach!), while "In the Gold Dust Rush" mixes acoustic guitar drama into Frasers swooping singing. Perhaps the two strongest numbers of all are: "Sugar Hiccup," mixing the mock choir effect the band would use elsewhere with both a lovely guitar line and singing; and "Musette and Drums," a massive, powerful collision of Guthries guitar at its loudest and most powerful and Frasers singing at its most intense. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 24 Title: Sunburst and Snowblind Released: 1983-11-07 Tracks: 4 Duration: 14:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Sugar Hiccup (12″ version) (03:40) 2 From the Flagstones (03:38) 3 Hitherto (03:52) 4 Because of Whirl–Jack (03:28) |
 | Album: 6 of 24 Title: The Spangle Maker Released: 1984-04-02 Tracks: 3 Duration: 13:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Spangle Maker (04:40) 2 Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops (12″ version) (05:13) 3 Pepper-Tree (03:57) |
 | Album: 7 of 24 Title: Treasure Released: 1984-10-01 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Ivo (03:56) 2 Lorelei (03:42) 3 Beatrix (03:13) 4 Persephone (04:26) 5 Pandora (For Cindy) (05:33) 6 Amelia (03:31) 7 Aloysius (03:28) 8 Cicely (03:29) 9 Otterley (04:16) 10 Donimo (06:12) |
| Treasure : Allmusic album Review : The opening two numbers of Treasure are simply flawless, starting with "Ivo," where gently strummed guitar and low bass support Frasers singing; then suddenly added, astonishing chimes and steady percussion build up to a jaw-dropping Guthrie guitar solo. Topping that would be hard for anyone, but in "Lorelei," the Twins do it, with an introductory, breathtaking guitar surge leading into one of Frasers best vocals, compelling in both its heavenly and earthly tones and rolls. Not a word may be understandable, but it isnt necessary, while the music, driven on by a pounding rhythm, is as perfect a justification of digital delay pedals and the like as can be found. As Treasure continues, the accomplished variety is what stands out the most, whether it be the gentle, futuristic-medieval pluckings on "Beatrix," the understated moody washes and Fraser whispers on "Otterley," the upbeat guitar lines of "Aloysius," or the slightly jazzy touches on "Pandora." The concluding number ends the record on the peak with which it began. "Donimo" starts with a mysterious mix of mock choir sounds, ambient echoes and noises, and Frasers careful singing before finally exploding into one last heavenly wash of powerful sound; Guthries guitar, Raymondes steady bass, and drum machine smashes provide the perfect bed for Frasers final, exultant vocals. Treasure lives up to its title and then some as a thorough and complete triumph. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 24 Title: Tiny Dynamine / Echoes in a Shallow Bay Released: 1985 Tracks: 8 Duration: 32:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Pink Orange Red (04:38) 2 Ribbed and Veined (03:57) 3 Plain Tiger (04:01) 4 Sultitan Itan (03:49) 5 Great Spangled Fritillary (04:02) 6 Melonella (04:05) 7 Pale Clouded White (04:59) 8 Eggs and Their Shells (03:05) |
 | Album: 9 of 24 Title: The Pink Opaque Released: 1985-09 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Spangle Maker (04:40) 2 Millimillenary (03:40) 3 Wax and Wane (03:51) 4 Hitherto (03:52) 5 Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops (04:10) 6 From the Flagstones (03:38) 7 Aikea-Guinea (03:57) 8 Lorelei (03:42) 9 Pepper-Tree (03:57) 10 Musette and Drums (04:36) |
| The Pink Opaque : Allmusic album Review : After having built up a considerable reputation in the U.K. and Europe, the Cocteaus first fully reached America via this compilation, cherry-picking some of the groups finest moments for this trans-Atlantic co-release between home label 4AD and then-stateside label Relativity. None of the ten tracks had been released in America before, but whoever assembled the release knew exactly what they were doing in terms of whetting appetites. The only absolute rarity on the disc was "Millimillenary," originally turning up on a compilation tape given away by New Musical Express. Its a fine number, recorded soon after Raymonde joined the group -- a good mix of the Cocteaus instrumental lushness and Frasers vocal acrobatics. The version of Garlands "Wax and Wane" included here is slightly remixed and arguably even better than the original, bringing out everything a little more clearly and powerfully. A sage decision was the inclusion of all three tracks from the Pearly-Dewdrops Drops EP; as flawless as that was, all deserved inclusion, while beginning the compilation with "The Spangle Maker" was also inspired. Other cuts include "Hitherto," "From the Flagstones," "Lorelei," and the then-recent single "Aikea-Guinea." Concluding with the similarly album-ending "Musette and Drums" from Head Over Heels, The Pink Opaque is a lovely taster for anyone wanting to discover the peerless early years of the Cocteaus. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 24 Title: Tiny Dynamine Released: 1985-10 Tracks: 4 Duration: 16:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Pink Orange Red (04:38) 2 Ribbed and Veined (03:57) 3 Plain Tiger (04:01) 4 Sultitan Itan (03:49) |
 | Album: 11 of 24 Title: Echoes in a Shallow Bay Released: 1985-10-14 Tracks: 4 Duration: 16:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Great Spangled Fritillary (04:02) 2 Melonella (04:05) 3 Pale Clouded White (04:59) 4 Eggs and Their Shells (03:05) |
 | Album: 12 of 24 Title: Victorialand Released: 1986-02 Tracks: 9 Duration: 32:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Lazy Calm (06:34) 2 Fluffy Tufts (03:05) 3 Throughout the Dark Months of April and May (03:05) 4 Whales Tails (03:19) 5 Oomingmak (02:42) 6 Little Spacey (03:26) 7 Feet-Like Fins (03:26) 8 How to Bring a Blush to the Snow (03:50) 9 The Thinner the Air (03:15) |
| Victorialand : Allmusic album Review : With Raymonde taking a break to work on the second This Mortal Coil album, Fraser and Guthrie made up the Cocteaus for the first full-length follow-up to Treasure. Rather than trying for a full-band approach, Fraser and Guthrie instead created a much more simply beautiful effort, with a relaxed air to it. Rhythms are subtler, with bass and drum machine often totally eschewed in favor of Guthries delicate guitar filigrees and lush, produced textures. Fraser is, as always, in wonderfully fine voice; her words are quite indecipherable, but the feelings are no less strong for it. "Lazy Calm" starts things perfectly, as deep, heavily-treated guitar strums combine with a heavy flange and guest saxophone from Dif Juz member Richard Thomas. Other songs sparkle with a lovely vivaciousness. Far from being stereotypical arty music to sit around and be gloomy to, two pieces especially shine with a gentle energy: "Fluffy Tufts," with its many-layered ringing strings and Frasers overdubbed vocals; and the joyful "Little Spacey," with a soft rhythm underlying more sheer electric loveliness. Guthrie adds heavy reverb and overdubbed lines to create the Cocteaus wash on such songs as "Throughout the Dark Months of April and May" and "Feet Like Fins," the latter again featuring Thomas, this time on tablas. For all the sweet beauty of Victorialand, things end on a quietly dramatic note, but a dramatic one nonetheless. "The Thinner the Air" starts with treated piano and rather spooky guitar leads -- the mysterious soloing is especially wonderful -- while Fraser then sings with a slightly haunted feeling, concluding with slightly nervous wails. Its an unexpected but effective touch for this fine record. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 24 Title: Love’s Easy Tears Released: 1986-09 Tracks: 3 Duration: 10:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Love’s Easy Tears (03:37) 2 Those Eyes, That Mouth (03:38) 3 Sigh’s Smell of Farewell (03:34) |
 | Album: 14 of 24 Title: Blue Bell Knoll Released: 1988-09-19 Tracks: 10 Duration: 35:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Blue Bell Knoll (03:25) 2 Athol-Brose (02:59) 3 Carolyn’s Fingers (03:07) 4 For Phoebe Still a Baby (03:16) 5 The Itchy Glowbo Blow (03:20) 6 Cico Buff (03:49) 7 Suckling the Mender (03:36) 8 Spooning Good Singing Gum (03:52) 9 A Kissed Out Red Floatboat (04:10) 10 Ella Megalast Burls Forever (03:38) |
| Blue Bell Knoll : Allmusic album Review : The first Cocteaus album to feature a full-band lineup since Treasure was also their first full studio record released in America, resulting from the groups stateside deal with Capitol. Much to longtime fans surprise, the Twins in fact were much more content with Capitol than 4AD, hinting at their eventual full departure from that label. This was all well and good, but the trios new inspiration didnt fully translate into their work, unfortunately. While Blue Bell Knoll has some striking moments that are pure Cocteaus at their best -- the opening title track is especially lovely with a keyboard loop leading into Frasers ever-wonderful vocals, a light rhythm, and a great final Guthrie solo -- its still the bands least noteworthy release since Garlands. The feeling throughout is of a group interested in dressing up older approaches that have served them well, but arent as distinct; the quite-lush arrangements by Guthrie are fine but the songs are a touch more pedestrian. Blue Bell Knoll has enough initial steam, however, to ensure that there are reasons to listen, happily. "Athol-Brose" has the inspirational feel that the Twins can easily create. "Carolyns Fingers," the clear album standout, is perhaps the strongest individual Cocteau song since "Aikea-Guinea," with Fraser singing against herself over a rough, hip-hop-inspired rhythm while Guthrie peels off a fantastic main guitar melody and Raymonde contributes some supple bass work. After that amazing opening, things slowly but surely slide back a bit; most of the rest sounds okay enough to listen to, but the heartgripping intensity that defines the Twins at their best isnt present. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 24 Title: Heaven or Las Vegas Released: 1990-08-21 Tracks: 10 Duration: 37:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Cherry-Coloured Funk (03:12) 2 Pitch the Baby (03:16) 3 Iceblink Luck (03:18) 4 Fifty-Fifty Clown (03:15) 5 Heaven or Las Vegas (04:56) 6 I Wear Your Ring (03:40) 7 Fotzepolitic (03:30) 8 Wolf in the Breast (03:32) 9 Road, River and Rail (03:21) 10 Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires (05:36) |
| Heaven or Las Vegas : Allmusic album Review : Deciding to scale back the overly pretty sound on Blue Bell Knoll while experimenting with more accessibility -- -- the Twins ended up creating their best album since Treasure. From the start, Heaven... is simply fantastic: on "Cherry-Coloured Funk," Guthries inimitable guitar work chimes leading a low-key but forceful rhythm, while Raymondes grand bass work fleshes it out. Fraser simply captivates; her vocals are the clearest, most direct theyve ever been, purring with energy and life. Many songs have longer openings and closings; rather than crashing fully into a song and then quickly ending, instead the trio carefully builds up and eases back. These songs are still quite focused, though, almost sounding like they were recorded live instead of being assembled in the studio. Due credit has to be given to the Cocteaus drum programming; years of working with the machines translated into the detailed work here, right down to the fills. "Fifty-Fifty Clown," starting with an ominous bass throb, turns into a lovely showcase for Frasers singing and Guthries more restrained playing. But the Twins dont completely turn their back on Knolls sound; "Iceblink Luck," has the same lush feeling and a newfound energy -- the instrumental break is almost a rave-up! -- and everything pulses to a fine conclusion. There are many moments of sheer Cocteaus beauty and power, including the title track, with its great chorus, and two spotlight Guthrie solos: "Fotzepolitic," a powerful number building to a rushing conclusion, and the album-ending "Frou Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires." Possessing the same climactic sense of drama past disc-closers as "Donimo" and "The Thinner the Air," its a perfect way to end a perfect album. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 24 Title: Dials / Crushed / The High Monkey-Monk / Oomingmak Released: 1991-11-04 Tracks: 4 Duration: 11:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Dials (02:40) 2 Crushed (03:16) 3 The High Monkey–Monk (03:07) 4 Oomingmak (instrumental) (02:43) |
 | Album: 17 of 24 Title: Four-Calendar Café Released: 1993-11-02 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Know Who You Are at Every Age (03:42) 2 Evangeline (04:31) 3 Bluebeard (03:56) 4 Theft, and Wandering Around Lost (04:31) 5 Oil of Angels (04:38) 6 Squeeze-Wax (03:49) 7 My Truth (04:34) 8 Essence (03:02) 9 Summerhead (03:39) 10 Pur (05:02) |
| Four-Calendar Café : Allmusic album Review : Cocteau Twins first release following their exodus from the 4AD stable, Four-Calendar Café is also, tellingly, their most earthbound effort; as with Heaven or Las Vegas, the emphasis here is on substance as much as style -- "Evangeline," "Bluebeard," and "Know Who You Are at Every Age" continue the trios advance into more accessible melodic and lyrical ground without sacrificing even an ounce of their trademark ethereality. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 24 Title: Twinlights Released: 1995-09-26 Tracks: 4 Duration: 13:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Rilkean Heart (acoustic version) (02:22) 2 Golden‐Vein (02:50) 3 Pink Orange Red (acoustic version) (04:30) 4 Half‐Gifts (acoustic version) (04:14) |
 | Album: 19 of 24 Title: Otherness Released: 1995-10 Tracks: 4 Duration: 22:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Feet-Like Fins (Mark Clifford remix) (05:30) 2 Seekers Who Are Lovers (Mark Clifford remix) (05:41) 3 Violaine (Mark Clifford remix) (05:07) 4 Cherry-Coloured Funk (Mark Clifford remix) (05:46) |
 | Album: 20 of 24 Title: Milk & Kisses Released: 1996-03 Tracks: 12 Duration: 50:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Violaine (03:46) 2 Serpentskirt (03:57) 3 Tishbite (03:50) 4 Half-Gifts (04:18) 5 Flock of Soul (03:36) 6 Calfskin Smack (04:58) 7 Rilkean Heart (04:02) 8 Primitive Heart (04:07) 9 Ups (03:34) 10 Eperdu (04:38) 11 Treasure Hiding (04:55) 12 Seekers Who Are Lovers (04:45) |
| Milk & Kisses : Allmusic album Review : Throughout the 80s, Cocteau Twins created some of the most beautiful and innovative music of the decade. Liz Frasers uncanny, gossamer voice and Robin Guthries shimmery guitar work both garnered acclaim and inspired bands. Milk & Kisses finds the band in a comfortable rut; theyve created, and now perfected, a style of music so distinctive that there seems to be little recent creative growth. The result is a beautiful, lush, but somewhat dated and unengaging sounding album that tends to wash over the listener without making any real impact. It is, however, everything that a Cocteau Twins album promises; hypnotic, dreamy, awash in ethereal voices, and delicate, liquid guitars. "Tishbite" in particular delivers an accessible dream pop sound that sounds nice while its playing but fails to have anything really memorable about it, a problem that plagues most of Milk & Kisses. "Half-Gifts," "Rilkean Heart," and "Treasure Hiding" have an airy, otherwordly prettiness to them -- but thats about it. Necessary for Cocteau Twins diehards and potentially interesting to those that have never heard the band before, Milk & Kisses says nothing, but says it beautifully. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 24 Title: BBC Sessions Released: 1999-10-12 Tracks: 30 Duration: 1:51:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Wax and Wane (03:51) 2 Garlands (04:19) 3 Alas Dies Laughing (03:28) 4 Feathers-Oar-Blades (02:19) 5 Hearsay Please (04:25) 6 Dear Heart (03:39) 7 Blind Dumb Deaf (03:44) 8 Hazel (03:25) 9 The Tinderbox (of a Heart) (04:48) 10 Strange Fruit (01:52) 11 Hitherto (03:57) 12 From the Flagstones (03:32) 13 Sugar Hiccup (03:41) 14 In Our Angelhood (03:55) 15 My Hue and Cry (03:02) 16 Musette and Drums (04:11) 1 Hitherto (03:56) 2 From the Flagstones (03:33) 3 Musette and Drums (04:13) 4 Pepper-Tree (04:05) 5 Beatrix (03:04) 6 Ivo (03:34) 7 Otterley (04:29) 8 Serpentskirt (03:44) 9 Golden-Vein (02:46) 10 Half-Gifts (03:50) 11 Seekers Who Are Lovers (04:23) 12 Calfskin Smack (04:27) 13 Fifty-Fifty Clown (03:15) 14 Violaine (03:49) |
| BBC Sessions : Allmusic album Review : On the surface, this isnt as essential a release as other BBC sessions LPs. Because the Cocteaus used drum machines, the backing tracks and the rhythms replicate the known versions much more than other bands forced to record live in the studio. Yet BBC Sessions is still a whopper of a treat for fans and the uninitiated, two hours of sound that builds and builds until one is overcome with unspeakable, barely understood emotions. At 30 songs on two CDs, its an overview that sheds light on the masterful way the trio mutated so subtly, until their artistically premature end. It starts a bit too slowly on disc one, when the band couldnt really fight accusations of being Siouxsie & the Banshees wannabes -- they were stealing whole dollops of the Banshees vanguard style -- but were somehow captivating anyway. The first half of the CD indulges liberally in this period before the magic really starts in, firing off with one of the two previously unreleased songs, a stark and sharply striking cover of "Strange Fruit" that has to startle fans of the Billie Holiday standard. Haunting! From there it starts to upshift, gaining more confidence and bushels of beauty as Elizabeth Fraser starts to blossom into one of the most riveting voices to ever blow air into a mic. The bands playing becomes suppler, less tense and taut, and more billowing, setting the tone for the prettier aspects of the U.K. dream pop movement that would come later. As disc two opens, one really strikes gold, as a more advanced Robin Guthrie begins to explore soundscapes barely touched on in pop history, leaving Fraser to surf and float among the splendor like a North Pole adventurer putting her spikes into a wonderful winter snowstorm. Mesmerizing guitar tapestries mix with more oblique and obscurer sounds and ever-gentler rhythms to create the most striking moods imaginable. Bells chime, bass trembles, guitars bob and hover, and vocals coo and play. Its still hard to imagine more subconscious yet playful, artistic music. By the time one hits 1996 and the ever-glistening Milk & Kisses era, the group, anything but a spent force, is finding yet new ways to restate a case of wonder that seems ever more limitless as one approaches track 30. Waking dreams have almost never sounded better than this. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 24 Title: Stars and Topsoil: A Collection (1982–1990) Released: 2000-10-16 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:12:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Blind Dumb Deaf (03:47) 2 Sugar Hiccup (12″ version) (03:40) 3 My Love Paramour (03:40) 4 Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops (04:11) 5 Lorelei (03:42) 6 Pandora (05:26) 7 Aikea-Guinea (03:57) 8 Pink Orange Red (04:38) 9 Pale Clouded White (04:59) 1 Lazy Calm (06:34) 2 The Thinner the Air (03:15) 3 Orange Appled (02:50) 4 Cico Buff (03:49) 5 Carolyn’s Fingers (03:07) 6 Fifty-Fifty Clown (03:15) 7 Iceblink Luck (03:18) 8 Heaven or Las Vegas (04:56) 9 Watchlar (03:17) |
| Stars and Topsoil: A Collection (1982–1990) : Allmusic album Review : Stars and Topsoil collects some of the Cocteau Twins better-known 4AD material, which ends at 1990, before their departure to Fontana in the U.K. and Capitol in the U.S. Outside of college radio support and some late-night MTV rotation, the Cocteaus were basically invisible and unheard of in the U.S.; in the U.K., they were a higher profile act, but they still remained more of a cult band with a rabid following. As a barometer for the unfamiliar more than anything else, the compilation will either lead to the purchase of the groups entire catalog or nothing more, because those who are familiar tend to fall into two distinct camps: There are those who find the group to be from the gods, and there are those who are in firm belief that they were birthed from the stinking pit of the precious art-fluff well. Though the Cocteaus never really repeated themselves, they held a set of characteristics throughout their discography that made them extremely unique -- characteristics that launched a legion of imitators. While the selection here is fairly representative, there still isnt a definitive first place to go with the Cocteaus. An era spanning seven LPs of studio material and nine singles is a good load to pick from, and this particular track listing is just one of hundreds a fan could come up with. The disc is just as quality as most other Cocteaus releases, though it obviously misses the feel of a proper studio album. Since 4AD began reissuing those studio works in 2003, devout fans will have little use for this overview. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 24 Title: Lullabies to Violaine Released: 2005-11-21 Tracks: 32 Duration: 2:04:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Feathers–Oar–Blades (04:26) 2 Alas Dies Laughing (03:38) 3 It’s All but an Ark Lark (08:04) 4 Peppermint Pig (7″ version) (03:24) 5 Laugh Lines (03:19) 6 Hazel (02:49) 7 Sugar Hiccup (12″ version) (03:40) 8 From the Flagstones (03:38) 9 Hitherto (03:52) 10 Because of Whirl–Jack (03:28) 11 The Spangle Maker (04:40) 12 Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops (alternate version) (04:47) 13 Pepper-Tree (03:57) 14 Aikea-Guinea (alternate version) (03:57) 15 Kookaburra (03:19) 16 Quisquose (04:10) 17 Rococo (03:07) 1 Pink Orange Red (04:38) 2 Ribbed and Veined (03:57) 3 Plain Tiger (04:01) 4 Sultitan Itan (03:49) 5 Great Spangled Fritillary (04:02) 6 Melonella (04:01) 7 Pale Clouded White (04:59) 8 Eggs and Their Shells (03:05) 9 Love’s Easy Tears (03:35) 10 Those Eyes, That Mouth (03:38) 11 Sigh’s Smell of Farewell (03:34) 12 Orange Appled (02:49) 13 Iceblink Luck (03:18) 14 Mizake the Mizan (03:03) 15 Watchlar (03:17) |
| Lullabies to Violaine : Allmusic album Review : Even if it had been available only in a steel box stuffed with thousands of Styrofoam peanuts, Lullabies to Violaine would be a welcomed and indispensable part of Cocteau Twins discography. In just about every way imaginable, the compilation outdoes the title-less ten-disc singles box released by 4AD in the early 90s. It certainly looks and feels different: the sturdy flip-top box of old housed the singles in individual jewel cases, while this set squishes most of the old contents, and then some, into four discs that are wrapped in a foldout package that seems to be made of an exotic wintertime plant, which is then encased in a rice-paper-like sheath. Youd be wise not to handle the thing more than a couple times. In fact, just to be cautious, you probably shouldnt stare at it too long. Completists might be miffed to discover that it is missing a few things that the old box did contain, such as the 12" mixes of "Peppermint Pig" and "Pearly Dewdrops Drops," and the four tracks that appeared on a bonus disc. Robin Guthrie also substituted a couple alternate mixes, but as he argued on his weblog, its not a big deal: "Its a singles and EPs record, all the singles are there, where is the f*cking problem?" (Well, heres one problem: "Millimillenary," a gorgeous track left to languish on the out-of-print The Pink Opaque, shouldnt have been excluded.) The old box covered the 4AD years and therefore held the singles through Heaven or Las Vegas. This one covers the same ground on the first two discs; discs three and four cover the remaining A-sides, B-sides, and EP tracks through Milk & Kisses (secretly the bands third or fourth best album). Since the Cocteaus typically put the same amount of energy into their singles and EPs as their albums, Lullabies to Violaine features a prolific sum of prime material. The sheer breadth of content is a major factor, but the set is, by a wide margin, the best way to hear how this band consistently developed and constantly switched tacks, from punishing and stark, to elegant and dense, and many places between. It also doesnt hurt that the sound is pristine, improving upon whatever murkiness was audible in the initial round of CD issues. You might call all of the content amorphous goop, but the Cocteaus covered a wide range of emotions with a large set of colors, no matter how blurred they were at times. In fact, "The Spangle Maker," with its tidal structure and mixture of dread and bliss, indicates this in less than five minutes. There are 59 tracks in all, and theyre not all overflowing with dreamy exotic genius, but they do form the equivalent of six good-to-tremendous stand-alone albums. For the fans who didnt go any deeper than the studio albums, this will be almost exactly like falling in love with the band for the first time. [4AD also split this into two separate volumes.] | ||
 | Album: 24 of 24 Title: Treasure Hiding: The Fontana Years Box set Released: 2018-10-12 Tracks: 53 Duration: 3:32:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Know Who You Are at Every Age (03:42) 2 Evangeline (04:30) 3 Bluebeard (03:56) 4 Theft, and Wandering Around Lost (04:31) 5 Oil of Angels (04:38) 6 Squeeze‐Wax (03:49) 7 My Truth (04:34) 8 Essence (03:02) 9 Summerhead (03:39) 10 Pur (05:02) 1 Violaine (03:46) 2 Serpentskirt (03:57) 3 Tishbite (03:50) 4 Half‐Gifts (04:18) 5 Calfskin Smack (04:58) 6 Rilkean Heart (04:02) 7 Ups (03:34) 8 Eperdu (04:38) 9 Treasure Hiding (04:55) 10 Seekers Who Are Lovers (04:45) 1 Mud and Dark (03:40) 2 Summer‐Blink (03:10) 3 Winter Wonderland (02:50) 4 Frosty the Snowman (02:55) 5 Three Swept (03:37) 6 Ice Pulse (03:46) 7 Bluebeard (acoustic version) (03:08) 8 Rilkean Heart (acoustic version) (02:22) 9 Golden‐Vein (02:50) 10 Pink Orange Red (acoustic version) (04:30) 11 Half‐Gifts (acoustic version) (04:14) 12 Feet-Like Fins (Mark Clifford remix) (05:30) 13 Seekers Who Are Lovers (Mark Clifford remix) (05:41) 14 Violaine (Mark Clifford remix) (05:07) 15 Cherry-Coloured Funk (Mark Clifford remix) (05:46) 16 Tishbite (03:13) 17 Primitive Heart (04:07) 18 Flock of Soul (03:36) 19 Round (03:34) 20 An Elan (04:36) 1 Smile (04:25) 2 Tranquil Eye (03:53) 3 Circling Girl (03:32) 4 Alice (04:29) 5 Circling Girl (03:35) 6 Touch Upon Touch (04:06) 7 Serpentskirt (03:44) 8 Golden‐Vein (02:46) 9 Half‐Gifts (03:50) 10 Seekers Who Are Lovers (04:23) 11 Calfskin Smack (04:27) 12 Fifty‐Fifty Clown (03:15) 13 Violaine (03:49) |