Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas
Cherry-coloured funk
Pitch the baby
Iceblink luck
Fifty-fifty clown
Heaven or Las Vegas
I wear your ring
Fotzepolitic
Wolf in the breast
Road, river and rail
Frou-frou foxes in midsummer fires
Released 1990
heaven or las vegas Robin Guthrie:guitars, synths, production, etc.
Elizabeth Fraser:vocals
Simon Raymonde: bass, production, etc.
Cocteau Twins created some of the most original music of the '80s and early '90s. The band's sound metamorphosized from a gothic-style sound in the beginning to the sound of this record, which is really not categorizable. Yet all of their records share some traits. Their music is often referred to as "ethereal", owing largely to Ms. Fraser's vocal style, which is frail and operatic at the same time. The music is densely layered and textured - and even the ostensibly upbeat pieces have usually have a foreboding undercurrent created by these textures.

I consider this record to be the Twin's best effort, though Victorialand is a close second. With a variety of styles (contrasting one of their usual limitations - the songs on a given record often sound a lot alike on initial listen), and a slightly less aggressive approach musically, this recording rises above the average.

Cocteau Twins were perhaps my favorite '80s band. If you like truly original music and haven't heard them, listen to this!
Some other releases Year Subjective rating
Garlands 1981 4
Head Over Heels 1982 3
Treasure 1984 3.5
Echos/Tiny Dynamine 1985 3.5
Victorialand 1986 4.5
Blue Bell Knoll 1988 4
Four Calendar Cafe 1993 3.5