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....
more >
Those hearing Garlands for the first time who only know the band's other material will likely be more than a little surprised. Whereas the typical vision of the Twins is of...
more >
This box set is a completist's dream, containing all of the Cocteau Twins' singles for 4AD, from 1982's Lullabies through 1990's Iceblink Luck, as well as a four track disc...
more >
A disappointing follow-up to Heaven Or Las Vegas, this LP was plagued by interpersonal problems, resulting in weak material and performances. It was also a more "commercial"...
more >
Cocteau Twins' first release following their exodus from the 4AD stable, Four-Calendar Cafe is also, tellingly, their most earthbound effort; as with Heaven or Las Vegas,...
more >
The band's first full trio recording without guests since Echoes in a Shallow Bay, Tears has the group in a slight holding pattern, though not without some songs of merit....
more >
Following a pair of EPs (Lullabies, Peppermint Pig) and the departure of Will Heggie, Fraser and Guthrie pull together to record this second album. The pair is clearly...
more >
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...
more >
This may not be the quintessential Cocteaus LP in the eyes of every fan, but it finds the band at the absolute height of their powers. Beautiful soaring vocals cross paths...
more >
Surprise -- you can almost understand what Elisabeth Fraser is singing on this single. The music hovers within intriguing rhythmic structures, Fraser's voice floating...
more >
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 group's...
more >
Having now been joined by Simon Raymonde, here--and on the companion EP, Sunburst And Snowblind--they establish the quintessential Cocteau sound with songs that feature...
more >
The opening two numbers are simply flawless, starting with "Ivo," where gently strummed guitar and low bass support Fraser's singing; then suddenly added, astonishing chimes...
more >
While Raymonde became heavily-involved in the second This Mortal Coil LP, Fraser and Guthrie set out to make an "acoustic" album. The result is a lush, dreamy and, frankly,...
more >
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...
more >
One of two co-released EPs released as a teaser for the final Cocteaus album Milk and Kisses, the other being Otherness, Twinlights stands on its own as being as close to an...
more >
Preceded by the slightly experimental, techno-tinged EPs Otherness and Twinlights, this latest LP returns to a more lush Cocteaus sound while also exhibiting funkier, more...
more >
Throughout the '80s, Cocteau Twins created some of the most beautiful and innovative music of the decade. Liz Fraser's uncanny, gossamer voice and Robin Guthrie's shimmery...
more >
With more clearly-structured songs (particularly following the nearly beat-less Victorialand), this was their most commercial effort to date. They had mastered their sound,...
more >
The clever counterpart to the Twinlights EP was its near-exact artistic opposite; while Twinlights showcased stripped-down, acoustic piano-led songs, Otherness was a series...
more >
Cocteau Twins have always been a love 'em-or-hate 'em kind of band -- to some, Elizabeth Fraser's cool, chirpy warble, the shimmering multi-layered guitars and bass of Simon...
more >
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...
more >
