Still discovering gems...

[SNegrea]

How long has it been since I discovered Cocteau Twins? I don't know... ages ago, because of the vocals Liz delivered on Massive Attack's Mezzanine ago, I've decided to try Cocteau Twins and the first thing I've heard from them was Heaven or Las Vegas, as far as I remember, but I really didn't got into it. Of course, after several listens, I managed to be more satisfied by it, but I only became a fan after hearing Treasure...

I'm surprised though that I'm still finding surprisingly good songs among the singles and EPs, after, I don't know, maybe 2 years! I shouldn't complain that they aren't making songs anymore - they made so many songs that I can always find one that is better at a closer look than it seemed at first...

These days I've been obsessed about Three Swept, which is quite an unexpected oasis of calm, serenity and beauty in the middle of the 4CC sessions (the album seemed to me rather sad for the most, sad as in a sour taste of surrender). It has been floating in my head most of the time yesterday, when I was on the beach. Actually, I just happened to listen to it that morning and the melody was stuck in my mind, although only when I arrived home I found out what song was it (I think 1/4 of my tiny MP3 player consists of CT songs). Sublime.

Then, I've discovered in the past hour Crushed. I've heard many positive opinions on it, but my first few listens didn't revealed much. Yet all of a sudden I had the urge to listen to it several times in a row... Wow. There's something magical about this song, although it seems a fairly standard CT song. I can't understand why it is so good, but it is and it definitely provided me a strangely uplifting soundtrack for some bad news I've got...

And I already know what other songs I'll put on repeat: Dials and Summer-Blink. Just wow.

[spangled]

Crushed is delicious! Seen the video?
E4VJAyu4KNI

[edward]

:heart::heart::heart::heart:

[SNegrea]

Like most of their music, a deceptively simple video, which renders a lot of atmosphere with all those lights and smoke... The lyrics are really great, though this interpretation is maybe not accurate:

Fein Funnel Fresh aches
Honey they're losing me
thistle follow
Will he see a ya ya ya ya
thistle fresh aches
Honey they're losing me
Think so follow
Will we se ya ya ya ya ya

Our future slip sliding
down down torture
our future slip sliding
down down how could you slew so

You're not the same, follow out go out Oh no no no no
Get out you're out Yes yes yes yes
You're out you're out oh no no no
Get out get out Yes yes yes yes

[spangled]

I always sing the first line: "Faith, flour, fresh eggsss..." like a list of ingredients for a recipe. :woo:

[davespear]

I love it when you stumble across tunes by a favourite band, that you've never heard before, and in the case of CT, I remember listening to the Dials ep years after it was released, and other tracks on you tube--particularly the collaborative ones--and thinking, wow, I thought I'd heard everything!
Especially satisfying of course when you know that there'll not be any more:(

[talla]

been re-listening to orange appled lately,its funny how music sounds different as we age

[dprid]

been re-listening to orange appled lately,its funny how music sounds different as we age
Doesn't work with Victorialand - I still think it's still a weak effort even after all these years :provoke:

[Tinspur]

Oh, I love Victorialand, I think that people have fallen so in love with CT's ethereal sound that they've turned a deaf ear to their more stripped down, acoustic efforts (Victorialand, FCC, Twinlights), possibly because the ethereality defines what CT means to people. The album has a natural sound to it, as is evidenced by the song titles "How To Bring a Blush To the Snow," "Whales Tails," and "Feet Like Fins,": to me, they pulled it off, it's a lovely record, they even used real drums on it!

[edward]

I agree. I think Victorialand is great. It's one of my favorite CT records.

[SNegrea]

I always sing the first line: "Faith, flour, fresh eggsss..." like a list of ingredients for a recipe. :woo:

Personally, I think it's "Faint, flower, fresh aches", I too thought it was "eggs" but I think it is rather "aches". But you can never be sure with Liz.

Yes, Victorialand is one sweet record. At first it was another album that hasn't done much for me, but now I think it's even better than HOLV and maybe even some parts of Treasure. They seldom get as pure as on Victorialand. Besides that, Otterly was always one of my favorite tracks from Treasure, among Pandora or even the slightly overplayed Ivo and Lorelei.

[Dpressed]

Victorialand was a complete change of direction ... & nothing like the album before or after it ... but nothing wrong with that ... even if it is 'ambient central' at times

[Nanite]

Victorialand :) it did take me a while to like it and now it's part of my regular rotation.
as for Crushed, it was love at first listen. Now I don't like the studio version. I am a big fan of live music. I've said it before and I'll say it again that a band's live sound is the true tell-all of true musicians vs posers. (uugghh, I haven't used that word since the 1900's)

crushed live (http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?podcast.cocteautwins.org/audio/1990-10-06_BRUSSL_BELGM_Crushed.mp3)

[andylama]

Funny, I never think of Victorialand as my FAVORITE CT album...but if I could only keep one, it would be that one.

[Nanite]

hmmm? which one would I keep? ...Treasure I think.

[Ghosty]

A while ago I rediscovered LET (for the -teenth time). It was a sunny early spring day and the music seemed to fit my mood perfectly.
When I say LET I mean my own personal version that includes 'Crushed' and 'Orange Appled'. Five excellent tracks: it's like one side of a perfect album.

[harold]

aargh... victorialand is the best, it always has been. you guys are finally starting to figure it out.

:)

[SNegrea]

I found myself a new toy... "Aikea-Guinea"...

[Phil Lawton]

As always, I envy you for your new ears.

[SNegrea]

Thanks, it's no big deal, I always found them in the trees marked with blue monkeys...

[Phil Lawton]

blue monkeys...

Reminds me....must get breakfast.

[paulr]

Crushed is delicious! Seen the video?
E4VJAyu4KNI

And the best outtro ever - just love it - though not always appreciated by all as I have it as my ring tone (thanks Leesa xx)