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Track Listings
| 1. Blue bell knoll |
| 2. Athol brose |
| 3. Carolyn's fingers |
| 4. For Phoebe still a baby |
| 5. Itchy Glowbo |
| 6. Cico buff |
| 7. Suckling The Mender |
| 8. Spooning good singing gum |
| 9. Kissed out red floatboat |
| 10. Ella megalast burls forever |
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought the Cocteau's second album, 'Head Over Heels' on a whim a few years ago and, while I certainly enjoyed it, I wasn't overwhelmed by the urge to delve further into their catalogue anytime soon. However, about a year later I found a cheap second hand copy of 'Blue Bell Knoll' and decided to give it a go. It was unquestionably the best £3.50 I have ever spent.
For anyone new to Cocteau Twins and intrigued to know more, I would recommend this as the place to start as it succinctly encapsulates the group's definitive sound.
'For Phoebe Still a Baby' is just over 3 minutes of perfection. Rendered beautifully by Liz Fraser's exquisite vocals, the simple lullaby is at once comforting and yet, somehow, utterly heart breaking. It's the kind of track I could listen to on loop for eternity and never tire of.
'Carolyn's Fingers' puts forward the case that Fraser is one of the all time great female singers as she pulls off some deliriously euphoric vocal acrobatics.
As with practically all of the Cocteau's output, don't go hunting for deep meanings or poignant messages in the lyrics. In fact, don't hunt for lyrics at all because you'll struggle to decipher them, let alone make sense of them. The emotions conveyed through THAT voice coupled with the enveloping wash of Robin Guthrie's guitar work speak infinitely greater volumes than identifiable lyrics ever could.
For anyone new to Cocteau Twins and intrigued to know more, I would recommend this as the place to start as it succinctly encapsulates the group's definitive sound.
'For Phoebe Still a Baby' is just over 3 minutes of perfection. Rendered beautifully by Liz Fraser's exquisite vocals, the simple lullaby is at once comforting and yet, somehow, utterly heart breaking. It's the kind of track I could listen to on loop for eternity and never tire of.
'Carolyn's Fingers' puts forward the case that Fraser is one of the all time great female singers as she pulls off some deliriously euphoric vocal acrobatics.
As with practically all of the Cocteau's output, don't go hunting for deep meanings or poignant messages in the lyrics. In fact, don't hunt for lyrics at all because you'll struggle to decipher them, let alone make sense of them. The emotions conveyed through THAT voice coupled with the enveloping wash of Robin Guthrie's guitar work speak infinitely greater volumes than identifiable lyrics ever could.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Whilst the earlier albums were crying out for remastering the original BBKnoll was certainly a clearer production...the sparkling crisp guitar effects gave a brightness which contrasted the darker elements
(e.g. minor chord progressions )giving a very different feel to this album to previous outings...the remastering makes these elements even sharper ...I wonder if the original recording took the slight dampening of the treble into account because ,fully clarified, some of the guitars are almost too sharp. A very slight niggle as the remastered tracks are even more orgasmic in places than before, and certainly it just proves how suprisingly clearer the remaster really is.
Rest assured that every odd numbered track is a classic (amongst the twins' best), and some even numbered tracks are so-so..still worth 5 stars for the even tracks alone.
Ps the credits for the remaster are tiny and put at various hard to find points on the case, different places for different albums!?
(e.g. minor chord progressions )giving a very different feel to this album to previous outings...the remastering makes these elements even sharper ...I wonder if the original recording took the slight dampening of the treble into account because ,fully clarified, some of the guitars are almost too sharp. A very slight niggle as the remastered tracks are even more orgasmic in places than before, and certainly it just proves how suprisingly clearer the remaster really is.
Rest assured that every odd numbered track is a classic (amongst the twins' best), and some even numbered tracks are so-so..still worth 5 stars for the even tracks alone.
Ps the credits for the remaster are tiny and put at various hard to find points on the case, different places for different albums!?
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This was the Cocteau Twins nearing their creative peak. The compositions were tight and beautifully arranged. All the syrupy gloopiness which soaked through previous productions, bogging down the sound was absent, leaving the sound here clean and sharp. All the instruments are distinctive and sit well to the fore in the mix. Elizabeth Fraser is as usual a voice like no other. The album starts sprightly enough with the title track, opening with a percussive harpsichord type synth sound leading into a haunting vocal from Fraser. The whole thing takes off after about two minutes when the drums enter the proceedings to carry the whole thing off to a satisfying conclusion. “Carolyn’s Fingers” is the most commercial song on the album, very infectious and strident. My personal favourite is the final track, “Ella Megalast Burls Forever”. This is heavenly perfection. The guitars and vocals in perfect balance throughout. The last section is even better, the layered vocals taking off into some other world. Bliss! The sound on this remaster is cleaner and fuller than on the original CD, but apart from a slightly different front cover, nothing extra is added. The next album would be their last for 4AD and their best, but “Blue Bell Knoll” contains plenty of gems.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The best Cocteaus album - the most beautiful record in the world?
I bought this Album in 1988 and it still holds its magic. I agree with some of the other reviewers that this was the Cocteaus at their creative peak and in my opinion this is a far... Read more
Published on 4 May 2010 by R. E. Bollen
Lovely
I have had this since it came it out, and have yet to tire of listening to it. People all like to pick their favourite tracks, but for me another outstanding aspect of this... Read more
Published on 7 April 2010 by A. Askew
Another Cocteaus album to Teasure
;Someone once said to me that their favourite Cocteau Twins song was always the one they were listening to at the time which is pretty succinct and effective way of surmising how... Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2008 by russell clarke
Ecstatic, uplifting, awesome
There is not really a great deal to be said, except that if you have love in your heart, poetry in your soul and you seek beauty then you MUST own this album. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2008 by Carole
A real nice listen, with the odd GORGEOUS song here and there....
Rating: 7.5/10
Best tracks: "Ella Megalast Burls Forever", "Spooning Good Singing Gum", "Athol-Brose", "Blue Bell Knoll". Read more
Best tracks: "Ella Megalast Burls Forever", "Spooning Good Singing Gum", "Athol-Brose", "Blue Bell Knoll". Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2007 by New Gold Dreamer
A treat for your ears
I've been a fan since 1983 when it all began with the band and this album is my favourite. If we look at their albums as stages on a journey then this album marked a turning point... Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2006 by Mrs. Julie Hogg
The light at the end of the eighties
Leaving the dark stance of a urban depressed decade that produced such important records such as Victorialand, the Cocteau Twins preserve their well orchestrated baroque art,... Read more
Published on 4 April 2006 by Acronico
The quintessential Cocteaus-album?
The early work of Cocteau Twins, favoured by some, to me is a little indebted to Siouxsie & the Banshees & Mike Hedges-production of Associates' 'Sulk. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2005 by Jason Parkes
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