The Box Set (Cocteau Twins)

Last updated
The Box Set
The Box Set (Cocteau Twins).jpg
Box set by
Released4 November 1991
Recorded1981–1990
Genre Gothic rock, ethereal, dream pop
Label 4AD - CT BOX 1
Cocteau Twins compilations chronology
The Pink Opaque
(1985)
The Box Set
(1991)
BBC Sessions
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
NME 9/10 [2]

The Box Set (also known as Cocteau Twins Singles Collection ) is a 1991 collection of EPs by the Scottish band Cocteau Twins. It features their non-album releases up until that time. It also contains a bonus disc including songs from throughout their history which have not been otherwise released on Cocteau Twins releases.

Contents

Track listing

Disc one – Lullabies (1982)
  1. "Feathers-Oar-Blades" – 4:32
  2. "Alas Dies Laughing" – 3:40
  3. "It's All But an Ark Lark" – 8:06
All Tracks by Fraser, Guthrie & Heggie
Disc two – Peppermint Pig (1983)
  1. "Peppermint Pig (7" Version)" – 3:24
  2. "Laugh Lines" – 3:20
  3. "Hazel" – 2:49
  4. "Peppermint Pig (12" Version)" – 5:02
All Tracks by Fraser, Guthrie & Heggie
Disc three – Sunburst and Snowblind (1983)
  1. "Sugar Hiccup" – 3:41
  2. "From the Flagstones" – 3:39
  3. "Hitherto" – 3:56
  4. "Because of Whirl-Jack" – 3:29
All Tracks by Fraser & Guthrie
Disc four – The Spangle Maker (1984)
  1. "The Spangle Maker" – 4:42
  2. "Pearly-Dewdrop's Drops (12" Version)" – 5:14
  3. "Pepper-Tree" – 3:47
  4. "Pearly-Dewdrop's Drops (7" Version)" – 4:11
All Tracks by Fraser, Guthrie & Raymonde
Disc five – Aikea-Guinea (1985)
  1. "Aikea-Guinea" – 3:57
  2. "Kookaburra" – 3:20
  3. "Quisquose" – 4:10
  4. "Rococo" – 3:08
All Tracks by Fraser, Guthrie & Raymonde
Disc six – Tiny Dynamine (1985)
  1. "Pink Orange Red" – 4:41
  2. "Ribbed and Veined" – 4:00
  3. "Plain Tiger" – 4:01
  4. "Sultitan Itan" – 3:53
All Tracks by Fraser, Guthrie & Raymonde
Disc seven – Echoes in a Shallow Bay (1985)
  1. "Great Spangled Fritillary" – 4:02
  2. "Melonella" – 4:05
  3. "Pale Clouded White" – 4:59
  4. "Eggs and Their Shells" – 3:06
All Tracks by Fraser, Guthrie & Raymonde
Disc eight – Love's Easy Tears (1986)
  1. "Love's Easy Tears" – 3:37
  2. "Those Eyes, That Mouth" – 3:38
  3. "Sigh's Smell of Farewell" – 3:33
  4. "Orange Appled" – 2:49
All Tracks by Fraser, Guthrie & Raymonde
Disc nine – Iceblink Luck (1990)
  1. "Iceblink Luck" – 3:20
  2. "Mizake The Mizan" – 3:03
  3. "Watchlar" – 3:17
All Tracks by Fraser, Guthrie & Raymonde
Disc ten – Bonus disc
  1. "Dials" – (Fraser, Guthrie & Raymonde) 2:39
  2. "Crushed" – (Fraser, Guthrie & Raymonde) 3:17
  3. "The High Monkey-Monk" – (Fraser, Guthrie & Raymonde) 3:07
  4. "Oomingmak (Instrumental Version)" – (Fraser & Guthrie) 2:43

Bonus disc notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocteau Twins</span> Scottish rock band

Cocteau Twins were a Scottish rock band active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed in Grangemouth by Robin Guthrie and Will Heggie (bass), adding Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) in 1981 and replacing Heggie with multi-instrumentalist Simon Raymonde in 1983. The group earned critical praise for their ethereal, effects-laden sound and the soprano vocals of Fraser, whose lyrics often eschew any recognisable language. Fraser's vocals included unknown words she found in foreign language books, adding to the band's dreamy ambience. They pioneered the 1980s alternative subgenre of dream pop and helped define what would become shoegaze.

<i>Head over Heels</i> (Cocteau Twins album) 1983 album by the Cocteau Twins

Head over Heels is the second studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins. The album was released on 24 October 1983 through the label 4AD. It featured the band's signature sound of "Guthrie's lush guitars under Fraser's mostly wordless vocals" and is considered an archetype of early ethereal wave music.

<i>Garlands</i> (album) 1982 album by the Cocteau Twins

Garlands is the debut studio album by the Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins. It was released on 10 July 1982 through the record label 4AD. It peaked in the top 5 of the UK Independent Albums Chart, and received support from BBC Radio 1 radio host John Peel.

<i>Treasure</i> (Cocteau Twins album) 1984 album by the Cocteau Twins

Treasure is the third studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, released on 12 November 1984 by 4AD. With this album, the band settled on what would, from then on, be their primary lineup: vocalist Elizabeth Fraser, guitarist Robin Guthrie and bass guitarist Simon Raymonde. The album also reflected the group's embrace of the distinctive ethereal sound they became associated with.

<i>Victorialand</i> 1986 album by the Cocteau Twins

Victorialand is the fourth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, released by 4AD in 1986. Working without bassist Simon Raymonde, vocalist Elizabeth Fraser and guitarist/producer Robin Guthrie opted for a subtler sound on the album.

<i>Stars and Topsoil</i> 2000 compilation album by the Cocteau Twins

Stars and Topsoil – A Collection (1982–1990) is a compilation album by the Scottish band Cocteau Twins, released on the 4AD label on October 16, 2000. The album featured tracks released during the group's time on 4AD between 1982 and 1990, covering every Cocteau Twins album from Garlands through Heaven or Las Vegas. The collection reached number sixty-three on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Peppermint Pig</i> 1983 song, single and EP by the Cocteau Twins

"Peppermint Pig" is a song by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins. It was released as both a single and 12" EP on 4 April 1983 by record label 4AD. Musically, the material was similar to their previous release, the 1982 EP Lullabies. It was the last release to feature original bassist Will Heggie.

<i>Echoes in a Shallow Bay</i> 1985 EP by Cocteau Twins

Echoes in a Shallow Bay is an EP by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, released on 4AD. The EP featured four non-album tracks. It was issued on 29 November 1985, two weeks after another EP, Tiny Dynamine. The two EP sets, which featured complementary artwork, were also released as a combined double EP in a gatefold cover, and as an eight-track CD. The EP was reissued in 1991 as part of The Box Set and in 2005 as part of the singles/EP collection Lullabies to Violaine. A new vinyl version, sourced from digital files created from a new transfer of the original analogue tapes, was released in 2015, combined with the Tiny Dynamine EP.

<i>Tiny Dynamine</i> 1985 EP by Cocteau Twins

Tiny Dynamine is an EP by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, released on 4AD Records. The EP featured four non-album tracks. It was issued on 15 November 1985, two weeks prior to another EP, Echoes in a Shallow Bay. The two EP sets, which featured complementary artwork, were also released as a combined double EP in a gatefold cover and as an eight-track CD. The EP was later included in its entirety on the 1991 compilation The Box Set and the 2005 singles/EP collection Lullabies to Violaine.

<i>Blue Bell Knoll</i>

Blue Bell Knoll is the fifth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, released on 19 September 1988 by 4AD. This was the band's first album to receive major-label distribution in the United States, as it was originally licensed by Capitol Records from 4AD for North American release. After a period of being out of print while 4AD reclaimed the American distribution rights for their back catalogue, the album was remastered by guitarist Robin Guthrie and reissued in 2003. Vocalist Elizabeth Fraser named the album after a peak in southern Utah called Bluebell Knoll.

<i>The Moon and the Melodies</i> 1986 album by Harold Budd and members of the Cocteau Twins

The Moon and the Melodies is a collaborative studio album by Scottish dream pop band Cocteau Twins and American minimalist composer Harold Budd. It was released 10 November 1986 by 4AD. The name "Cocteau Twins" did not appear on the release, which instead credited the band's three members and Budd individually.

<i>The Spangle Maker</i> 1984 EP by Cocteau Twins

The Spangle Maker is an EP by Scottish band Cocteau Twins, released on 4AD in April 1984. It was the first recording to be issued after bassist Simon Raymonde joined the band. The EP featured two versions of "Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops", and two B-sides. All three songs appeared in the band's live set.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iceblink Luck</span> 1990 single by the Cocteau Twins

"Iceblink Luck" is a single by Scottish band Cocteau Twins, released by 4AD Records in August 1990. It was the first single from the Heaven or Las Vegas album and the band's first single to be released in the United States. It was the band's second single to reach the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 38. The single also received considerable success in Europe, debuting at No. 43 on the European Airplay Chart as well as at No. 91 on the European Hot 100 Singles chart.

<i>The Pink Opaque</i> 1986 compilation album by the Cocteau Twins

The Pink Opaque is a 1986 compilation album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, composed of tracks recorded between 1982 and 1985. A joint release by the UK-based 4AD and the American Relativity Records, it was their first official U.S. release.

<i>Lullabies</i> (EP) 1982 EP by the Cocteau Twins

Lullabies is the first EP by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins. It was released in October 1982, following their debut album, Garlands. The EP contained three non-album tracks, and featured a louder and more driving sound than the album.

<i>Lullabies to Violaine</i> Compilation album by Cocteau Twins

Lullabies to Violaine is a Cocteau Twins box set released in limited quantities by 4AD Records in November 2005. Comprising four CDs, the box set collects the tracks from every Cocteau Twins EP and single from Lullabies to Violaine, except the 1990 "Heaven or Las Vegas" single and the four songs on the 1991 EPs and Singles & Box Set bonus disc. It was also released as two separate double CD packs titled Lullabies to Violaine: Volume 1 and Lullabies to Violaine: Volume 2 the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluebeard (song)</span> 1994 single by Cocteau Twins

"Bluebeard" is a single by the Cocteau Twins. It was released by Fontana Records in February 1994 as the second single to be released from the Four-Calendar Café album. All three members of the band – Fraser, Guthrie and Raymonde – are credited as songwriters as well as producers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven or Las Vegas (song)</span> 1990 single by the Cocteau Twins

"Heaven or Las Vegas" is a song by Scottish band Cocteau Twins. It was released by Capitol Records in October 1990 as the second single from the Heaven or Las Vegas album. The song has been described as dream pop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops</span> 1984 single by the Cocteau Twins

"Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops" is a single by Scottish band Cocteau Twins, taken from their 1984 EP The Spangle Maker. The song was written by Cocteau Twins, and recorded at Rooster Studios in London. It was their highest-charting single, peaking at No. 29 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 1 on the UK Indie Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolyn's Fingers</span> 1988 single by Cocteau Twins

"Carolyn's Fingers" is a single by Scottish alternative rock and dreampop band the Cocteau Twins, released in 1988 from their album Blue Bell Knoll. The song was released through the 4AD record label and credits all three members of the group – Fraser, Guthrie and Raymonde as songwriters and well as producers.

References

  1. CD Single Box Set (Review) at AllMusic. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  2. Collins, Andrew (9 November 1991). "Long Play: Singles Going Steady". New Musical Express . p. 33.