[IRYzouNv]

I have loved Treasure for many years. I don't know much else except Blue Bell Knoll and Heaven or Las Vegas... it's not that those aren't great, but I haven't listened to them as much as Treasure. My favorite song is definitely "Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires"

[rammossyAcron]

My favorite song is definitely "Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires"

one of my favorites as well. my favorite Twins song is prolly "Tishbite". though "Heaven or Las Vegas", "Rilkean Heart", and "Persephone" are close behind.

[ChebuRAtoR]

Has always reminded me of someone...

[Dynasty]

You seem to be an authority on the band, maybe you can help me. I'm a recent convert, and so far have (and adore) Garlands, Heaven or Las Vegas and Victorialand. What is the best next step?

Not much of an authority I'm afraid - I was just a teenager through the 80's and I absorbed music non-stop (back before distractions like work and kids etc) - me and a school friend wrote a little fanzine so we used to get into soundchecks and things occasionally...

I agree with menju56 'Treasure' is probably your best bet... also Lullabies to Violane Vol 1 is worth a listen - all the ep's and singles from the beginning to Heaven or Las Vegas era - some of their best work was on their eps

Menju - if you enjoy the Sunburst ep you'll probably love Head Over Heels (I think From The Flagstones might be my favourite Cocteaus song - it's definitely in my top 5)

[Dyslermergerb]

never knew Victorialand was about Antarctica - sounds really fitting though. It's fun to know just a tidbit about their music, although it's also great just to have the music, without any interviews or stuff like that. Just the music speaking for itself

I love all their albums, except Garlands and Head Over Heals - tried, but could not get into them at the time

and still kinda hoping for Elizabeth to release something to follow Moses, but I guess she's kinda Kate like in that regard

[baronaaba]

Listened to Blue Bell Knoll for the first time today, liked it. I find with Cocteau Twins that I need multiple listens before the different melodies reveal themselves. I'm all about Victorialand lately but I'm getting back into them in general. Thanks for the recommendations wretched mess, I think I'll try Head Over Heels next.

[Siliespiriulk]

Not much of an authority I'm afraid - I was just a teenager through the 80's and I absorbed music non-stop (back before distractions like work and kids etc) - me and a school friend wrote a little fanzine so we used to get into soundchecks and things occasionally...

I agree with menju56 'Treasure' is probably your best bet... also Lullabies to Violane Vol 1 is worth a listen - all the ep's and singles from the beginning to Heaven or Las Vegas era - some of their best work was on their eps

Thanks for the feedback, will be purchasing Treasure in the very near future.

[Cxcvvfbgtr]

Listened to Blue Bell Knoll for the first time today, liked it. I find with Cocteau Twins that I need multiple listens before the different melodies reveal themselves.

I have most of the Cocteau Twins releases, apart from the first two. I finally delved into their catalog about 4-5 years back, previously only knowing them by name and references to them being an influential group.

My favorite release and general order ranking tends to fluctuate over time. Blue Bell Knoll was the toughest for me to get into. Took me a lot longer to appreciate it but once I did, I was like, "how did i never NOT like this!" You know how that goes.

I have noticed that amongst the hardcore CT fans, BBK is held in higher esteem than it is amongst more casual fans and in critical circles. Somewhat like Is This Desire? within the PJH catalog. Conversely, some of the hardcore fans couldn't stomach some of the latter releases towards the end where the lyrics were too straightforward and sometimes seemed too much like Liz Fraser therapy sessions brought to song.

Similar to other artists, their singles & EPs contained some of their best work. One of them, I forget which, was actually just them mucking around in the new studio they had built, just experimenting with the equipment. Then someone told them it was good enough to release in it's own right.

As far as live stuff, I don't have too much and Liz's vocals can be hit or miss there. There was a period in which Liz went really "out there" with her vocals. Four Calender-Cafe tour or thereabouts. And I don't mean in a good way. Still, some people found her singing great even then. But I found it cringe-worthy and I wasn't alone. But then she was back to singing great again towards the end.

Haven't heard much from her since, other than the several songs she's done with Massive Attack, soundtrack stuff, the couple songs she did with the guy who did the Amelie soundtrack and a sprinkling of other songs. Here's a nice one (This Love w/Craig Armstrong), but many years old already..





Robin and Simon have had a fairly steadily output since CT, particularly Robin, mostly instrumental music. I haven't heard too much of it though. Simon has run his own record label, the most successful band probably being Fleet Foxes. He tends to be undervalued in Cocteau Twins, but he contributed a fair amount. Love his bass lines in the following, from the BBK album, for example...

[IRYzouNv]

I just downloaded a torrent of the CT's entire discography - almost 3 gigs. I didn't realize they had so much stuff.

I think I'll dig into the EP's next, I haven't heard any of those.

[rammossyAcron]

come one, come all! cocteau twins fans, this is our thread!

i've been listening to heaven or las vegas, four calendar cafe, and milk & kisses a lot lately. something about the brutal texas summer makes me want to listen to the 'twins and get lost.


here's a great version of "tishbite".



the greatest voice ever, in my opinion. completely unique and without compare.

[baronaaba]

Love Cocteau Twins. I only have two studio LPs so far, Treasure and Victorialand, but think both are great, and I've also heard Four-Calendar Cafe and Milk & Kisses which are good but not quite as good as the other two, for me. Although I do need to spend more time with them. I have Stars And Topsoil too and intend to investigate the rest.

I love Liz Fraser's voice. And I enjoyed her recent solo single "Moses" a lot too.

[Zebrabitch]

Elizabeth Fraser is probably my favorite vocalist of all time. I've never been super wild of the "wall of guitars" thing that Robyn does...

But there are some songs like "Carolyns Fingers", "Pearly Dewdrops' Drops", and "Bluebeard" that just absolutely mesmerize me with the otherwordly things Liz does with her voice. It's a breathtaking instrument.

[baronaaba]

I got Sunburst and Snowblind EP vinyl today

[baronaaba]

Been getting back into Victorialand lately. "Lazy Calm" and "The Thinner The Air" two of my favourite Cocteau Twins songs.

[Siliespiriulk]

The ambience of Victorialand is quite astounding in that it feels so light and effortless, but any musician trying to achieve "effortless, airy"ambience knows what a task it can be. When I initially heard Victorialand, I thought there were at least two singers, needless to say I was utterly startled when I discovered it was all Elizabeth Fraser. I can see why some have referred to her as the voice of God, although I read she (understandably) loathes that description. Also, I read that the original UK pressings of this LP had to be changed to 45 RPM die to tech challenges when transferring the audio anyone know more about this?

[Siliespiriulk]

Oh, and the fact that the entire album is about Antarctica is mind-blowing. his should have been the soundtrack to that one Herzog docu.

[Dynasty]

I bought Victorialand on vinyl when it was first released and my copy definitely played at 45 RPM - I think I recall at the time Robin claiming it was to do with a mistake in mastering

[Dynasty]

I was very, very fortunate to see the Cocteau's soundcheck before a gig in my local town way back around the mid 1980s - I heard Elizabeth Frazer sing 'My Love Paramour' with absolutely no effects on her voice and it was astounding - a genuine unquestionable talent...

Menju56 - 'Head Over Heels' and 'Blue Bell Knoll' are both well worth investing in

[Siliespiriulk]

I was very, very fortunate to see the Cocteau's soundcheck before a gig in my local town way back around the mid 1980s - I heard Elizabeth Frazer sing 'My Love Paramour' with absolutely no effects on her voice and it was astounding - a genuine unquestionable talent...

Menju56 - 'Head Over Heels' and 'Blue Bell Knoll' are both well worth investing in

You seem to be an authority on the band, maybe you can help me. I'm a recent convert, and so far have (and adore) Garlands, Heaven or Las Vegas and Victorialand. What is the best next step?

[baronaaba]

I was very, very fortunate to see the Cocteau's soundcheck before a gig in my local town way back around the mid 1980s - I heard Elizabeth Frazer sing 'My Love Paramour' with absolutely no effects on her voice and it was astounding - a genuine unquestionable talent...

Menju56 - 'Head Over Heels' and 'Blue Bell Knoll' are both well worth investing in

Wow, what I'd have given to have seen/heard that! Haven't heard those two albums, will investigate.

I think conventional wisdom seems to be that Treasure and Heaven or Las Vegas are their best/most significant works, so maybe Treasure next, Bruce? I can vouch for that one as a wonderful record.

I also love the whole Antarctic theme of Victorialand. I believe the bass player Simon Raymonde wasn't involved in the album so that's partly why it's so light and airy. I also find the whole 45rpm thing intriguing.