0:00 Wolf in the Breast 3:28 comments 4:34 Road River and Rail 7:49 comments 8:02 Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires 13:31 final thoughts on the album ►Part 1: th-cam.com/video/vt8xeykIOnQ/w-d-xo.html
Cocteau Twins live were...an experience. Elizabeth whooped, chattered, and chirped an improvisational version of the main melody. Supremely expressive and intuitive vocalist. However she did have an amazing backing vocalist at her solo concerts during 2012.
Well, here i am in part 4, never miss the chance to listen to this álbum completly, This music is part of my lifetrack, many times this CD, now Spotify, brought me down of pressure and life punches. Thanks for doing it with no great edits.
I feel that. I listened to this so often during times of joy and heartbreak, every listen is a bittersweet reminiscence of intense feeling. It’s such an evocative album and close to my heart.
Always enjoy seeing people react to this hidden gem of a band! The first time I heard them on the radio, I ran out and bought the album (Blue Bell Knoll). The album was right up there with Heaven or Las Vegas that came later and hearing it, I could not put them down. I bought every album that I could find. This was in about '87. Later, I saw them at the Hollywood Palladium and became a lifelong fan! They do great in concert because Liz has an amazing range and can throw her voice (as I call it). She does not use back up singers, they have always been a small 3 piece band and rely on Robin's premade tracks, usually percussion, that they play to and add to with many variations. This album, Blue Bell Knoll and many other songs transport you to another mesmerizing world and is simply angelic! I had been away from them for some time but, found them again after losing my wife to cancer 3 years ago. That angelic voice was still there and brought me through a tough time. I went back to some albums in their begining that I had missed and found another gem in the album Garlands. This was prior to their Dream Pop sound and more of their haunting post punk (Goth) sound when everyone was experimenting and looking for a new sound. They had a big Siousie and the Banshees influence then. A totally different sound before the evolution of the band and pretty much leading to their Dream Pop sound. It is really hard to pin down who they find their greatest influence from. Truthfully, they are in a category all by themselves. Look up their live performane of Wax and Wane in Amsterdam...incredible bass guitar work by their first bassist Will Heggie! Liz Fraser later did collaborations with Peter Gabriel, Jeff Buckley and Massive Attack showing her talent and further depths as a vocalist. She also did a later song with the Twins called Song to the Siren that is amazing. They are a very highly overlooked and very talented band that I wished were still performing but, unfortunately, that will never happen.
I did what you did. Heaven or Las Vegas. I went down the rabbit hole. I started listening to music February 1964 after a particular Ed Sullivan Show. I have listened to a lot since from Jazz to tribal music. Discovering the Cocteau Twins was amazing. Changed how I viewed the music of the 80s and 90s.
Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires is my favorite song of theirs unlike almost all of them it actually has a fade-out at the end. Written mainly by Simon Raymonde the bass player, he played the opening piano part. A number of their earlier albums and quite a number of songs are worth checking out, so so good. I did see them live with back-up musicians (guitar, drums, percussion) with Liz basically free-jazzing her way through the whole set. A little jarring, but still impressive. Along with Radiohead, one of my all-time favorite bands. No one else sounds like them, though plenty (including myself) have tried. Thanks for doing this one Dean.
This album is classic. I might have listened to it hundreds of times, all the songs are fantastic, but the song that stands out the most after multipe listens is 'I wear your ring', which I think is just pure magic. But then again, Cocteau Twins are magic.
Saw them during their last album tour in NYC. Elizabeth sang without backup singers. She mainly scat sang, nothing like how she sounds on their albums with how it’s layered. BTW, my friend and I were just in front of the soundboard in the middle of the room, behind the soundboard with the sound man was David Byrne and his daughter. Did a double take! Surreal experience all around 😊
I saw them live in 1990 in Los Angeles. They had many guitarists to help augment what the three regular members do on their own, but only one vocalist AFAIK, that being Ms. Fraser. They lived up to my rather high expectations (been an ardent fan since ~1984).
I have had the pleasure of seeing Cocteau Twins live 3 times (the first two from side and backstage!). Still very amazing and definitely an "experience".
if you like her voice (who doesn't, really) you should check 'song to the siren' by the '4ad laboratory' this mortal coil. also her collaboration with massive attack is interesting, in particular in their 'mezzanine' album [edit] btw my favorite album of ct is 'garlands', less polished for sure, but also more 'wavy' [/edit]
Saw them live in the late 80s. Can't recall if they used tapes but the concert was amazing. Their earlier albums are also excellent, not quite as "poppy" as this, more spacious but still with all the elements in place. Highly recommend the album Treasure and their EP releases all which feature the wonderful artwork and design by Vaughan Oliver which became a 4AD visual trademark right through the 80s. You really should react to Song of the Siren by This Mortal Coil also featuring Liz Frazer. The original song is by Tim Buckley but this version is outstanding.
Ok I'm trying not to over-comment lol. But this band is a great favorite of mine for, jeez, 37 years and you seem to "get" them, so I can't help it. I think it's great you're starting with this album. It's sort of a mid-career high point, they were at their peak here, and it's their best-selling album. (In fact I believe it's 4AD's best selling album in the history of the label.) Some listeners start out chronologically, which puts them at first encounter with the 1982 Garlands LP, and that's kind of a strange starting point. Lots of Cocteau Twins fans hold that album as a sentimental favorite, but it is just not representative of what their output would become. This is my suggestion: Go in zig-zag reverse chronological order. Heaven or Las Vegas (1990) followed by Blue Bell Knoll (1988), their major label debut and one of their more texturally-varied albums. Then Victorialand (1986), their venture into a kind of drumless ambient music (referred to at the time somewhat dismissively as "New Age." Victorialand has a sinister undercurrent and definite song structure that I believe separates it firmly from any kind of ambient or background music.) Then go back to the beginning and witness the band's emergence. Garlands, the brittle, gothic opening act. Followed next year by Head Over Heels, possibly the biggest sophomore album transformation in pop history. Here is where they hit their stride, and it was all done by Robin and Elizabeth, under the influence, barely in their 20s. Then Treasure (1984), their first album with Simon Raymonde, many fans and critics favorite, but which the band regarded as an embarrassment. Then, conclude with their final albums from the Fontana label years. Four-calendar Café (1993) which saw Elizabeth singing recognizable lyrics basically documenting her emotional breakdown from this period, and Milk and Kisses (1996) which is all but forgotten from their catalog, but contains some of Elizabeth's greatest vocal performances of their entire career. (Some people will say The Moon and the Melodies (1986) is a Cocteau Twins album; it is not. It is a collaboration between Robin, Simon, Liz, and pianist Harold Budd.)
I’ve seen them live 2 times in San Diego for Heaven or Las Vegas in 1990 and Four Calendar Cafe in 1994. They had no back up singers…it was just Liz. They did have session musicians as I’m sure it’s near impossible to perform these songs live with just 3 people. Also, she did freestyle singing for Four Calendar Cafe and I must admit I did not like it. I would have preferred she just sang it like it is on the album. Still, it was a rare pleasure to see them live as they are my favourite band of all time!
Also, I liked watching your reactions to this album. My favourite album by them is their first album Garlands…it sounds nothing like their later material.
100% agre here, Treasure was also the last album i listened to so no bias from me when i say it's my favorite haha. i loved your reaction throughout and i'm glad you listened!!!
Back in the day I used to manage the Cocteau Twins Forums website, which was more or less the defacto fan site at the time. We put up a vote for people to pick their favourite track, listing absolutely every track they ever released. They only got 1 vote, and there were several thousand votes cast, and virtually every song got at least one vote. How many bands could you say that for? How many bands appeals so far across the board that practically every song they released is someone's favourite?
0:00 Wolf in the Breast
3:28 comments
4:34 Road River and Rail
7:49 comments
8:02 Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires
13:31 final thoughts on the album
►Part 1: th-cam.com/video/vt8xeykIOnQ/w-d-xo.html
Cocteau Twins live were...an experience. Elizabeth whooped, chattered, and chirped an improvisational version of the main melody. Supremely expressive and intuitive vocalist. However she did have an amazing backing vocalist at her solo concerts during 2012.
One of the greatest 'pop' albums of all time.
Well, here i am in part 4, never miss the chance to listen to this álbum completly, This music is part of my lifetrack, many times this CD, now Spotify, brought me down of pressure and life punches. Thanks for doing it with no great edits.
glad I could share the experience with you
I feel that. I listened to this so often during times of joy and heartbreak, every listen is a bittersweet reminiscence of intense feeling. It’s such an evocative album and close to my heart.
Always enjoy seeing people react to this hidden gem of a band! The first time I heard them on the radio, I ran out and bought the album (Blue Bell Knoll). The album was right up there with Heaven or Las Vegas that came later and hearing it, I could not put them down. I bought every album that I could find. This was in about '87. Later, I saw them at the Hollywood Palladium and became a lifelong fan! They do great in concert because Liz has an amazing range and can throw her voice (as I call it). She does not use back up singers, they have always been a small 3 piece band and rely on Robin's premade tracks, usually percussion, that they play to and add to with many variations. This album, Blue Bell Knoll and many other songs transport you to another mesmerizing world and is simply angelic!
I had been away from them for some time but, found them again after losing my wife to cancer 3 years ago. That angelic voice was still there and brought me through a tough time. I went back to some albums in their begining that I had missed and found another gem in the album Garlands. This was prior to their Dream Pop sound and more of their haunting post punk (Goth) sound when everyone was experimenting and looking for a new sound. They had a big Siousie and the Banshees influence then. A totally different sound before the evolution of the band and pretty much leading to their Dream Pop sound. It is really hard to pin down who they find their greatest influence from. Truthfully, they are in a category all by themselves. Look up their live performane of Wax and Wane in Amsterdam...incredible bass guitar work by their first bassist Will Heggie! Liz Fraser later did collaborations with Peter Gabriel, Jeff Buckley and Massive Attack showing her talent and further depths as a vocalist. She also did a later song with the Twins called Song to the Siren that is amazing. They are a very highly overlooked and very talented band that I wished were still performing but, unfortunately, that will never happen.
I did what you did. Heaven or Las Vegas. I went down the rabbit hole. I started listening to music February 1964 after a particular Ed Sullivan Show. I have listened to a lot since from Jazz to tribal music. Discovering the Cocteau Twins was amazing. Changed how I viewed the music of the 80s and 90s.
that was a legendary Ed Sullivan show for sure
Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires is my favorite song of theirs unlike almost all of them it actually has a fade-out at the end. Written mainly by Simon Raymonde the bass player, he played the opening piano part. A number of their earlier albums and quite a number of songs are worth checking out, so so good. I did see them live with back-up musicians (guitar, drums, percussion) with Liz basically free-jazzing her way through the whole set. A little jarring, but still impressive. Along with Radiohead, one of my all-time favorite bands. No one else sounds like them, though plenty (including myself) have tried. Thanks for doing this one Dean.
This album is classic. I might have listened to it hundreds of times, all the songs are fantastic, but the song that stands out the most after multipe listens is 'I wear your ring', which I think is just pure magic. But then again, Cocteau Twins are magic.
I wear your ring is prob my fav too. The whole album is unbelievable, but something about that song just seems to make it rise above a bit more.
wow glad you reacted to this album, top 5 for me for sure
Ethereal, atmospheric, otherworldly, mesmerising and utterly gorgeous, timeless breathtaking brilliance, top drawer stuff.
This is soooooooo cool, just ❤it 🎸🎸🎹🥁🎤🎶one of their BEST albums!!😊😎🤩
Another classic from my late teen years. Thanks Dean.
my pleasure!
Saw them during their last album tour in NYC. Elizabeth sang without backup singers. She mainly scat sang, nothing like how she sounds on their albums with how it’s layered. BTW, my friend and I were just in front of the soundboard in the middle of the room, behind the soundboard with the sound man was David Byrne and his daughter. Did a double take! Surreal experience all around 😊
Cool!
I saw them live in 1990 in Los Angeles. They had many guitarists to help augment what the three regular members do on their own, but only one vocalist AFAIK, that being Ms. Fraser. They lived up to my rather high expectations (been an ardent fan since ~1984).
I have had the pleasure of seeing Cocteau Twins live 3 times (the first two from side and backstage!). Still very amazing and definitely an "experience".
lucky lucky lucky!!!
if you like her voice (who doesn't, really) you should check 'song to the siren' by the '4ad laboratory' this mortal coil. also her collaboration with massive attack is interesting, in particular in their 'mezzanine' album [edit] btw my favorite album of ct is 'garlands', less polished for sure, but also more 'wavy' [/edit]
Saw them live in the late 80s. Can't recall if they used tapes but the concert was amazing. Their earlier albums are also excellent, not quite as "poppy" as this, more spacious but still with all the elements in place. Highly recommend the album Treasure and their EP releases all which feature the wonderful artwork and design by Vaughan Oliver which became a 4AD visual trademark right through the 80s. You really should react to Song of the Siren by This Mortal Coil also featuring Liz Frazer. The original song is by Tim Buckley but this version is outstanding.
Agree 100 percent.
Yes, 'Treasure' is also fantastic.
This live version of Song tot the Siren is even better than the recorded one th-cam.com/video/SuwfsS5-iM8/w-d-xo.html
@@erikverkoyen8689 Perfection!!
Road, River and Rail is my fav track cos it is so Scottish, rrroad rriverr and rrail.
If your going for another álbum, my suggestion, blue bell knoll
Ok I'm trying not to over-comment lol. But this band is a great favorite of mine for, jeez, 37 years and you seem to "get" them, so I can't help it. I think it's great you're starting with this album. It's sort of a mid-career high point, they were at their peak here, and it's their best-selling album. (In fact I believe it's 4AD's best selling album in the history of the label.) Some listeners start out chronologically, which puts them at first encounter with the 1982 Garlands LP, and that's kind of a strange starting point. Lots of Cocteau Twins fans hold that album as a sentimental favorite, but it is just not representative of what their output would become.
This is my suggestion: Go in zig-zag reverse chronological order. Heaven or Las Vegas (1990) followed by Blue Bell Knoll (1988), their major label debut and one of their more texturally-varied albums. Then Victorialand (1986), their venture into a kind of drumless ambient music (referred to at the time somewhat dismissively as "New Age." Victorialand has a sinister undercurrent and definite song structure that I believe separates it firmly from any kind of ambient or background music.)
Then go back to the beginning and witness the band's emergence. Garlands, the brittle, gothic opening act. Followed next year by Head Over Heels, possibly the biggest sophomore album transformation in pop history. Here is where they hit their stride, and it was all done by Robin and Elizabeth, under the influence, barely in their 20s. Then Treasure (1984), their first album with Simon Raymonde, many fans and critics favorite, but which the band regarded as an embarrassment.
Then, conclude with their final albums from the Fontana label years. Four-calendar Café (1993) which saw Elizabeth singing recognizable lyrics basically documenting her emotional breakdown from this period, and Milk and Kisses (1996) which is all but forgotten from their catalog, but contains some of Elizabeth's greatest vocal performances of their entire career.
(Some people will say The Moon and the Melodies (1986) is a Cocteau Twins album; it is not. It is a collaboration between Robin, Simon, Liz, and pianist Harold Budd.)
overcomment away! I read all comments I can. The long ones too!
Can you react to the Lazy Calm of cocteau twins?
I see it's on Victorialand, when no bassist. So that whole album may be to react to. Probabaly their whole catalog, I love this band
I’ve seen them live 2 times in San Diego for Heaven or Las Vegas in 1990 and Four Calendar Cafe in 1994. They had no back up singers…it was just Liz. They did have session musicians as I’m sure it’s near impossible to perform these songs live with just 3 people. Also, she did freestyle singing for Four Calendar Cafe and I must admit I did not like it. I would have preferred she just sang it like it is on the album. Still, it was a rare pleasure to see them live as they are my favourite band of all time!
Also, I liked watching your reactions to this album. My favourite album by them is their first album Garlands…it sounds nothing like their later material.
Cool. I may do an album reaction. I think pretty highly of their works
This is good Cocteau Twins album, but it's nowhere near Treasure or Blue Bell Knoll
100% agre here, Treasure was also the last album i listened to so no bias from me when i say it's my favorite haha. i loved your reaction throughout and i'm glad you listened!!!
Back in the day I used to manage the Cocteau Twins Forums website, which was more or less the defacto fan site at the time. We put up a vote for people to pick their favourite track, listing absolutely every track they ever released. They only got 1 vote, and there were several thousand votes cast, and virtually every song got at least one vote. How many bands could you say that for? How many bands appeals so far across the board that practically every song they released is someone's favourite?