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Track Listings
| 1. Cherry coloured funk |
| 2. Pitch the baby |
| 3. Iceblink luck |
| 4. Fifty fifty clown |
| 5. Heaven or Las Vegas |
| 6. I wear your ring |
| 7. Fotzepolitic |
| 8. Wolf in the breast |
| 9. River road and rail |
| 10. Frou frou foxes in the midsummer fires |
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Their last album for 4AD and without doubt their best. With this and the previous “Blue Bell Knoll” their sound had become much sharper with an airiness and clarity not present on earlier releases, especially so on this re-master. There is such an exuberance about this record, maybe due in part to Elizabeth Fraser’s impending status of motherhood at the time of recording. Whatever, the performances are very buoyant with actual words being used on many songs. The title track is so energetic that the vocals and guitars almost burst out of the mix. Other beauties on this are the single “Iceblink Luck” and the absolutely gorgeous closer of “Frou-Frou Foxes In Midsummer Fires”. But the whole album exudes warmth and joyfulness. A fitting end to the 4AD years.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I love the Cocteau Twins. A dynamic duo comprising Robin Guthrie on guitar and assorted noises, and Liz Fraser on vocals and assorted lyrical nonsensicals. They are creators of a kind of musical utopia that you can enter by listening to their songs. And as you listen you begin to craft your own imagery and meaning to their work. The sound of pearly dewdrops' drops falling to the ground on a misty September morning. A lazy calm as a flower unfolds itself to capture the summer sunlight. Lyrics that tantalize you with half-heard phrases that defy interpretation - perhaps they can only be understood in a dream. They provide the soundtrack to your imagination.
All their best songs provide a glorious cacophony; a guitar-based wall of sound gently colliding with a perfectly tuned voice that sweeps you to a place of perfect contentment or emotional ecstasy. 'Heaven or Las Vegas' is a great introduction to the musical delights of the Cocteau Twins. The opening track, 'Cherry-coloured funk' is a perfect example of the Cocteau Twins style. It just exudes coolness. Liz effects a deep, sultry voice that purrs with contentment and then slowly her voice rises to a glorious crescendo to match the chiming guitars. Just gorgeous.
`Iceblink Luck' takes the Smiths' `The Boy with the Thorn in his side' riff apart and reassembles it into something far more urgent. Liz infuses her voice with an added fizz of emotion to match the music and launches into a near-rant about tearing down a madhouse and burning down the Walls of Jericho. It's all, as Liz sings (I think) 'exquisite stuff'.
The title track, 'Heaven or Las Vegas' is positively anthemic. A plethora of guitars and thumping drums conjure up a vast, endless landscape and coming into view is Vegas simmering in the Nevada desert. Liz describes it as looking `brighter than the sun is to me'. More like heaven than a dusty, desert town. This reminds me of Talking Heads' `Big Country' which uses similar sweeping guitars to convey the immensity of the American landscape. The last verse that begins (or at least *sounds like* it begins), `Baby bear, I'd love to see you ...' gets my spine tingling every time. Play loud, very loud.
In summary, there is no polemic or treatise here to mull over, just pure unadulterated pleasure at the music that this band have created that still sounds good even after over twenty years of playing. It's not rock `n' roll but neither is it meaningless ambient trance. It's a timeless, sometimes achingly beautiful and life-affirming musical delight.
All their best songs provide a glorious cacophony; a guitar-based wall of sound gently colliding with a perfectly tuned voice that sweeps you to a place of perfect contentment or emotional ecstasy. 'Heaven or Las Vegas' is a great introduction to the musical delights of the Cocteau Twins. The opening track, 'Cherry-coloured funk' is a perfect example of the Cocteau Twins style. It just exudes coolness. Liz effects a deep, sultry voice that purrs with contentment and then slowly her voice rises to a glorious crescendo to match the chiming guitars. Just gorgeous.
`Iceblink Luck' takes the Smiths' `The Boy with the Thorn in his side' riff apart and reassembles it into something far more urgent. Liz infuses her voice with an added fizz of emotion to match the music and launches into a near-rant about tearing down a madhouse and burning down the Walls of Jericho. It's all, as Liz sings (I think) 'exquisite stuff'.
The title track, 'Heaven or Las Vegas' is positively anthemic. A plethora of guitars and thumping drums conjure up a vast, endless landscape and coming into view is Vegas simmering in the Nevada desert. Liz describes it as looking `brighter than the sun is to me'. More like heaven than a dusty, desert town. This reminds me of Talking Heads' `Big Country' which uses similar sweeping guitars to convey the immensity of the American landscape. The last verse that begins (or at least *sounds like* it begins), `Baby bear, I'd love to see you ...' gets my spine tingling every time. Play loud, very loud.
In summary, there is no polemic or treatise here to mull over, just pure unadulterated pleasure at the music that this band have created that still sounds good even after over twenty years of playing. It's not rock `n' roll but neither is it meaningless ambient trance. It's a timeless, sometimes achingly beautiful and life-affirming musical delight.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this album years and years ago...and then my sister nicked it. And I forgot about it.
But then Amazon had it going in their sale for less than £5.00 so I thought 'why not'?
What a classic album. I'm sat here, listening to it now. It just hasn't aged at all.
A rare thing with the Cocteau's, just about understandable lyrics, but still with that ethereal winsomeness that is such a trade-mark of all their albums.
O.k., I suppose you could say that this is the most 'commercial' Cocteau album. Who cares? It's got some beautiful tunes, some gorgeous productions, some classic songs.
From the promising, slightly down-tempo 'Cherry-Coloured Funk', the album moves into the lilting, almost circular 'Pitch the Baby'. After dreaming off, we wake up to 'Iceblink Luck', with that lovely bell-like guitar and melodious bass and glorious chorus. Then, suddenly, 'Fifty-Fifty Clowns', that insistent beat, smooth keyboard chords stepping through up to a climax, wilting vocals behind a wailing guitar, but so smooth and mellifluous.
Then we have the almost rousing chant-like `Heaven or Las Vegas'. No idea what she's singing about, don't really care, but it's something about being in either Heaven or Las Vegas. That unmistakable Cocteau bass and guitar, loads of reverb softening the sound to the typical sonic dreamscape.
Oh, and then `I Wear Your Ring'. This album just keeps getting better. That lovely, stepping up, almost gasping vocal harmony. `Fotzepolitic', electric twelve string guitars or something, almost an electronic acoustic strumming wall of sound. `Wolf in the Breast', again, a lovely soft melody, with a gently howling guitar, but a harmony that just keeps reminding me, somehow, of late Beach Boys.
`Road, River and Rail' is a seriously down-beat track, almost sounding Joni Mitchell-ish, circa Hejiraand then, finally, `Frou Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires', a gentle, laid-back start, reminiscent of older Cocteau, blossoming into a fairly conventional (for the Cocteau's) song, finally fading away.
A lovely album. The Cocteau's have been so influential. Talking of Frou Frou, I was listening to a Frou Frou album (Details) the other day and noticed how much it owed, not only to Bjork, but also to the Cocteau's. This is one fine album which I am very happy to own again.
But then Amazon had it going in their sale for less than £5.00 so I thought 'why not'?
What a classic album. I'm sat here, listening to it now. It just hasn't aged at all.
A rare thing with the Cocteau's, just about understandable lyrics, but still with that ethereal winsomeness that is such a trade-mark of all their albums.
O.k., I suppose you could say that this is the most 'commercial' Cocteau album. Who cares? It's got some beautiful tunes, some gorgeous productions, some classic songs.
From the promising, slightly down-tempo 'Cherry-Coloured Funk', the album moves into the lilting, almost circular 'Pitch the Baby'. After dreaming off, we wake up to 'Iceblink Luck', with that lovely bell-like guitar and melodious bass and glorious chorus. Then, suddenly, 'Fifty-Fifty Clowns', that insistent beat, smooth keyboard chords stepping through up to a climax, wilting vocals behind a wailing guitar, but so smooth and mellifluous.
Then we have the almost rousing chant-like `Heaven or Las Vegas'. No idea what she's singing about, don't really care, but it's something about being in either Heaven or Las Vegas. That unmistakable Cocteau bass and guitar, loads of reverb softening the sound to the typical sonic dreamscape.
Oh, and then `I Wear Your Ring'. This album just keeps getting better. That lovely, stepping up, almost gasping vocal harmony. `Fotzepolitic', electric twelve string guitars or something, almost an electronic acoustic strumming wall of sound. `Wolf in the Breast', again, a lovely soft melody, with a gently howling guitar, but a harmony that just keeps reminding me, somehow, of late Beach Boys.
`Road, River and Rail' is a seriously down-beat track, almost sounding Joni Mitchell-ish, circa Hejiraand then, finally, `Frou Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires', a gentle, laid-back start, reminiscent of older Cocteau, blossoming into a fairly conventional (for the Cocteau's) song, finally fading away.
A lovely album. The Cocteau's have been so influential. Talking of Frou Frou, I was listening to a Frou Frou album (Details) the other day and noticed how much it owed, not only to Bjork, but also to the Cocteau's. This is one fine album which I am very happy to own again.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Cocteau Twins
Bought this CD on the basis of hearing a track on Radio 6. Not disappointed. The Cocteau Twins make beautiful music which touches the soul.
Published 7 months ago by Darles Chickens
Timeless and otherwordly masterpeice
I have to confess this is the only Cocteau Twins album i have in my vast labyrinth of sounds and in my humble opinion it is my fave album of any moment. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Rush K. Shukla
OK - But still can't see why many people consider this as the best
First let me make clear I am a huge fan of the Cocteaus owning all their work, as well as the post Cocteaus work of Robin Guthrie. Read more
Published on 4 May 2010 by R. E. Bollen
80's synth multi-layered vocal weirdness
I got this album based on the Cocteau Twins reputation as being worth a listen, and it is.
It contains most of the worst cliches of 80s music - tinny production, cheesy... Read more
It contains most of the worst cliches of 80s music - tinny production, cheesy... Read more
Published on 4 July 2009 by Mr. J. P. Shields
heaven
I have had this on a cassette I bought in Bali - a pirate copy! It was an impulse purchase - didn't know what it would be like. It quickly became one of my all time favourites. Read more
Published on 26 April 2009 by Mr. R. P. Crouch
The last great Cocteau Twins album!
Rating: 7.5/10
Best tracks: "Heaven or Las Vegas", "Wolf in the Breast", "Fotzepolitic", "Fifty-Fifty Clown", "Cherry-Coloured Funk"
The Cocteau Twins have... Read more
Best tracks: "Heaven or Las Vegas", "Wolf in the Breast", "Fotzepolitic", "Fifty-Fifty Clown", "Cherry-Coloured Funk"
The Cocteau Twins have... Read more
Published on 19 July 2008 by New Gold Dreamer
Yes its worthwhile.Still discovering elements of the Remaster....
I was surprised this album was remastered as the original album had a really clear production...however listening to it on a fairly decent mp3 player (i.e. Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2008 by J. Cooper
One of the lesser Cocteau Twins albums
***1/2
My first impression of Heaven or Las Vegas was that it was an attempt to take the singular, unique sound of the band's earlier album and combine it with the... Read more
My first impression of Heaven or Las Vegas was that it was an attempt to take the singular, unique sound of the band's earlier album and combine it with the... Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2008 by A. Mee
Far the best album of them
This is a must have album if you like Cocteau Twins and if you don't have any idea who are they, you should buy it because you will love it. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2007 by Isabelle
Magical
If creativity is to be found in the originators of a genre - those who are 'sufficiently' creative to actually create a style that goes on to later 'become' a recognisable genre -... Read more
Published on 17 July 2007 by Eanna
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