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Avg: 4.5 (261 ratings)
- Date Released: October 1, 1988
- Genre: Alternative/Punk
- Style: Alternative, Goth
- Label: 4AD
On perhaps their best album, the Cocteaus drape iridescent canopies of guitarstuff over a sculpted gush of liquidized language.
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We Say...
It’s so hard to single out a Cocteau Twins album as the One. Head over Heels is their early classic, but Blue Bell Knoll may be their most flawless and sustained achievement. Casting off all prior traces of Kate Bush and Siouxsie, Fraser asserts her candidacy as one of the most original vocalists of the rock era. Spangle-maker Robin Guthrie — Lindsay Buckingham to Liz’s Stevie Nicks — drapes his lover in iridescent canopies of guitarstuff. Fraser’s sculpted gush of liquidized language is almost entirely indecipherable but always sounds rich in private, non-verbalisable meaning. Sometimes these sweet nothings seem like songs for swooning lovers, sometimes like baby-talk. After Blue Bell Knoll the Cocteaus made a mistaken pop-wards move, Fraser singing first in better-enunciated gibberish and then in distinctly plain English. She said so much more when you couldn’t understand a word.
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They Say...
The first Cocteaus album to feature a full-band lineup since Treasure was also their first full studio record released in America, resulting from the group's stateside deal with Capitol. Much to longtime fans' surprise, the Twins in fact were much more content with Capitol than 4AD, hinting at their eventual full departure from that label. This was all well and good, but the trio's new inspiration didn't fully translate into their work, unfortunately. While Blue Bell Knoll has some striking moments that are pure Cocteaus at their best -- the opening title track is especially lovely with a keyboard loop leading into Fraser's ever-wonderful vocals, a light rhythm, and a great final Guthrie solo -- it's still the band's least noteworthy release since Garlands. The feeling throughout is of a group interested in dressing up older approaches that have served them well, but aren't as distinct; the quite-lush arrangements by Guthrie are fine but the songs are a touch more pedestrian. Blue Bell Knoll has enough initial steam, however, to ensure that there are reasons to listen, happily. "Athol-Brose" has the inspirational feel that the Twins can easily create. "Carolyn's Fingers," the clear album standout, is perhaps the strongest individual Cocteau song since "Aikea-Guinea," with Fraser singing against herself over a rough, hip-hop-inspired rhythm while Guthrie peels off a fantastic main guitar melody and Raymonde contributes some supple bass work. After that amazing opening, things slowly but surely slide back a bit; most of the rest sounds okay enough to listen to, but the heartgripping intensity that defines the Twins at their best isn't present.
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| 01. |  |
Blue Bell Knoll |
3:25 |
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| 02. | |
Athol-Brose |
2:59 |
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| 03. | |
Carolyn's Fingers |
3:08 |
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| 04. | |
For Phoebe Still a Baby |
3:16 |
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| 05. | |
Itchy Glowbo Blow |
3:21 |
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| 06. | |
Cico Buff |
3:50 |
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| 07. | |
Suckling the Mender |
3:35 |
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| 08. | |
Spooning Good Singing Gum |
3:52 |
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| 09. | |
Kissed Out Red Floatboat |
4:10 |
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| 10. | |
Ella Megablast Burls Forever |
3:38 |
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10 Total Tracks, 35:14 Total Length
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Credits
- Cocteau Twins - Producer // Cocteau Twins - Main Performer // Elizabeth Fraser - Vocals // Robin Guthrie - Guitar // Robin Guthrie - Guitar // Robin Guthrie - Guitar // Robin Guthrie - Remastering // Robin Guthrie - Remastering // Robin Guthrie - Remastering // Paul West - Design // Paul West - Sleeve Art // Juergen Teller - Photography // Jeremy Tilston - Design // Jeremy Tilston - Sleeve Art
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