Heaven Or Las Vegas

Nice and dreamy. Missed it when it came out.

Like an ethereal faerie caught the Holy Spirit and began singing in ecstatic tongues. I want to live in this gossamer, glossolalia world.

Hypnotic wall of ethereal sounds, vocals are excellent. An album that requires a particular mood to listen to it but it's still great

I remember this from when I was young but I was never really into it back then. It's pretty interesting, not in a bad way. It took me a minute to realize that she wasn't actually singing words that make sense, and it really works well. Her vocals are more like an instrument. Very interesting music too, its very chilled out and spacey. I'm sure I will be listening to this again.

Cocteau Twins are a band that I've been meaning to check out for a long time as I've seen the name pop up here and there over the years. They're not what I expected, but that's not a bad thing. The shoegaze sound with elements reminiscent of early Cure records is like an aural blanket.

Whimsy, ethereal indie pop rock - perfect for a slow, peaceful morning. I’ve heard some of these songs in my life, never listened to the complete album. Will listen again!

This album puts me in a sexy mood lol

The most fun and accessible Cocteau Twins record, if those are metrics that should be applied to them. I didn't really appreciate them at the time when their excellent posters adorned the apartments of the goth-adjacent (also I fell asleep at one of their shows), but my daughter and friends' daughters all have had a Cocteau Twins fixation that made me come around. This album is a gem that could stand a remaster to really makes it glow.

Never listened to Cocteau Twins before, and didn't know what to expect, but I really enjoyed the lush peacefulness of it. A number of the songs have the flow of breathing in and out. I did get distracted by trying to work out what language the lyrics were being sung in, but I was fine with them being indecipherable once I found out it wasn't just me. Interested in hearing more from them.

:)

I like The Moon and the Melodies more but this was still nice!

I've only vaguely heard of them before, and I wasn't expecting a lady singer! Dream pop is a good name for what this is. I like it. Not very exciting, which is what I want right now. A nice short album, too. Good. Highlights: 'Cherry-Coloured Funk', 'Fotzepolitic'

Awesome

SINGINONNAFEEBAHSTREEEEEEEEEEEEEE IWANTALOVABOWHOWONLOVMEEEEEEEE LIGHINHEAVENORLASVEGASSSSSSSSSSS ITISMOREBRIGTHERTHANTHESUNISTOME Fav track: Heaven or Las Vegas

Cool ethereal vibe. Flowing easy but the big beats and hifi recording really pump up the intensity of the listen. Not exactly my thing but I really did enjoy it.

Obviously influential to many shoegaze artists that I would later love and even Frou Frou. I’m not sure that I would listen again but I enjoyed a few songs and the shuffle after.

I really liked this. It surprised me

Already love! Loved it - great to listen to the full album too

Is there dream pop without heave or las vegas?

Quite good, can get a little monotonous after a while

A cacophonous mass of trippy acrobatic vocals and thick looping feedback, guided along by relatively skeletal bass and beats. The band draws obvious comparisons to other Scots miserablists of the time, but Liz Fraser’s inventive, barely-verbal style is what makes it unique. Her voice is strange and beautiful, providing all of the hooks and serving as the key instrument in the mix (file next to: Björk, Enya, Bush). If you fancy being instantly overstimulated and a bit depressed by a record full of small, shimmering details and labyrinthine alien structures, you could do worse.

ethereal

Really enjoying this. Very trippy indie rock. Definitely saved a few songs to my playlists.

After seeing this band name pop up in different places I’m really glad this album appeared on the list. A really cool sound.

Enjoyable.

Fabulous, liked it even more than previous times.

really cool

an unintelligible classic

"Poppy" without being obnoxious, this album has a moodiness that bridges its goth forebears like Siouxsie and the Banshees and tThe CUre with - and I could be wrong about this - a new-wave influenced britpop. Vocals stand out, everything supports the song, high level musicianship, it's all very appealing. Cocteau twins have a unique sonic quality that isn't alienating, blending the novel with the familiar.

good vibes.

The title track is quite stunning and the album at large is a bit warm, muddled and blurry. It’s a bit like listening to a cassette tape on a washing machine. I do like it.

The top review mentions that this album just feels like you're floating and that is absolutely spot on.

already listened to it, very much enjoy it

Hated it when I came out - not gonna listen to this one

Sian : really like this one and will be looking up more of their music Deb : unable to listen

Wait, they’re not twins AND their names aren’t even Cocteau?! False advertising! Seriously, though, this is some solid dreamy alt pop.

It's really good, I'm surprised I haven't heard of this band before.

I need to do more drugs apparently.

Great vibes even though the lyrics make zero sense.

I LOVED this album. It was such a vibe. This was the first day of 2025 that was so nice and I was vibing with my windows down. Sooo fun. I liked literally every single song. "Road, River and Rail" was probably my least favorite, but this was a great album. It kinda all started to blend together and sound the same, which is why it misses a perfect 5, but I loved the vibes. Actual rating...4.5. Liked Songs: The entire album

This is the definitive cocteau twins album. I'm jealous of those who get to experience this beauty for the first time. It is the perfect starting point for their sound. A lovely shoegazey, dreamy album. Favourite track by far is Heaven or Las Vegas. This was simply a listening exercise to remind myself how good the Cocteau Twins are. Heaven or Las Vegas isn't actually my favourite of their albums, but it does have some of their best songs.

голос, музыка превосходны

Short lesson, but great album for background music while working.

Typical Cocteau Twins sound, with interesting melodies and ethereal unintelligible vocals. Worth a listen to every now and then.

Quite a hypnotic experience. This is one of those albums you can really drown away in and enjoy. As a result I can't really pick a favorite song here, but the entire album overall is a joy to listen to. There's plenty of variation on here as well. I can hardly make out the instruments but the overall album is just a pleasant 40 minute soundscape.

What stands out the most in this album is the incredible voice from Elizabeth and the catchy melodies, but it goes without saying that the instruments also are very good, and bend pretty well with the singing. A very dreamy experience

Kriege voll den Florence and the Machine Vibe und das gefiel mir sehr :) 4 Sterne

The strawberries! Aka the cranberries 2.0…. Jokes aside album was pretty good

Wasn’t sure where I was when I listened to this. It was either Heaven or Las Vegas.

Another band I've heard of but never listened to. Not what I expected. Dreamy, shoegazey layers with captivating vocals riding on top. I like this more than I expected I would.

very good, would like to listen some more, breezy.

Long live the ethereal choirs with an alternative sensibility.

★★★★½

I don't know if some Valentine's Day melancholy suddenly enhanced it but, God, this is probably one of the most beautiful albums I've ever listened to. Like, damn. Also, "Cherry-Coloured Funk" is one of the best intros to any album ever.

I liked it... pretty good

I had heard the title song before and remember enjoying it, but wasnt otherwise familiar with the Cocteau Twins. I found myself really enjoying this album- it's very much mood music and goes for more of a vibe than a traditional song arrangement. I was most surprised by how ahead of its time the whole album sounded- I feel like it could come out today and fit in with a lot of modern music. Overall- really enjoyed it

Many reviews described this as a warm bath. I pretty much concur with that assessment. It's lovely atmospheric music that demands little from you other than your relaxed presence. Unexpected bangers: Heaven or Las Vegas, I Wear Your Ring.

Great album, but it's crazy this is 1990. It feels so much more 1987.

Considering my only kind of -gaze like album was m b v by My Bloody Valentine, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this. I figured it might be boring at worse or background music at best. But this album was s o o t h i n g. Like holy shit, this is the type of vibe that exists in dreams (which is why this is considered dream pop). It didn’t come off as boring, but rather therapeutic. It’s literally had the ability to calm me to a mellow state of mind. Nothing like m b v where is was catering to a specific genre. This album felt easy to get into. My only complaint is that most of the tracks do sound similar to one another, making it hard to know which is which. But overall for the length of the album, this was a pleasant experience. Favorite track: Iceblind Luck Other hits: Heaven or Las Vegas, Pitch the Baby, I Wear Your Ring, Wolf in the Breast, Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fire, Fotzepolitic

nice album

I fell asleep listening to this. I remember it being very pleasant. 4 stars for that

A fun Indie shoegaze album. For the most part I found this album to be really enjoyable as a full album experience. No single song really stood out to me as one I’m going to remember though.

Good album, but not as good as Treasure. I still really liked it though. 3.5/5

Love hearing a woman sing ethereally. 4 stars

A precursor to so many shoegaze albums and bands I love. Also her voice is amazing.

This album sounds like an indie French film in the best way. They might as well be speaking French because it's limited what I can understand lyrically. It is gorgeous though and each song compliments the next. Definitely one I will return to

It's a good album for me if the lyrics are completely discernible and I still get the jist of it. Vocals are blurry-eyed, ethereal and soulful and the whole album is like a world which you're floating through in kaleidoscope. I've always been a big fan of "Cherry-Coloured Funk" and "Iceblink Luck", and of course the titular track with it's catchy (gibberish) chorus gets the heart pumping with some mysterious hope or determination. But all the others also brought a certain charm that I felt was addictive. I really struggled to rate this one as I absolutely like it and will return to it again. The only negative I have is I suppose it is a bit samey? But, it tracks well as an album and I like that it creates a world for you, rather than a messy mush of disconnected songs. 4.5?

This album conjures a nostalgic vibe that is hard to pinpoint. Suits my current rainy day/sweatpants circumstances.

Solid album, front to back.

Better than I expected

It was surpisingly pleasent. I don’t listen to such music, but I liked it. It was dreamlike.

Really excellent synths 80s pop, similar to what I’ve heard called Dream pop in the modern sense. I’ve never heard of this group, but most of the album is great and the first track is excellent. Great vocals and keyboards throughout. Fun album and a nice surprise.

I love the sound. 1990 when I was a young lad but never knew about it until I was in my younger 40s. I love the first track.

I surprised myself and liked this one.

This is the reason I signed up for this challenge. I've never heard of Cocteau Twins and was intrigued, and after listening I'm so glad they were on the list. The vibes are immaculate here and it feels like you're floating on summer air. The lyrics are absolutely unintelligible, even when listening very closely, perhaps on purpose. But that doesn't matter because the actual vocals from Elizabeth Fraser are flawless. Not the greatest of all time territory, but they're so perfect for the music and a delight to listen to. There are some five star tracks. The opener 'Cherry-Coloured Funk' is ridiculously catchy and the title track is phenomenal. It lifts your soul, instantly puts you in a good mood, it's catchy, sounds ethereal and dreamlike. It evokes images of a heavenly paradise. You're content. Bloody superb. Despite the perfect scoring songs, I'd be lying if I said that the album overall doesn't get a little bit samey and difficult to distinguish between tracks at times (after only two listens). I listened whilst driving but I can imagine with a good set of headphones, in a dark room with no distractions that this is probably a better listen.

Nice album. Good 90s, heaven or las Vegas was the best song for me. Album had a hint of cranberries sound to it

Fantastic album.

Heater

Moody, slower tempo, airy vocals. Cherry Colored Funk is carried by ethereal vocals (why do i feel like I've heard this skng before?). Pitch the Baby has glittery synths and incomprehensible lyrics (but it's fine). Iceblink Luck is boringly happy, chill rhythm guitar/synth. Like the pounding synth of fifty fifty clown, but the melody meanders. Heaven or Las Vegas is also chill in tempo/drum rhythm, layered but not particularly melodically interesting vocals. I Wear Your Ring has slight minor key, key change(?), repetitive melody. Fotzepolitic, might be in 6, has motion and incomprehensible lyrics (actually all the songs have terrible articulation). Wolf in the Breast, melancholy slow groove, something about a baby. Road, River and Rail sounds like 6/waltz, minor key and haunting synth arpeggios. Frou frou Foxes in Midsummer has light airy vocals over heavy piano minor key instrumentation.

I have listened to this before but great album

This was my first time (I think) listening to this group, and I thought it was great. Very ethereal, very melodic. It’s full of different guitar effects to help add to the trippy atmosphere. And apparently they pioneered the subgenre of dream pop in the 80s, which I never knew existed. Couldn’t understand a lot of the lyrics but that doesn’t bother me. The melodies were excellent. This one may enter the regular rotation.

Yeah

good record

👍

I had heard Loveless and Nowhere and see elements of that in here, but I prefer more focused lyrics. At times it works especially on the title track. But sometimes I want to hear something I can relate to.

Great almost ethereal sounds on this album, regardless of the gibberish being spoke, I found myself feeling the vocals a lot. The title track and the final track on the album are standout tracks for me. Gonna have to give it a strong 86/100 score

9/10 Extremely lush and ethereal, can’t blame anyone for the avalanche of flowers this record has received. One aspect that especially interests me is the fake language that’s sung all over this album, I think some may disregard this album as purely surface level and aesthetics, but I feel that if they wanted to emphasize the sound above everything else, they would’ve either went into an instrumental direction or extremely but effective basic lyrics (mbv). I think singing in a made up language is very intentional, when we listen to music in a different language and don’t have a translation easily available or available at all, none of our appreciation for the music is diminished. You might gain a bit more appreciation for the sentiment of the song if you did know it, but not enough to disregard it entirely or lose your interest in what exists. You still feel that there’s something behind the words, and that’s equally as important as the understanding of them. The singing feels eerily uncanny to a real language, it’s not complete improvisational gibberish, there’s a very real rhythm, cadence, and repetition in some of the words, and at some point the vocalist sings words in English, almost as if the band is tricking you into believing there’s a legible meaning in the song, and frankly I don’t think anyone sincerely criticizes other Dream Pop and Shoegaze bands for having illegible lyrics behind the walls of vacuum sounds. It reminds me lot of Julia Holter’s Aviary, an album mainly sung in English but with no coherent connection behind the words, rather the emphasis of the them and the feelings of the sounds of them. This album is the musical manifestation of goosebumps, it’s feeling at a deeper level, and that’s pretty essential isn’t it? Gheuahs, jakwour heroula auie, “ericplaysbass” aioenrs “gay” whjedjaw?

Giving this a 4 but the gap between 4 and 5 is razor thin. Brilliant album, the female vocalist in particular has an amazing voice.

I think some of the songs are top tier. Others fall fat in comparison. But overall: vibes.

What a strange delight! Totally original sound (a touch of the cranberries on one song). Had no expectations but listened to this one a few times through. I could barely understand a word they were saying and it’s unclear to me if that’s the Scottish accent or another language? Ahead of their time, sounds like modern indie.

I'd never heard of this band but I enjoyed this. I was paying half attention and had it on in the background so can't say I really picked it apart, but I enjoyed it as a period piece

This album is an ethereal dream. The lush, layered instrumentation and Liz Fraser’s otherworldly vocals create a soundscape that feels simultaneously grounded and celestial. What’s fascinating is how the unintelligible nature of the lyrics works to its advantage—it transforms the vocals into another instrument, blending seamlessly with the shimmering music. It’s incredibly chill and perfect for background listening, especially while working. Instead of demanding your attention, it gently envelops you, creating a calming yet immersive atmosphere. This is the kind of album that rewards you no matter how deeply you engage with it. Score: 4/5

4/5 1. Cherry-flavoured funk- This song feels like a summer roadtrip and the sun, picnics, highschool friends. Just overall good feelings. 5/5 2. Pitch the baby- a little all over the place but still nice. 3/5 3. iceblink luck- 3/5 4. fifty fifty clown- should listen to again .../5 5. heaven or las vegas- probably my fav lyrics in this album 4/5 6. i wear your ring- <333/5 7. fotzepolitic- reminds me of folk songs in a vague way 3/5 8. road river rail-5/5 9. fffmf- 5/5 fav listen

As someone who used to live in Grangemouth, Cocteau Twins are the biggest thing ever to come out of that town apart from refined petrochemicals and the M9 motorway in either direction....

really love this! need another listen because I was doing work that was pissing me off. want to listen to this on a warm sunny day

this was a LOT of fun. HIGH 4!!!!!

It's like the Cranberries took acid. I like it

3.6 Quite enjoyable actually. It's how I imagined shoe-gaze would sound with the distortion and fade turned down about 50%. Some weaker tracks but generally quite nice to have on and work to. Would come back to.

This album... was restorative. After a rough night's sleep and a general feeling of anxiousnesses that pervaded my day, listening to this whisked me away to drift amongst the clouds. It is an ethereal, beautiful experience. But its relaxing vibes are also the biggest critique I can give it: there's no single track that stood out as the definitive iconic song.

And my list of “why did I never bother listening to this band” continues to grow. This was wonderful.

I was already familiar with a few of the songs, since my sister loves Cocteau Twins. I can recognize that it is really good music but not always my cup of tea

This is often thought of as the band's masterpiece, but to me I think the melodies of "Treasure" are better and that album is more consistently mind-blowing. This is still a classic, it just doesn't quite have the same effect on me. I could listen to the title track forever though!

The roots of many Shoegaze / Dream Pop albums to come. Super cool layering on each song throughout and the atmosphere of the album is unique and sublime. Overrated, but solid 8/10

Музыка обволакивает. Вжжжжжж

This album was stellar, big fan for sure.

一耳朵爱上

Great sound asa always from this fantastic group

Finally getting the hype with this one on the 25th attempt. It's always been somewhat alienating to me and hard to connect with, despite lots of people insisting I'd like it. Not sure why, maybe it's having listened to lots of 80s/90s UK indie pop and shoegaze over the last year for whatever reason, or that this is a remaster that's a bit easier on the ears, but this is way more accessible, the hazy high-end that always pushed me away isn't there and the songs themselves come through way more than ever before and the individual instruments' contributions stand out more clearly. There's a nice combination of Cure-esque basslines driving the songs, jangly shimmering guitars washed in an ethereal bath of reverb delay and modulation effects, big echoey 80s drums, some synth tones, and hushed alto vocals that start with a whisper and resonate, echo, double up and harmonize into something huge. Slow and spacious, mopey and hopeful, dreamily malingering in misery, this is almost as good as everyone's been saying!

Very interesting sound that I was into, to the point that I could barely register that I didn't understand the lyrics. It helps that the album is under 40 minutes long - this one would wear itself out if it was longer. But as it is the album is good!

I was excited to get this because this has been on my to-do list for so long. I was a little let down I must say because I thought this is an instant 5 and it's gonna change my life etc etc but I felt a bit tired after a while. The title song is pretty much perfect and the closer felt a bit different to the rest. I feel like this is perhaps a bit frontloaded or maybe I was already starting to feel it then despite not being a long album. Still pretty cool stuff! I just think a bit change of pace would have been nice at times despite having some sonic variety. Highlights: "Cherry-Coloured Funk", "Heaven or Las Vegas" & "Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires".

Good shoegaze-adjacent dream pop, much better than the other Cocteau Twins albums I have heard (Treasure). 4.5 stars

Really good dream pop album. Highlights are the title track, "Cherry Colored Funk" and "Ice Blink Luck". 4 stars

Familiar with this band but had never cruised through this, and it was a dreamy delight. This has a sound that clearly straddles the 80s and early 90s, but I could hear this album fitting right in in a number of musical eras. Quite nice

Comparisons to bands like Beach House are inevitable, but I’m also getting some hipster Wilson Phillips vibes which I dig. Feels like a strong 3 or week 4. Rounding up cuz the vibes are pretty immaculate. 3.75/5

this was a very pleasant discovery, as i had heard of the cocteau twins but was not familiar with their work prior to listening to this album a couple times. their shimmery, ethereal sound is a perfect microcosm of the shoegaze/dream pop genre and is quite nice to listen to, especially in the background. in some ways, it's almost too saccharine, to the point of being toothless (as is often the case in dentistry). this album also lacks any sort of landmarks or big shifts to the sound; once you start it, you're in for about forty minutes of floating in the lazy river of music, having a generally pleasant time but unable to discern the differences between any particular areas. lastly, i have no idea what the lyrics are to most of these songs. i can't understand a single thing elizabeth fraser is singing, so her beautiful poetry and voice become just another instrument in the mix. it's all one big soup. but the soup is really tasty, so there you go. favorites: cherry-coloured funk, pitch the baby, heaven or las vegas, i wear your ring, wolf in the breast, frou-frou foxes in midsummer fires

Can my nuts hanggg??????

Heard it before, solid

Pretty good. Enjoyable vibe overall. If I heard this in a store I’d probably use my phone to figure out what was playing. I’ll be generous and give it a 4 since I can’t do 3.5.

# Playlist track - Pitch The Baby # Notes - All around cool vibes! It's a fun, atmospheric, endearing listen. - I would have love to see a bit more diversity and movement, especially on the last quarter of the album, but the opening act more than makes it up for it. - Definitely makes me want to listen to more of their discography!

I had never heard this before, and I was vaguely aware of the band but hadn't really heard their music (that I was aware of). While definitely an 80's approach, this was a pretty good album. Elizabeth is good at creating a musical vocal approach, even if you can't understand what she's singing, and the overall music is well crafted.

OK, pretty easy listening. Nothing too memorable.

O how lush! How I wish I had been cool enough to be friends with the girls who loved the Cocteau Twins!

Light and ephemeral mood music

I liked this one a lot. It’s quiet and atmospheric. I could probably put this on anywhere.

Really moody

I must admit to never listening to this so I was properly blown away! Like those YouTube guys who have never listened to music before

Lemppari: Cherry-coloured funk ja I wear your ring Vähiten lemppri: Fotzepolitik

11/11/24. This album grabbed me immediately with the first track, beautiful sounding and quintessential dream pop. Vocals were really nice as well, enjoyed this album!

4/5

I really liked this. Hit me at just the right time, maybe. Chorus pedals of the world, unite!

I liked it yet again nice easy listen

it was good.

I’ve always liked the vibe of Cocteau Twins and Liz Fraser’s nonsense language doesn’t bother me either, it somehow fits in with this type of music (wonder if Royksopp took some inspiration). It does all get a bit samey though. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Not their best album, but still beautifully ethereal

My thoughts on the Cocteau Twins are very complicated...I'm not a big fan of their typical sound (e.g. Treasure), as it's a bit too dense and not melodic enough for me. At least how I like my dream pop. I'm one of those people who'll tell you Slowdive clears My Bloody Valentine any day of the week to emphasize how much I like a strong focus on melody in the genre. It seems like the Cocteau Twins are a band I was destined to never get. However, on Heaven or Las Vegas, I completely get the appeal. There are at least three songs here that are undeniably top-tier dream pop. "Cherry-Coloured Funk" didn't get released as a single because it would've been too powerful for human consumption; instantly sets you up for an out-of-body experience. I'll bet it's one of the best songs I'll listen to in this whole 1001 album challenge. "Fifty-fifty Clown" was the first song I ever heard from this record, with its arresting and ethereal atmosphere. It's my pick for runner-up, though you can't make out a word Liz is saying. The title track is undeniably iconic, while its my least favorite of the three I'll mention, it sums up the mission of this record extremely well: it's about the journey, not the destination. While there are definitely dream pop albums that will appeal to my tastes more, ones that expound on the atmosphere and texture that this band set up in more engaging ways, I can't deny the fact this is a brilliant record. Even if I don't think it's "top 100 albums of all time" level good, it grows on me more with each listen. 8/10

Beautiful floaty dreamy pop. Cocteau Twins didn’t get much airplay in the U.S. but they should have.

86% Best: Pitch the Baby; Fifty-fifty Clown; Wolf in the Breast; Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires Must-Hear? Sure

4/5

Great sounds, and that voice is like no one else.

So that's how derealization feels like, huh?.. A decent record. And an interesting way to get introduced to dream pop. The must have for a long bus drive or for working at night when your mind it's slowly slipping away but you have to keep working... reverb and a chunk of ✨fLaNgEr✨ are really aiming for that unreal effect. I've read some reviews and everyone points at unrecognisable lyrics, saying it's something bad. I understand it can really annoy, but... sometimes I can't even understand what Thom Yorke is trying to say and he's not using so many ✨fLaNgEr✨ on his voice. In the context of dream pop it's reasonable to have a vocal like this - you concentrate on sound of the voice, how good vocalist is and where melodically they can go. The lyrics would distract from the immersive fairy tale atmosphere (that 'dream' part in the name of genre), so it's like listening to another language - elfish if you like. Really, stop shiting about it. So, why 4? I hate ✨fLaNgEr✨.

4 out of 5. Singles aside I like how dreamy this album sounds.

Two "rock, indie, shoegaze" albums in a row this weekend and I could even go for a third

Dan - dreamy, shoegaze. Would like to listen to again. Anna - was nice and would listen to again but nothing extraordinary, just pleasant

It’s cool

Good album, earlier stuff was always a bit weird for me - this is where they came into their own

had never heard of them, really enjoyed it

Very good!

I preferred the front half of the album. Was leaning towards three stars but made the mistake of looking the album up on review aggregators and was convinced to bump the rating up a notch probably as a result of those positive reviews

Frequently suffering from the 'I liked their earlier stuff better' syndrome, this is in reality a fine continuation of the ethereal majesty of the band. Highly recommended.

I'd heard of this band, but never listened to it before. Really solid dreamy synth pop. Had me engaged the whole way through.

this is going straight into my autumn/winter rotation

Mjög fín plata hjá Skotunum. Cherry coloured funk frábært lag og hin rúlla öll bara mjög vel.

dromerig en goede vocals

Shoegazey and mostly pleasant to listen to, although it is hard for me to really grasp onto any particular song. Maybe \"Iceblink Luck\"

Very enjoyable album then. Still enjoy it today.

Great foreign album with a cool vibe. Loved the Smiths/Cure sound with a twist.

I was only vaguely familiar with the band, so this was mostly a discovery. Really like the shoegaze / dreamy songs. And what a voice Frazer has...

Yeah, really good from a band I already had a liking for. Iceblink Luck a track I particularly enjoyed.

Ik kende enkel Heaven Or Las Vegas. Best een goed album eigenlijk. 3.7

Very pretty.

I really liked this. The vocals are beautiful and I found the general sound is something I already listen to quite frequently. My only gripe is I couldn't understand the lyrics very much but from a quick look at their Spotify description that might have been intentional?

This album is full of dreamy, ethereal music. Almost every song feels straight out of a dream. Ironically, the only song that doesn't fit is Cherry-coloured Funk. I don't know what people see in this song to make it so popular. As for other songs, Heaven or Las Vegas feels nostalgic, like the McDonalds with play areas. Pitch the Baby is basically a fever dream. I Wear Your Ring feels like I'm watching something in slow motion. There's a lot of range in the emotions that I feel listening to this album. Whenever I listen to the Cocteau Twins, I essentially listen as if the vocals are another instrument. While this album may be lyrically dense, I can't understand what she's saying enough to even try to dissect them. Best Songs: Pitch the Baby, Iceblink Luck, Heaven or Las Vegas, I Wear Your Ring, Worst Songs: Cherry-Coloured Funk

4 - an easy 5 if you’re into elevator/background music. More seriously, it just blended together

Very nice

Love it

I liked it. Wasn't expecting female vocals so that was kinda nice

Another wonderful album from the Cocteau Twins. This one is a little more accessible than ‘Treasure’, a bit more direct musically, but still very much in the same vein and I loved it just as much if not more. Another strong 4, very close to a 5.

Good record. Not exactly my favorite kind of music but a nice, easy listening time.

Had heard singles but not the album, enjoyed it more than I expected, really helps you get engrossed in the specific sound.

As the kids say, this is a "vibe". It's my kinda thing where it's a bit trancey and sythy, the vocals are a tad hit or miss

Less weird Kate Bush. Pleasant and surprisingly enjoyable.

Some of these songs are just alright, but some ("Cherry-Coloured Funk" and "Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires," especially) are the prettiest few minutes you can hear in music.

Massivly beautiful dream pop.

Muito bom

Still trying to figure Cocteau Twins out. And you?

Идеальный альбом для поездки, трэк Heaven or Las Vegas захватил мой разум и заставил погрузиться в сон , но альбом довольно однообразный

See, this is more like I wanted from the dream pop album my group got yesterday. Beautiful, etheral... Absolutely dreamlike; as if you could float away on it. And as far as I can remember, this is the best "vocals as an instrument" album I've heard in a while—where, yeah, there ate lyrics, but they maybe don't really matter? They're another melody, to help everything else flow along, and they're great at that. Jus', mm. I'm in love. It's real good stuff.

At it's worst, this is kind of Enya-like background music and at it's best, it's kind of Roches-like tight female harmonies and that's good enough for me.

Second CT album in relatively quick succession. This one was a bit better - great shoehazey guitars, more poppy production including some good programmed drums. Vocals were up a gear here too This kind of fits in with some of the current dream pop stuff too Best: Heaven Or Las Vegas

I liked Fraser's vocals a lot, definitely dreamy, prob a 3.5 but when I am in the mood.. a 4

Favorite Tracks: Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires Iceblink Luck

Day217 - i’m sorta surprised how much i enjoyed this album. i wasn’t familiar with them and they remind me of siouxsie and the banshees

I'll admit that before this I thought the Cocteau Twins were like Youtube content creators or something.

Weird, but in a good way

The sheer ingenuity of the babble pushes this into 4 star territory. I’d listened to a handful of Cocteau Twins tracks before but this was my first full album and I really enjoyed it.

Great to grove to. Felt like a nice mashup of multiple artists and genres I prefer. Now just need to learn the words!

very new soundscape to listen to.. Favorite track: Cherry colored funk other picks: heaven and Las Vegas, fotzepolitic, frou-frou

Fireeeeee makes me think of the Holly St. days

Very cool. Very 9ps. Great to work to

7/10 I like the guitar work and the aimless vocals feel resolved even if I don't know what she's saying. I don't think it matters. a nice relaxing listen 7-17-2024

Það oft er hart rokkað þarna undir, en mixað svo lágt að það heyrist varla. Heildarmyndin er loftkennd en líka töff. Bara ljómandi gott sko.

It is dreamy, ethereal and interesting. I struggle an amazing amount understanding any of their lyrics, but the electronic layered vibe is great. I enjoy the mood and its really immersive with headphones. Loved it.

pretty odd album, very dreamlike. 8/10

I haven't any idea about a word she says, but I like it. It's ethereal.

Origins of dream-pop? Of course I was going to like this. Weirdly, no single standout track, but I liked the whole sound.

AHHHH LUV SHOEGAZE ME

Such a vibe for playing in the background bc I want my life to feel like this all day everyday - wtf do they be saying tho

Loved it. Listened to some of the back catalogue as well, because I knew I'd neglected them in my youth, oddly, as I've always loved a shimmering guitar. So I had a very happy three hours or so. This particular album didn't disappoint even though I do prefer their earlier stuff (I'm such a cliché). Beautiful stuff.

Beautiful to listen to again

Love these guys! How come they sound so familiar? I guess it kind of reminded me of a song on The Crow but it's not. I like the sound of this. Better than yesterday's jazz. Most of their top songs are from this album. HM! these guys are Scottish!

I choose heaven. 3.5/5

I'd heard of this band, but never given them a listen. The vocals sound ethereal, with the guitar added giving it a laid back shoegaze sound. Really works as a complete album, compared to some which are held up by some strong singles. 4/5

Curioso: mezcla de The Bee Gees, de las hijas de The Beach Boys, Kate Bush.

algunos temas se pasan ya pero ta bueno

I really liked the album. I would have probably loved it had I been able to decipher what she was singing about.....Definitely a mood.

It's weird, because I know I have heard the title track before, but I can't place it. The etherealness to every track is amazing. I know it was something that Kate Bush was shooting for, but this definitely outdoes it in a lot of ways. I know thys was likened to shoegaze, but there was something brighter to it. I will say some of the songs did to start to sound a bit same-y, but things like the title track and "Fotzepolitic" were definitely interesting to listen to. I just wish I remember where I had heard the title track before. Top tracks: title track, "Fotzepolitic," "Road River and Rail," "Frou-frou foxes in Midsummer Fires"

Oh great, the Cocteau Twins are back. At least the album leads with Cherry-Coloured Funk, which is one of the only songs of theirs I know or liked already. This album definitely reminds me of My Bloody Valentine and Mazzy Star releases that came within the next couple of years, between the fuzzy or vibrating guitars and the muffled vocals. Honestly, despite not looking forward to listening to this album, it's quite good. I did not like their previous album on this list but this one spoke to me. They perfected their art on it. The first half up to the title track was really good, without a weak song and with Iceblink Luck (their first single) every bit as dreamy good as the opener and title track. I feel like it dipped a bit for a few songs after that, but picked back up as it closed with Road, River, and Rail and with Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires. Definitely surprised at how much I enjoyed this album.

Excellent album. Will listen again

Music as light as a feather. It's nothing revolutionary, but I had a nice time listening. 3.5/5

Un très bon albumm, le genre qui passe vite. Ils ont vraiment un son propre sans sonner pareil tout au long de l'album. Quelques moments qui sotn un peu plus fade, mais généralement c'est un album vraiment solide. Très belle production, belle instrumentation, la chanteuse a une très belle voix qu'elle utilise de façon à super bien complémenter les instruments. Définitivement à revisiter. 8.5/10

i love how i actually have no idea what shes saying

Chill

This is good stuff from a band I’m not as aware of as I should be. But I enjoyed this. And I think is an act that belongs here. Whether it’s this album or not I don’t know. But one of their albums should be here anyway.

The missing link in my knowledge of 80s introspective goth-ish bands - love it.

Actually quite enjoyed it 8/10

Very atmospheric album. Really liked the melodies and the music. The lyrics are interesting, the ones I can understand.

Layered singing and bright for shoegaze. Standout is the title track. Melodic and beautiful closing track. Feels short (37 min runtime), was left wanting more.

Awesome. Very cool. Loved it.

Shoegazey heaven

Inaudible but still have fun/interesting sounds.That’s all I need and you need to know about this album

i love emo

4 stars

Pretty nice, a bit headache inducing if played all at once

Shoegazy pop rock that's aged beautifully. These guitar tones are ripped straight from Siouxsie and the Banshees and I love them. I wish there was a bit more variation in the sounds on this album, but the mood it creates is heavenly.

I’ve heard of this band for a long time but never listened to them. I liked this album even though the 80s dream-pop vibe is not really my jam. The production is great, the instrumentation is great, the vocals are kind of hit or miss for me, but they do bring a unique feel. I appreciate this album from a historical perspective even if you won’t find me blasting these songs in my car with the windows down on a nice summer day.

It’s strangely hypnotic and I love how the songs build and run away from themselves. It also seems oddly timeless. I mean, I’m sure it sure sounds like the late 80s crawling into the turn of the century, but songs like Heaven or Las Vegas at least seem like they could have come out last week too.

no songs really stood out but just a really good vibe and solid album throughout

What a beautiful staring starting song “Cherry coloured funk”. Beautifully crafted soundscapes with a touch of 80s regalia but definitely a different sound than anything else from 1990. “Iceblink luck” is another amazing track. Amazing shoe gaze

This was really good. It reminds me of Beach House if they were a 90s band.

Call me a mumble pop fan (I hope the title track is never not stuck in my head)

Mac Demarco for people in 1990

Pretty good stuff, it feels like the last hurrah of the 80's just before the wave of the 90's hit

So ahead of their time

Liked the vibe - didn't understand the lyrics well.

This was a fun listen to drive home to. Some songs were very sound alike to tracks from other albums. And I can't say I'd jump to put this on outside special listening situations. And for that, 4 stars.

Listened 3/1/24. First time hearing this. I can hear the appeal. Lots of cool sonic elements. Not really my cup of tea, but I appreciate the artistry.

Very cool, ethereal vibes. Thoroughly enjoyed

Landmark album. Amazing textures, ahead of its time. Very fun, deep listen

Great album, ethereal chill sounds

dream pop royalty.

dont know what to listen to? putting this shit on

3.5/5

Solid album all the way through

super interesting to listen to - elevated and unique synth pop sound

What a beautiful, ethereal album. It strikes a wonderful balance of happiness and melancholy that can either let you get in your feelings or pull you up out of them. The fact that the lyrics are indecipherable also allows the listener to take away whatever they need from the music.

I love the dreamy trance vibe. One of my favourite songs on this album is iceblink luck, I did quite enjoy listening to this album, very nostalgic 80/90s vibes, makes you feel like you're living in a movie

This is a band that I’ve heard of but never intentionally listened to. This was perfect to have on at work. I actually listened two times. I can definitely see how they originated dream pop.

Dreamy, airy. I liked it but didn't love it. Would listen again. Hearing the words she is actually singing would be nice, but it adds to that dreamy sound.

Als je goed luistert, dan hoor je de geboorte van Beach House. Het is een beetje een cliché, toch moest het even genoemd worden. Maar ondanks dat Beach House overduidelijk inspiratie uit deze groep haalt, hebben ze het genre wel volledig een eigen draai gegeven. Cocteau Twins stonden wél vooraan de wieg van Beach House, en dit album is wellicht hun grootste bijdrage aan deze muziekstijl die we vandaag de dag veelal terug horen in de popwereld. Het markeert ook een kantelpunt in hun eigen carrière, waar de groep in de 80s een dromerige soundscape creëerde die veel voeten in de aarde had in goth/post-punk invloeden. Deze is wat luchtiger, en legt een accent op het tweede woord in het genre dreampop. In veel nummers voert 'hoop' de boventoon, terwijl we soms ook nog wel wat droefgeestigere muziekstukken voorgeschoteld krijgen. Ik denk dat het een fantastisch voorbeeld is van muziek die verschillende gevoelens onder een vergrootglas weet te leggen. Zit je in een goede mood dan zul je zweven van extase, zit je in zak en as, dan duik je waarschijnlijk met een broodrooster in bad. Bij wijze van spreken. Het is een unieke kwaliteit van dit genre, wat het een mystieke status geeft. In het hoopvolle spectrum vinden we bijvoorbeeld 'Iceblink Luck'. Een song die wijdverspreide aandacht trok voor de band die jaren in relatieve obscuriteit doorbracht. Het is ook één van de nummers waarin Elizabeth Fraser het best te verstaan is, en in combinatie met een The Cure-achtige basgitaar is het een prettig popnummertje. De andere single van het album is de titelsong, die instrumenteel wat meer de melancholie opzoekt, maar je door het super catchy refrein vooral met een opgetogen gevoel achterlaat. Waanzinnig nummer. Naast de enigszins poppie singles van de plaat, weten de goth roots van Cocteau Twins zich ook nog steeds stevig vast te grijpen in verschillende songs. De opener 'Cherry-coloured Funk' heeft een donkere ondertoon, die wat mij betreft echt samengaat als peanut butter and jelly met de zoetzure stem in het refrein. Waar ik soms mijn vraagtekens heb bij wat er allemaal met de nummers bedoeld wordt vanwege de cryptische vocalen van Fraser, moet haar stemgeluid vooral gezien worden als een extra instrument. Het vormt één geheel met de dikke lagen synths, drones en basgitaren, en wat ze zegt doet er eigenlijk niet toe. Weet jij nog woord voor woord wat er gezegd werd in jouw dromen? Ook de afsluiter 'Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires' voelt aan alsof het is opgenomen in een gotische kerk, en zet een kille sfeer neer. Tot de orgastische explosie in het refrein, die laat horen dat dit genre korte lijntjes heeft met shoegaze. Van alle memorabele trucjes die Fraser deed met haar stem op dit album, vind ik dit nummer het meest iconisch. De hoge, melancholische stem die subtiel omslaat in zwaarder en geruststellend stemgeluid, tot ze in het refrein samen te horen zijn. Voor mij vangt dit slotstuk alles waar het dreampop genre voor staat. Een delicate mix van stemmingen die er allemaal toe doen. De synthpop in 'I Wear Your Ring' verdient ook nog erkenning. Ik kende deze niet, maar hij ontpopte zich in de loop van het nummer tot één van de felst stralende diamanten van dit album. Het resultaat is een David Lynchiaans muziekstuk dat laat zien dat er niet perse een heldere songtekst nodig is om een verhaal over te brengen. De stem van Elizabeth Fraser is een cruciaal instrument, en doet de luisteraar er aan herinneren dat zang in zijn beginselen hetzelfde doet als een piano, een banjo, of een Moog synthesizer. Het speelt met de lucht om zich heen, of zoals ene T. Waits ooit zei ''Singing is just doing interesting things to the air. Elongating it and twisting it into shapes.'' En dat doet ze fenomenaal. Tussen 'Fotzepolitic' en 'Road, River and Rail' verdrinken nummers een beetje in de gelaagde golf aan bovenaardse geluiden, en verliezen ze mij ook even. Dan merk ik ook al snel dat haar stem juist een bron van irritatie wordt, en dat ze overtuigingskracht verliest als het niet perfect aansluit bij de rest van de instrumenten. Gelukkig is het merendeel van het album een meeslepende trip langs een wijd spectrum van rake emoties. 8/10 Highlights: Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires Heaven or Las Vegas I Wear Your Ring

Ik ben gewoon een sucker voor de dromige atfosmeer van de dreampop en shoegaze uit de jaren 90. De zang is -net als bij Slowdive- net zo onverstaanbaar als onweerstaanbaar maar drukt wel een hele grote stempel op de muziek. Soms lijkt het bijna Frans- of Spaanstalig. Dat het onverstaanbaar is deert mij niet. Het draagt juist bij aan het gevoel van een droom of dat de atmosfeer om je heen muziek uitstraalt. Wat dit album zo uniek is maakt zijn de poppy en catchy melodieën die over de atmosferische tonen worden ingezongen. Deze zanglijnen doen denken aan veel verschillende popartiesten. Cherry-coloured Funk lijkt te zijn ingezongen door Kate Bush, Iceblink Luck is ABBA onder een laag shoegaze. De zang van Heaven or Las Vegas doet mij denken aan Alannis Morissette. Isn't it Ironic? Heaven or Las Vegas is voor mij echt het hoogtepunt van het gevoel wat dreampop/shoegaze oproept. De soundscape geeft het gevoel alsof je drijft op wolken die geluid maken. Beter kan ik het niet omschrijven. 37 minuutjes drijven op de Cocteau Twins wolken is gewoon veels te kort. Ik doe dus nog een rondje! Highlights: Heaven or Las Vegas Iceblink Luck

Beautiful. Such an ethereal album. The songs do all sound the same given that it has such a celestial sound. Things start to blend if a different style isn't brought into the mix. That, however, is my only complaint. Everything else, production, writing, vocals, instrumentation, structure, lyrics, etc. 4/5

Rätt intressant.

first listen a lovely shoegaze record

Really satisfying. I wish the lyrics made more sense, but I suppose that’s part of its charm. Some songs are MUCH stronger than others.

Melancholic, moody, and dreamy. I like both vocalists, one reminds me of Dolores from the cranberries. We’ll not be pitching this baby 3.9*

Dreamy

I didn’t understand a single word but sounded cool and whimsical.

This album is so beautiful and dreamy. I love the prominence of the bass that grounds it all. I can't tell if the lyrics are supposed to carry much meaning, but I'm struggling to read much into them if they do. That doesn't really break the experience for me - this is a lovely listening experience. 9/10. Favorite Songs: Iceblink Luck, Heaven or Las Vegas, Fotzepolitic, Road, River and Rail, Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires Least Favorite Songs: Fifty-fifty Clown, I Wear Your Ring

Very solid, magical album. Fotzepolitic is definitely the best song. On a side note what the hell is that lady saying.

This kind of dreamy, atmospheric pop is right up my alley. Highlights: Cherry-Coloured Funk, Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires

Eccentrically engaging and pretty charming, with somewhat deceptive shimmering. There's more depth and darkness, more shadows and shades than surface listening will reveal. Highly intricate, too, with a generally off-kilter feel that makes it quite likable, with the vocal's angelic sheen really elevating affairs, and often achieving outright ebullience.

I have seen their albums for years but never knew a single song or anyone to push me to listen. “Dream Pop” does have its place occasionally.

Listening to this I'm really split between giving a 3 and a 4. The more albums I listen to on the more I wish this scale went from 1-10. I'd put this at like a 3.8 3.9/5 rn. Idk if this would be called new wave or what but I’m enjoying chilling and listening to it.

The vibes are immaculate

listened to this while building a minecraft house and it made me feel like I was floating on a cloud made of cotton candy and eating little pieces of it so it was good.

Curioso: mezcla de The Bee Gees, de las hijas de The Beach Boys, Kate Bush.

Just lovely. Vocals emerging from soundscapes, lyrics almost intelligible. Escapes the late-80s production sound that I didn't like about some earlier efforts (and that so many bands suffered from).

4.5/5

Karaoke Night’s gonna be a movie with this one.

LOVED IT

This was great, I had no idea what they were singing about. I actually thought they were French until I looked it up halfway thru. I really did enjoy the synth ambient sounds. Gave their 84 release a listen afterwards, just as chill. 4 stars

got me feeling ethereal 💯

Really really nice

Liked.

Oh woah hey that’s some good dreamy shoegaze

Love this album, love shoegaze, give me more. 4.4/5

Hidden treat. Heard of the Twins - could not recall, but enjoyed this none the less, It gets a 4 as a hidden gem no. 88 on my quest

Jävligt bra

Nenän limakalvo turpeaa ja septumin alueella ärtynyttä. Tärykalvot helmen harmaat, läpikuultavat... tärykalvoihin myös tämä albumi hakkasi.. oikein mallikaaasti teki.. uskomatonn määrä mielenliikutusta tässä.. Se on aina uskomatonta mihin ääni pystyy. Kuitenkin obj muut äänen elementit ei kovinkaan sievää kuunneltavaa ole. En lyriikoista selvää saanut.. silti fiilistelin albumin mahdollista sanomaa...

If I had one adjective I could use for this album it is textured. It is really well produced/layered. The songs themselves though don't all hit that well. There is nothing I can complain or pinpoint that I don't like but I just imagine swaying/driving to this.

Curioso: mezcla de The Bee Gees, de las hijas de The Beach Boys, Kate Bush.

This is sweet. I cannot understand a word but the vocals, harmonies are so good. Lots of reverb adds to the atmospheric effect.

Something about this really worked for me

I liked it. Then again 90’s indie/alternative is my jam

Had to listen to it a few times to get my head around it. I really like it even if it is a little off the wall. I think it’s definitely a band/album I’ll revisit

Great, ethereal album

Very good and Liz Fraser has a great voice.

Great album. Shoegaze but make it shimmer. If you’re stuck on the fact that you can’t understand the lyrics you’re focused on the wrong thing. Allow yourself to accept the vocals as another part of the musical track and embrace what they add to the album. You don’t need words to feel something.

A classic shoegazing record.

Known Before: Standouts: 1. Cherry-Coloured Funk 5. Heaven or Las Vegas 8.0

Known before: Album Standouts: 01. Cherry-coloured funk 04. Fifty-fifty clown 05. Heaven or Las Vegas Rating: 8.0

This is another shockingly good album. I kind of missed the 80s, so there is a lot that I missed, especially the more under the radar stuff. I don't have any affinity for the typical 80s sound, but this album isn't that. It's a very dreamy, gauzy dream-pop precursor, and I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that Chino Moreno from Deftones absolutely loved this band. Again, I'd love the ability to do half stars, as this is a solid 3.5. I wouldn't say it's as good as Superunknown, but it's definitely better than Teenage Head, which I gave 3 stars.

Nice and cozy.

I will always love this album. I love the jangly guitar sounds and vocals. It's dreamy.

so beautiful and pleasant and dreamy, but kinda one-note

GARLIC FONDUE

Have you ever wanted to know what it's like to make out with someone in Portland in 2011?

I listened to this album a fair bit around a year ago, as it was one that we reviewed on the YouTube show. I’m going to listen to this again without reviewing what I said last time, as it would be interesting to see if my opinion has changed since then. Songs I already knew: all of them Favourites: Heaven Or Las Vegas, Cherry-Coloured Funk There is a lot to like here. 80’s synth is usually a safe bet for me, and there are lots of catchy melodies. I can see this next point being a little controversial, but I quite like how unintelligible the singing is. It makes the voice sound more like a literal instrument rather than a method of expressing something, and I like how different that is. Overall, a nice enjoyable album. I’ve come back to it a few times, and I’ll likely continue.

Wow another great one. Chill, almost ethereal music with nice female vocals and airy synths 4.4

This album is so sexy. Very lorelai gilmore