It will also chart the successful career he has forged running his own label, Bella Union, for the past twenty-seven years, discovering and developing globally renowned artists like Beach House, Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty and John Grant. And the narrative will lead us back to the present day, reflecting on Simon's most recent experiences in the music industry - all while going deaf in one ear. A must-read for music fans, this is the incredible tale of Simon's life and legacy.
Search Results for:
COCTEAU TWINS
It will also chart the successful career he has forged running his own label, Bella Union, for the past twenty-seven years, discovering and developing globally renowned artists like Beach House, Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty and John Grant. And the narrative will lead us back to the present day, reflecting on Simon's most recent experiences in the music industry - all while going deaf in one ear. A must-read for music fans, this is the incredible tale of Simon's life and legacy.
'The Moon and the Melodies' is a singular record within the Cocteau Twins’ catalogue – unusually ethereal, even by their standards, and largely instrumental, guided by the free-form improvisations of Harold Budd, an ambient pioneer who had drifted into their orbit as if by divine intervention. Building on the atmospheric bliss of Victorialand, released earlier the same year, it signaled a possible future for the trio, yet it was a path they’d never take again.
Over the ensuing years, 'The Moon and the Melodies' has attracted a passionate fan base. Its most atmospheric tracks routinely turn up in ambient DJ sets. ‘Sea, Swallow Me’ is one of the Cocteau Twins’ most streamed songs on Spotify, having found a new life on TikTok, where it serves as the soundtrack to innumerable expressions of hard-to-express melancholy.
For such a low-key affair, the album casts a long shadow – but Raymonde believes the record’s uniqueness stems directly from its humble, unpremeditated origins. “It captured a moment in time between friends that are enjoying making music together. Really, that’s the essence of it.”
TRACK LISTING
1. Sea, Swallow Me
2. Memory Gongs
3. Why Do You Love Me?
4. Eyes Are Mosaics
5. She Will Destroy You
6. The Ghost Has No Home
7. Bloody And Blunt
8. Ooze Out And Away, Onehow
The brainchild of Guthrie and original bassist Will Heggie, by 1981 they had added Fraser and the following year signed to 4AD, one of the most illustrious of the indie labels. With Raymonde replacing Heggie in 1983, the trio went on to create some of the most unique and otherworldly music of the 80s, built around Guthrie's chiming guitar and Fraser's unmistakable soprano. By the early 90s, the group had just released their most successful album, the commercial Heaven or Las Vegas, but the relationship with 4AD was coming to an end. Mercury imprint Fontana was going through something of a purple patch, signing former underground bands, and by 1992, Cocteau Twins had joined The Fall and the House Of Love.
The group's debut album for Fontana, Four- Calendar Cafe, was released in October 1993. Its gossamer melodies and largely upbeat pop bely the turmoil the group were going through. Barney Hoskyns, writing in Mojo, said that Four- Calendar Caf was "the most poignant, heartrending Cocteaus record of all, an album of naked confession and raw beauty . . . Sadness never sounded so luscious." Simon Raymonde agreed: "I think in time people will realise what a great album Four-Calendar Cafe is. Because I think it's beautiful." Led by the single Evangeline, the reached No 13 in the UK album chart and is much-loved by fans.
TRACK LISTING
Know Who You Are At Every Age
Evangeline
Bluebeard
Theft, And Wandering Around Lost
Oil Of Angels
Squeeze- Wax
My Truth
Essence
Summerhead
Pur
-
- LP
- £25.99
- Cat Number
- UMCLP083
- Release date
- 12 Jan '24
Cocteau Twins – vocalist Elizabeth Fraser, guitarist Robin Guthrie, and bassist Simon Raymonde – formed in Grangemouth, Scotland in the late 70s. The brainchild of Guthrie and original bassist Will Heggie, by 1981 they had added Fraser and the following year signed to 4AD, one of the most illustrious of the indie labels. With Raymonde replacing Heggie in 1983, the trio went on to create some of the most unique and otherworldly music of the 80s, built around Guthrie's chiming guitar and Fraser's unmistakable soprano.
By the early 90s, the group had just released their most successful album, the commercial Heaven Or Las Vegas, after which they moved to Mercury imprint Fontana, joining the likes of The Fall and the House Of Love.
Although not intended so at the time, Milk & Kisses – released in March 1996 – became the final album issued the group. The trio worked separately but effectively – Raymonde would work in the daytime, Guthrie at night, leaving Fraser to add her vocals. Because of the aftershocks of her split with Guthrie, lyrics came easy to her. Led by the beautiful, hushed Top 30 single Tishbite and containing fan favourites Violane and Eperdu, Milk & Kisses has tended to be overlooked within the group's canon, and therefore is ripe for investigation. Although work had begun on a follow up album to Milk & Kisses, the Cocteau Twins split up in 1997.
TRACK LISTING
Violaine
Serpentskirt
Tishbite
Half-Gifts
Calfskin Smack
Rilkean Heart
Ups
Eperdu
Treasure Hiding
Seekers Who Are Lovers
-
- LP
- £20.99
Usually ships within: 2-5 days - Cat Number
- CAD3709
- Release date
- 3 Apr '20
Using new masters created from high definition files transferred from the original analogue tapes, both albums are being pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl and come with download codes.
Head Over Heels:
Released in late-1983, Head Over Heels is the Cocteau Twins’ second album and features classic tracks ‘Sugar Hiccup’ and ‘Musette And Drums’. Coming not long after original bassist Will Heggie had departed the band, the chemistry between remaining members Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie was flourishing and by moving the band on from the starkness of their debut, they were now making the music that would help them define the decade ahead; her wordless, dreamlike vocals a powerful instrument over his lush, textured guitars their trademark.
TRACK LISTING
A1. When Mama Was Moth (3.06)
A2. Five Ten Fiftyfold (5.01)
A3. Sugar Hiccup (3.41)
A4. In Our Angelhood (3.0)
A5. Glass Candle Grenades (2.45)
B1. In The Gold Dust Rush (3.40)
B2. The Tinderbox (Of A Heart) (4.57)
B3. Multifoiled (2.37)
B4. My Love Paramour (3.40)
B5. Musette And Drums (4.38)
-
- LP
- £20.99
- Cat Number
- 4AD0192LP
- Release date
- 20 Mar '20
- Format Info
140g black vinyl.- Includes MP3 Download Code.
140g black vinyl.
-
- LP
- £20.99
Usually ships within: 2-5 days - Cat Number
- 4AD0193LP
- Release date
- 20 Mar '20
- Format Info
140g black vinyl.
140g black vinyl.
-
- Ltd LP
- £20.99
- Cat Number
- CAD3710
- Release date
- 16 Mar '18
Using new masters created from high definition files transferred from the original analogue tapes, both albums are being pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl and come with download codes.
Treasure:
The band returned to being a trio in 1984 with guitarist Simon Raymonde joining their ranks in time for third album, Treasure. Produced by Robin Guthrie and featuring tracks ‘Lorelei’, ‘Ivo’ and ‘Persephone’, Treasure is often celebrated as one of the band’s finest works.
As Pitchfork put it when including the album in their Top 100 Albums of the 1980s, “Treasure was titled simply enough. An adjective for the endlessly inventive melodic lines you'd find buried in these songs, and a verb for what you'd do with them for years to come.”
STAFF COMMENTS
Andy says: Amazing record. Stunningly beautiful tunes and voice, incredible guitars, and not one bad track. We thought we'd all died and gone to heaven when this came out in the early 80's!TRACK LISTING
A1. Ivo (3.53)
A2. Lorelei (3.42)
A3. Beatrix (3.11)
A4. Persephone (4.17)
A5. Pandora (For Cindy) (5.35)
B1. Amelia (3.29)
B2. Aloysius (3.26)
B3. Cicely (3.27)
B4. Otterley (4.03)
B5. Donimo (6.11)
-
- LP
- £20.99
- Cat Number
- CAD3509
- Release date
- 17 Jul '15
Already a cult band on college radio, some classics like ‘Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops’ and ‘Aikea-Guinea’ were given new mixes for this release, while it also featured ‘Millimillenary’, the first run out for incoming band member Simon Raymonde.
To this day, ‘The Pink Opaque’ remains a great entry point to a wonderful band.
Using new masters created from high definition files transferred from the original analogue tapes, the album is a 180g vinyl pressing complete with download code.
TRACK LISTING
The Spangle Maker
Millimillenary
Wax And Wane
Hitherto
Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops
From The Flagstones
Aikea-Guinea
Lorelei
Pepper-Tree
Musette And Drums
-
- LP
- £20.99
- Cat Number
- CAD3510
- Release date
- 17 Jul '15
- Includes MP3 Download Code.
*** REDUCED ***
30 years later, the EPs are now being married together on to one piece of heavyweight vinyl, using new masters created from high definition files transferred from the original analogue tapes and completed with reformatted artwork.
STAFF COMMENTS
Andy says: Dreams as music. One of the best bands ever.TRACK LISTING
Pink Orange Red
Ribbed And Veined
Plain Tiger
Sultitan Itan
Great Spangled Fritillary
Melonella
Pale Clouded White
Eggs And Their Shells
-
- LP
- £20.99
Usually ships within: 2-5 days - Cat Number
- CAD3420
- Release date
- 14 Jul '14
- Format Info
Re-pressed for the first time since release on heavyweight black vinyl. Cut from brand-new HD 96/24 masters.- Includes MP3 Download Code.
Re-pressed for the first... [ + ]
STAFF COMMENTS
Andy says: Their pinnacle. Out of this world. Label head Ivo Watts-Russell says it's his favourite 4AD album ever.TRACK LISTING
Cherry-Coloured Funk
Pitch The Baby
Iceblink Luck
Fifty-Fifty Clown
Heaven Or Las Vegas
I Wear Your Ring
Fotzepolitic Wolf In The Breast
Road, River And Rail
Frou-Frou Foxes In Midsummer Fires
-
- LP
- £20.99
Usually ships within: 2-5 days - Cat Number
- CAD3419
- Release date
- 14 Jul '14
- Format Info
Re-pressed for the first time since release on heavyweight black vinyl. Cut from brand-new HD 96/24 masters.
Re-pressed for the first... [ + ]
A beautiful record that showed the band’s continued maturity, it also included one of their most enduring songs, ‘Carolyn’s Fingers’, which was reflected on the album’s cover - a close-up of their friend Carolyn’s hand as shot by Juergen Teller.
STAFF COMMENTS
Martin says: Liz Fraser possesses possibly the most sublime voice in the history of contemporary music, and never was it put to more exquisite use than on the peerless 'Carolyn's Fingers, the very high point of a celestial, iridescent sonic daydream.TRACK LISTING
Blue Bell Knoll 3:25
Athol-Brose 3:00
Carolyn's Fingers 3:08
For Phoebe Still A Baby 3:16
The Itchy Glowbo Blow 3:21
Cico Buff 3:50
Suckling The Mender 3:35
Spooning Good Singing Gum 3:53
A Kissed Out Red Floatboat 4:10
Ella Megalast Burls Forever 3:39
-
- CD
- £5.99
Usually ships within: 2-5 days - Cat Number
- GAD0012CD
- Release date
- 5 Apr '04
- Format Info
Reissue, remastered by Robin Guthrie.
Reissue, remastered by... [ + ]
-
- CD
- £6.99
Usually ships within: 2-5 days - Cat Number
- GAD412CD
- Release date
- 10 Feb '03
-
- CD
- £7.99
Usually ships within: 2-5 days - Cat Number
- GAD602CD
- Release date
- 10 Feb '03
-
- CD
- £7.99
Usually ships within: 2-5 days - Cat Number
- GAD211CD
- Release date
- 10 Feb '03
Easily the darkest and most straightforwardly post-punk album Cocteau Twins ever recorded, "Garlands" has a spare, desolate, insistently minor-key sound that owes a clear debt to Joy Division; however, what keeps the proceedings from sounding derivative are Robin Guthrie's spiraling guitar textures (far more primal than on future albums) and Elizabeth Fraser's vocals, which somehow manage to evoke beauty and dread simultaneously. While the album suffers a bit from the use of a drum machine and several songs that are overly repetitious (something rarely found on their later albums), "Garlands" manages to create a sound that, while not indicative of where Cocteau Twins were heading next, still played an important role in defining the 4AD sound of the early 80s.
Now remastered by Guthrie with new artwork.