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COCTEAU TWINS - VICTORIALAND
ARTIST:
TITLE:
Victorialand
LABEL:
CATNO:
4AD0193LP
STYLE:
FORMAT:
Vinyl record
DESCRIPTION:
1986 Ethereal Indie Rock LP Remastered From Original Masters In High Density & Inc Free Download Code For The Album
Victorialand, Cocteau Twins’ fourth album, was released in spring 1986. The largely acoustic, non-percussive album was made with Elizabeth and Robin, while Simon was working on This Mortal Coil's second album. Dif Juz label mate Richard Thomas guested on tabla and saxophone. The Guardian said "It’s not quite ambient, but it’s definitely not rock’n’roll even by the Cocteaus’ standards, building on the moments of guitar shimmer from the previous years’ EPs, while also stripping back at points to where it’s nothing but a Guthrie guitar line and Fraser’s voice." Victorialand is remastered from the original analogue tapes.
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 than trying for a full-band approach, Fraser and Guthrie instead created a much more simply beautiful effort, with a relaxed air to it. Rhythms are subtler, with bass and drum machine often totally eschewed in favor of Guthrie's delicate guitar filigrees and lush, produced textures. Fraser is, as always, in wonderfully fine voice; her words are quite indecipherable, but the feelings are no less strong for it. "Lazy Calm" starts things perfectly, as deep, heavily-treated guitar strums combine with a heavy flange and guest saxophone from Dif Juz member Richard Thomas. Other songs sparkle with a lovely vivaciousness. Far from being stereotypical arty music to sit around and be gloomy to, two pieces especially shine with a gentle energy: "Fluffy Tufts," with its many-layered ringing strings and Fraser's overdubbed vocals; and the joyful "Little Spacey," with a soft rhythm underlying more sheer electric loveliness. Guthrie adds heavy reverb and overdubbed lines to create the Cocteaus' wash on such songs as "Throughout the Dark Months of April and May" and "Feet Like Fins," the latter again featuring Thomas, this time on tablas. For all the sweet beauty of Victorialand, things end on a quietly dramatic note, but a dramatic one nonetheless. "The Thinner the Air" starts with treated piano and rather spooky guitar leads -- the mysterious soloing is especially wonderful -- while Fraser then sings with a slightly haunted feeling, concluding with slightly nervous wails. It's an unexpected but effective touch for this fine record.
Victorialand, Cocteau Twins’ fourth album, was released in spring 1986. The largely acoustic, non-percussive album was made with Elizabeth and Robin, while Simon was working on This Mortal Coil's second album. Dif Juz label mate Richard Thomas guested on tabla and saxophone. The Guardian said "It’s not quite ambient, but it’s definitely not rock’n’roll even by the Cocteaus’ standards, building on the moments of guitar shimmer from the previous years’ EPs, while also stripping back at points to where it’s nothing but a Guthrie guitar line and Fraser’s voice." Victorialand is remastered from the original analogue tapes.
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 than trying for a full-band approach, Fraser and Guthrie instead created a much more simply beautiful effort, with a relaxed air to it. Rhythms are subtler, with bass and drum machine often totally eschewed in favor of Guthrie's delicate guitar filigrees and lush, produced textures. Fraser is, as always, in wonderfully fine voice; her words are quite indecipherable, but the feelings are no less strong for it. "Lazy Calm" starts things perfectly, as deep, heavily-treated guitar strums combine with a heavy flange and guest saxophone from Dif Juz member Richard Thomas. Other songs sparkle with a lovely vivaciousness. Far from being stereotypical arty music to sit around and be gloomy to, two pieces especially shine with a gentle energy: "Fluffy Tufts," with its many-layered ringing strings and Fraser's overdubbed vocals; and the joyful "Little Spacey," with a soft rhythm underlying more sheer electric loveliness. Guthrie adds heavy reverb and overdubbed lines to create the Cocteaus' wash on such songs as "Throughout the Dark Months of April and May" and "Feet Like Fins," the latter again featuring Thomas, this time on tablas. For all the sweet beauty of Victorialand, things end on a quietly dramatic note, but a dramatic one nonetheless. "The Thinner the Air" starts with treated piano and rather spooky guitar leads -- the mysterious soloing is especially wonderful -- while Fraser then sings with a slightly haunted feeling, concluding with slightly nervous wails. It's an unexpected but effective touch for this fine record.
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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.