I realise that I don't actually feature Cocteau Twins all that much on TVV. It's probably all to do with the fact that my fondness for them was rather short-lived and I got bored with them all too quickly.One mate in particular raved about their debut LP Garlands which appeared in the summer of 1982. We had actually saw them them prior to this when they had been one of the support acts to The Fall at the now-defunct Night Moves venue in Glasgow (spring 82 if memory serves me correctly) when they were a three-piece consisting of Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie and Will Heggie. Said mate I was with that night came away swearing undying devotion to them - and I reckone he stayed true to his word. But I have to hold my hands up and say I didn't quite get it. Oh and I didn't quite get The Fall that night either......
But all that changed in the Autumn of 1983 when Head Over Heels hit the shops. I fell in love with the guitar playing, the feedback and the way that the singer used her voice as an instrument rather than anything else - there was very little sense could be made of the lyrics.
So I began to take a bit of an interest in the band, and as the years went past they churned out album after album to an ever-increasing fanbase without ever really threatening to hit the jackpot. My problem with it all was that none of the next few albums seemed to be much different from what had come before in terms of sound, but none of them as a whole matched the genius of Head Over Heels. So when somone at work said that he was keen to learn a bit more about them, I happily handed over all my LPs and said I'd get them back eventually. And as so often seems to happen in such circumstances, I soon lost touch with him as he moved away to a new job in a new city and my LPs went along with him....
So I really dont have all that much Cocteau Twins material anymore in the collection. I kept promising myself that I would buy the various collections that have come out over the years, but I never ever got round to it. And while I am a bit regretful at the hole in the collection, I never lose sleep over it.
But I did keep hold of Sunburst and Snowblind, a cracking 12" EP that was released in October 1983 just as my interest in the band was probably at its peak, and I've fished out from the cupboard to share with you all today:-
mp3 : Cocteau Twins - Sugar Hiccup
mp3 : Cocteau Twins - From The Flagstones
mp3 : Cocteau Twins - Hitherto
mp3 : Cocteau Twins - Because Of Whirl-Jack
Released on the 4AD label, as indeed was all their material up until 1990, the EP contains a different version of one of the tracks on Head Over Heels as well as what were then three brand new songs. It didn't chart...but it did place well in the indie charts, which in October 1983 was the only chart that really mattered.....or so I told myself.
Happy Listening
7 comments:
I've got a mate who absolutely loves them but i've never really been that enthused and have only bought a couple of singles over the years and have never really felt the urge to get any more.
Cheers JC.
I think TVV is at its best when you just dig some classic out of the cupboard like this.
And as soon as my life is back on track, I promise to help supplement it with a few of my own (if the offer still stands).
Brilliant.
I put Garlands on as background music for a dinner party in my new flat at the time (so 80's!!) Was swiftly told to "get that racket off". Loved them at the time but rarely play them now.
Feel exactly the same. It's too particular and precious a sound for extended periods but, in small doses, absolutely brilliant. When it came out there wasn't a lot to compare it to, either. Great post -- cheers! (And go USA!)
As fine as it is,I was never a big fan of Liz Fraser's voice but I'm a sucker for that archetypal heavily-treated alternative 80s guitar sound that big bad Bobin Guthrie did so well.
I still love a bit o' Cocteaus now & again, myself, but I never really got them after about 1986. Almost like by the time Victorialand came out, I'd had enough to last me, thanks. Friends have raved about Blue Bell Knoll and Heaven & Las Vegas, but I've never quite seen it, although they've definitely got their moments.
Was listening to the 82/83-era stuff just last month, & it remains undimmed, to my mind, even if large parts of Garlands are just Banshees manque. But I'd agree entirely about Head Over Heels being somehow their paradigm; it's entirely within its own world, really does feel like private feelings shared, & has a certain texture they never managed to recapture.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to apologise to our svhoolmate, L______, who used to come round to F___'s backroom every Saturday night & have a relaxing little smoke, at which point we'd plunge the lights down low, play Musette & Drums & cause him to get the fear. Given that after more than 25 years, that particular song still never fails to raise the hairs on the back of my neck, I now recognise the bastard cruelty of the jape. Soz L______!
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