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COCTEAU TWINS - GARLANDS
ARTIST:
TITLE:
Garlands
LABEL:
CATNO:
4AD0192LP
STYLE:
FORMAT:
Vinyl record
DESCRIPTION:
Indie Rock / Post Punk / Ethereal Goth Flavad Masterpiece - Debut LP From 1982 Remastered In HD from Original Masters.
Garlands was the Cocteau Twins debut album, released in the early autumn of 1982. It was the only album they made with original bassist Will Heggie. Describing it as “haunting”, “spellbound”, “diaphanous”, and discerning a “frosting of sweetness”, the critics wore out their adjective; this was rock music - just - but it was conjured in the unlikeliest environment from the strangest of material. This is Garlands’ first vinyl pressing in over ten years, remastered from the original analogue tapes.
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 beautiful washes of sounds and exultant vocals from Fraser, on Garlands the trio is still only part of the way there. Instead, the best comparison points are to the Cure on Faith and Pornography, perhaps Metal Box-era PiL, a touch of Joy Division here and there -- in sum, deep, heavy mood verging on doom and gloom. Bassist Will Heggie, in the only full album he did with the Twins, clearly follows the Peter Hook/Simon Gallup style of low, ominous throb, while Guthrie's guitar work more often than not screeches loudly than shimmers. Fraser's singing has a starker edge, unsettling even at its most accessible, sometimes completely disturbing at other times. The strongest track, "Wax and Wane," has the trio creating a powerful but also surprisingly danceable track, the crisp drumbox beat working against Guthrie's compelling atmospherics and Fraser's vocal hook in the chorus. Beyond that and a couple of other moments, though, Garlands falters due to something the band generally avoided in the future -- overt repetition. Too many of the songs rely on a unified formula that rarely changes; one need only compare to the multiplicity of styles tried on Head Over Heels to see the difference. As a debut effort, though, Garlands makes its own curious mark, preparing the band for greater heights.
Garlands was the Cocteau Twins debut album, released in the early autumn of 1982. It was the only album they made with original bassist Will Heggie. Describing it as “haunting”, “spellbound”, “diaphanous”, and discerning a “frosting of sweetness”, the critics wore out their adjective; this was rock music - just - but it was conjured in the unlikeliest environment from the strangest of material. This is Garlands’ first vinyl pressing in over ten years, remastered from the original analogue tapes.
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 beautiful washes of sounds and exultant vocals from Fraser, on Garlands the trio is still only part of the way there. Instead, the best comparison points are to the Cure on Faith and Pornography, perhaps Metal Box-era PiL, a touch of Joy Division here and there -- in sum, deep, heavy mood verging on doom and gloom. Bassist Will Heggie, in the only full album he did with the Twins, clearly follows the Peter Hook/Simon Gallup style of low, ominous throb, while Guthrie's guitar work more often than not screeches loudly than shimmers. Fraser's singing has a starker edge, unsettling even at its most accessible, sometimes completely disturbing at other times. The strongest track, "Wax and Wane," has the trio creating a powerful but also surprisingly danceable track, the crisp drumbox beat working against Guthrie's compelling atmospherics and Fraser's vocal hook in the chorus. Beyond that and a couple of other moments, though, Garlands falters due to something the band generally avoided in the future -- overt repetition. Too many of the songs rely on a unified formula that rarely changes; one need only compare to the multiplicity of styles tried on Head Over Heels to see the difference. As a debut effort, though, Garlands makes its own curious mark, preparing the band for greater heights.
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£19.49
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Last FM Information on Cocteau Twins
Please note the information is done on a artist keyword match and data is provided by LastFM.
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish rock band active from 1979 to 1997. The group was formed in Grangemouth, Scotland, by Robin Guthrie (guitar, drum machine) and Will Heggie (bass), with Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) joining in 1981. In 1983, Heggie was replaced by multi-instrumentalist Simon Raymonde, completing the lineup most associated with the band’s career. Cocteau Twins became known for their ethereal, heavily layered sound and Fraser’s distinctive soprano vocal style, often featuring lyrics that avoid conventional language. They are recognized as key contributors to the development of dream pop and as an influence on the shoegaze genre.
The band signed with the label 4AD in 1982 and released their debut album, "Garlands." With Raymonde’s addition, they achieved their first notable commercial success with the 1984 single "Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops," which reached number 29 on the UK charts. Their album "Treasure," released later in 1984, marked a defining moment in their sound and became their first Top 40 album in the United Kingdom. In 1986, they released "Victorialand," which became their first top ten album in the UK, followed that same year by "The Moon and the Melodies," a collaborative project with American composer Harold Budd. In 1988, the single "Carolyn’s Fingers" gained significant attention in the United States, reaching number two on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart.
Their fifth album, "Blue Bell Knoll" (1988), continued their commercial momentum in both the United Kingdom and the United States, and also achieved moderate success in Australia. Their sixth album, "Heaven or Las Vegas" (1990), became their most commercially successful release in the UK, reaching number seven on the national albums chart and receiving a Silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry. The album has been highly regarded by critics and has appeared on multiple best-of lists, including Pitchfork’s ranking of the top albums of the 1990s and lists such as "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die."
In 1993, Cocteau Twins left 4AD to sign with Fontana Records and released their seventh album, "Four-Calendar Café," which included their debut American television performance for the single "Bluebeard." The album became their highest-charting release on the Billboard 200, reaching number 78. Their eighth and final album, "Milk & Kisses," was released in 1996 and produced the singles "Tishbite" and "Violaine." The band disbanded in 1997, citing personal and professional difficulties, including the end of the romantic relationship between Fraser and Guthrie.
Studio albums
Garlands (1982)
Head over Heels (1983)
Treasure (1984)
Victorialand (1986)
The Moon and the Melodies (1986)
Blue Bell Knoll (1988)
Heaven or Las Vegas (1990)
Four-Calendar Café (1993)
Milk & Kisses (1996) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.