Search - Cocteau Twins :: Garlands

What the Cocteau Twins are really about...

Micah Newman | Fort Worth, TX United States | 07/17/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Every bit as brilliant as their later work although not nearly as accessible, "Garlands" demonstrates what Cocteau Twins are really about: originality. No one else has ever sounded like them at any stage they were ever at. The songs here are towering, oddly menacing, star-eyed gems of minimalism, from the days when Robin Guthrie's only guitar effects were distortion and flange, and he used them in spades. This is one of their few albums, like "Head Over Heels", where Liz's inimitable vocal stylizations are actually words, albeit intractably abstract ones. A sampling - "In water/Feathered river/Dirty rich soil/Strong and fertile/Then shallow she/Earth as we know it/Then halo she/Sky for the sacred"; from the gripping "Shallow Then Halo". This early period was actually quite a bit more prolific than this 8-song LP would suggest, as the _Lullabies_ EP and "Peppermint Pig" 12" single also came from this era. It's worth ! it to get the Import (UK) version of _Garlands_, which includes a 6-song addendum: a Jan. 1983 Peel Session with two excellent songs unavailable elsewhere plus a great version of "Hazel" (from the Peppermint Pig single) and an alternate version of "Blind Deaf Dumb", and a two-song early demo."

Stretch out and enjoy

SKAR | Southern USA | 05/26/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this album (yes, i have it on vinyl as well as many of the original 12" eps)while in germany in the early 80's and getting the fresh CD copy is invigorating. I have followed CTS career and enjoyed the varied sounds on all the albums, and it all comes back to this one. all the trappings are here waiting to morph into the mellower sounds and great dancy songs that came later. "shallow then halo" and "wax and wane" remains two of my personal all time fave songs. definitely obtain the import. the CD has tunes not available on original vinyl or on the domestic CD, some quite cool. everyone from planet earth deserves to hear this again......."

Breakthrough album that established the Cocteau Twins!

SKAR | 08/03/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Garlands" is the album that established the Cocteau Twins as the innovator of music in itself. While older fans may take more time in appreciating this esoteric, fascinating, and oftentimes, frightening piece of work, this CD stands out in any Cocteau Twins collection. You must have it and hear it for yourself! It will give yout the spine-tingling experience that you seek."