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Avg: 4.5 (247 ratings)
- Date Released: September 1, 1990
- Genre: Alternative/Punk
- Style: Alternative
- Label: 4AD
All in all, maybe the Cocteau Twins' finest hour.
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We Say...
"Beetles and eggs and blues and pour a little everything else." You get the sense that when Liz Fraser's voice came sliding out of the speakers on the opening track of Heaven Or Las Vegas, more clearly and brightly than ever before, most listeners did a double take. Wait…THAT'S what she's been singing all this time?!? Of course, like anything, the closer you look, the less you actually see. And, judging by the lyrics of the stunning "Cherry-Coloured Funk," we were probably closer to understanding Cocteau Twins song meanings when we didn't know what she was saying at all.
Which is a really long way of saying that Heaven Or Las Vegas is one of those rarities in the world of independent music. The pop move that actually works. Fraser's vocals were no longer hidden under ten layers of gauze and acrobatic flights of fancy, Robin Guthrie's guitar lines are as catchy as ever and Simon Raymonde holds down the low-end with his essential yet rarely celebrated bass. Whether it be the indie jangle of "Iceblink Luck," where Raymonde takes center stage or the relatively unadorned "Wolf in the Breast," Heaven showcased the band's ability to sew pop structures onto their uncommon sound palette. And, all in all, it might've been their finest hour. Now, if we could only figure out what Fraser is singing about... -
They Say...
Deciding to scale back the overly pretty sound on Blue Bell Knoll while experimenting with more accessibility -- -- the Twins ended up creating their best album since Treasure. From the start, Heaven... is simply fantastic: on "Cherry-Coloured Funk," Guthrie's inimitable guitar work chimes leading a low-key but forceful rhythm, while Raymonde's grand bass work fleshes it out. Fraser simply captivates; her vocals are the clearest, most direct they've ever been, purring with energy and life. Many songs have longer openings and closings; rather than crashing fully into a song and then quickly ending, instead the trio carefully builds up and eases back. These songs are still quite focused, though, almost sounding like they were recorded live instead of being assembled in the studio. Due credit has to be given to the Cocteaus' drum programming; years of working with the machines translated into the detailed work here, right down to the fills. "Fifty-Fifty Clown," starting with an ominous bass throb, turns into a lovely showcase for Fraser's singing and Guthrie's more restrained playing. But the Twins don't completely turn their back on Knoll's sound; "Iceblink Luck," has the same lush feeling and a newfound energy -- the instrumental break is almost a rave-up! -- and everything pulses to a fine conclusion. There are many moments of sheer Cocteaus beauty and power, including the title track, with its great chorus, and two spotlight Guthrie solos: "Fotzepolitic," a powerful number building to a rushing conclusion, and the album-ending "Frou Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires." Possessing the same climactic sense of drama past disc-closers as "Donimo" and "The Thinner the Air," it's a perfect way to end a near-perfect album.
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| 01. |  |
Cherry-Coloured Funk |
3:13 |
|
| 02. | |
Pitch The Baby |
3:17 |
|
| 03. | |
Iceblink Luck |
3:18 |
|
| 04. | |
Fifty-Fifty Clown |
3:11 |
|
| 05. | |
Heaven Or Las Vegas |
4:55 |
|
| 06. | |
I Wear Your Ring |
3:40 |
|
| 07. | |
Fotzepolitic |
3:30 |
|
| 08. | |
Wolf In The Breast |
3:32 |
|
| 09. | |
Road, River And Rail |
3:21 |
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| 10. | |
Frou-Frou Foxes In Midsummer Fires |
5:37 |
|
10 Total Tracks, 37:34 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 - ? // Paul West - Artwork // Paul West - Insert // Andy Rumball - Photography
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