The Spangle Maker [Archive] - cocteautwinsforums.com

mmmender

Mar-22-07, 1:55 AM

The Spangle Maker has been, up until now, a Cocteau Twins song that I have always skipped. It was just one of those songs of theirs that I never quite 'got'. Even though the song quickly became the anthem of CocteauFest, and I enjoyed listening to it in that situation, I still would never list it as a Cocteau favourite.

Tonight I've been listening to L2V and I must say, for the first time, I'm quite enjoying the song. It's like I'm hearing it for the first time with new ears. The song really grows on you, as I think was the intention because of how the song itself builds up to a wonderful release. That bit when the music just takes over and Liz releases some absolutely wonderful sounds....really quite wonderful.

Now I'm left thinking that the song is actually too short!

Sean_Montgomery

Mar-22-07, 2:05 AM

Next, you will have a change of heart about Serpentskirt.

elisa

Mar-22-07, 2:06 AM

The Spanglemaker's always been one of my favorites. Such drama, I love it.

mmmender

Mar-22-07, 2:39 AM

Next, you will have a change of heart about Serpentskirt.
Now that is something you certainly can't count on!

bearclaw

Mar-22-07, 3:16 AM

i think if memory serves nme right - the spangle maker was the first 12" i bought by cocteaus - i used to share a house at the time with a dj who had a mini studio set up - so the stereo set up was amazing - used to play spangle all the time - think its a real percursor to most of the "shoegazer indie guitar bands" that used the quiet then loud then louder type sound ;-) an ace track -going to listen to it this morning on my way to work ;-)

Moya xx

Mar-22-07, 3:51 AM

Now I'm left thinking that the song is actually too short!

So true!

I love the Spangle Maker. It's one of those tunes that gets stuck in my head and I end up singing it around the house all day.

Glad you're enjoying it!

Simonp

Mar-22-07, 4:01 AM

I've always loved Spanglemaker. The climatic ending just gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it.

Brett

Mar-22-07, 4:55 AM

Depends if you were there at the beginning, IMHO. Working back to Spanglemaker and other early stuff, I can understand one or two furrowed brows. For my part it was staggering.

mmmender

Mar-22-07, 4:59 AM

I've just noticed something........some of you refer to the title as one whole word THE 'SPANGLEMAKER' while others refer to it as THE 'SPANGLE MAKER'.

Whatever floats your boat, I guess, huh?

For the record, I had to check the official status and it is in fact separate words, THE SPANGLE MAKER.

http://www002.upp.so-net.ne.jp/quisquose/ct/single/npearlye12l.jpg http://www002.upp.so-net.ne.jp/quisquose/ct/single/npearly7b.jpg

AND........it appears (IN SOME CASES) as though 'PEARLYDEWDROPS' DROPS' is only TWO words (see image above) instead of being three: 'PEARLY DEWDROPS' DROPS'. At other times the title includes a hyphen (see image below).

http://www002.upp.so-net.ne.jp/quisquose/ct/single/nspanglecdb.jpg

lucynow

Mar-22-07, 6:30 AM

mmmender

Mar-22-07, 6:34 AM

Go fuck yerself.

Moya xx

Mar-22-07, 8:12 AM

I'm still singing it .....

frarn

Mar-22-07, 8:24 AM

And what are/were Spangles?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spangles

see also the thread "Mizake the Mizan":

"Naturally, this led to some Cocteau Twins-inspired scouring of the book, which threw up a surprising number of hits: a "Squeeze-wax" is a lawyer, and "M(iz)ake the M(iz)an" is a form of disguised English designed to hide the real meaning from eavesdroppers.

There were also some half-hits: a "Spangle" is a forged coin, for example.

I think I still have the typed list of these finds in the back of the book (I did it over ten years and two moves ago, so fingers crossed).

"

james_bcn

Mar-22-07, 8:30 AM

Hi, mmmender.

Spanglemaker has always reminded me of a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–89) called "Pied Beauty"

GLORY be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough; 5
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: 10
Praise him.

I'd also like to submit my lyrics interpretations to the group and I'm hoping this is the best place, if not, please let me know. Like a lot of fans, deciphering the lyrics has been a small hobby of mine for most of my adult life. I'm very cautious because Liz has made it so maddeningly difficult for us. (Like a lot of us know, in some instances, I think she had to to cover up what she was singing.)

Anyway, I do think that have come up with some pretty good attempts, and would like feedback. Also, if anyone is super-confident about any lyrics, I'm completely eager to hear them. For example, when Melonella was deciphered ages ago, it was almost like the dead sea scrolls were revealed! Yes, that sounds dramatic and obsessive, but all us fans have a bit of that - heheh.

Here goes, I'm sure I got this one "right." Heheh - go ahead and flame me for saying "right" - Actually, Liz can flame me, no one else - ok? :)

After years of listening, I can say I know the chorus of "A Kissed Out Red Floatboat"

"He really don't care
He hardly there..."

Heartbreaking, isn't it?

Best to all, J.

mmmender

Mar-22-07, 8:35 AM

I love it when new people join in! Welcome to the forums, by the way.

I'll certainly have to have a good listen to Floatboat now that you've given me a new perspective on the words.

Brett

Mar-22-07, 8:48 AM

There were sweets called Spangles when I were a wee young-un. Dreadful they were. Like tablets of frozen battery acid.

spangled

Mar-22-07, 9:10 AM

Its a gorgeous song that has always sent me places. Its Cool to hear you're "Hearing" it in a new way mmmender. This year it was Head Over Heels for me. Something clicked in my head and it went from "like" to "love" after one listen with headphones.

Bring on those lyrics...:nod:

lucynow

Mar-22-07, 9:10 AM

Go fuck yerself.

OK

mmmender

Mar-22-07, 9:14 AM

Glad that's sorted.

randomrob

Mar-22-07, 11:54 AM

That was one of the first songs by them I REALLY liked...

I miss my 'Pink Opaque' vinyl... I buried the needle on that platta... :2cry: ahh to be a teen in the 80s

Avninder

Mar-22-07, 12:31 PM

That song still reminds me of my best friend in high school who would sing, "It's the chocolate. It's the chocolate on your tooth-a." Those were fun times.

djproject

Mar-22-07, 4:50 PM

i enjoy the song. and i agree with eric's [roosendaal] observations about it: it's introducing them on their own terms and nothing else. it also establishes one of their trademark sonic progressions where you have a fairly consistent sound but then at the volume it changes for a moment and gets really loud. you can hear this also in "donimo," "pur" and "treasure hiding."

for the record, i chose the song title as the name for my band for two reasons: 1) since cocteau twins inspired me to form a band (when i never thought i would do such a thing), i wanted some kind of homage/thank you to them for the initial spark of inspiration and 2) as a band name, it works really well. and given that i've learned more about the origins about what a "spangle" is, it fits the general collective philosophy ... making something beautiful/interesting/engaging but also accessible and open to all.

oh and the romantic dysthymia will be self-released via hosting it on archive.org (hopefully) on 27 march 2007 =D

joyce63

Mar-22-07, 5:15 PM

There were sweets called Spangles when I were a wee young-un. Dreadful they were. Like tablets of frozen battery acid.

I have to disagree - some Spangles were minging, but the Cola flavoured ones were the highlight of my pocket money spending when I was about 7...yummy. How I still have my own teeth I'll never know.

And for me this is the the finest song the band ever recorded, it still moves me greatly 23 years and several hundred listens on. Liz's vocals at the end are the work of a genius.

andylama

Mar-22-07, 5:57 PM

it appears (IN SOME CASES) as though 'PEARLYDEWDROPS' DROPS' is only TWO words (see image above) instead of being three: 'PEARLY DEWDROPS' DROPS'. At other times the title includes a hyphen (see image below).

Wackadoo! I have never seen/noticed that before! I thought it was always two hyphenated words.

northernlight

Mar-22-07, 6:07 PM

I like the Spangle Maker too. I really like the sound and the feel of their early tunes.. probably a bit of nostalgia for that 80s sound. Halcyon Days, indeed...

andylama

Mar-22-07, 6:09 PM

Spangle is one of the first cover songs I ever recorded after getting set up with a MIDI rig. Years before I knew about Brant and his Dewdrops tributes, etc. It's OK though; it sucked.

floatboat

Mar-22-07, 6:49 PM

There were sweets called Spangles when I were a wee young-un. Dreadful they were. Like tablets of frozen battery acid.

http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/images_pop/spangles_mints.jpg

I was quite keen on Spangles....

...and I've always loved The Spangle Maker, as John Peel once said 'I was more of a Spangle man myself'.. although of course, I'm not a man..but it's always been my favourite off that particular record..

moeism

Mar-22-07, 7:00 PM

not a favorite tune of mine but when you're in the mood for it, it can be quite beautiful. i particularly enjoy this song on very high volume.

northernlight

Mar-22-07, 7:02 PM

http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/images_pop/spangles_mints.jpg

I was quite keen on Spangles....

...and I've always loved The Spangle Maker, as John Peel once said 'I was more of a Spangle man myself'.. although of course, I'm not a man..but it's always been my favourite off that particular record..

Ooh, I don't remember the ones with a soft centre!! Were they mint flavoured? Maybe they were Dandelion and Burdock flavoured or something ;)

Ah.. can just about see the side of the wrapper.. ice mint.. mmmm.... :cool:

plink

Mar-22-07, 8:19 PM

i have always loved spangles as indeed i have alway love the spangle maker. though the spangle maker was aurally orgasmic whereas spangles just made your tongue tingle a bit.

now if they'd released a track called little spacedusty...

randomrob

Mar-23-07, 12:24 AM

thats a Cibo Matto track I think...

Brett

Mar-23-07, 5:11 AM

I have to disagree - some Spangles were minging, but the Cola flavoured ones were the highlight of my pocket money spending when I was about 7...yummy. How I still have my own teeth I'll never know.

See! Always marginalized! Even on the subject of confectionery I’m a lone voice! :2cry:

randomrob

Mar-23-07, 11:00 AM

I dig peanut brittle