Pink Opaque [Import]

An early compilation of material culled from three albums and three EPs released between 1983 - 1985, showcases the early, musical brilliance of two young kids from Scotland (Robin Guthrie, Elizabeth Fraser) and a lad from England (Simon Raymonde). Collectively known as Cocteau Twins, the Twins became more well-known in the late eighties, early nineties, but their musical genius was laid during this time. This compilation showcases that brilliance. Whereas the Twins began to experiment with sequencers and more elaborate production in the mid-to-late eighties, the power of these songs is in the raw, emotional energy and sparse production. This was the period the Cocteau Twins laid the foundation for a sound that later became imitated and enormously influencial among musical artists.
Standout tracks include, "From the Flagstones" (originally recorded for the "Sunburst and Snowblind" EP) which has a simple guitar, piano foundation, yet is such an elegant and romantic piece, "Aikea-Guinea (remixed from the the same titled EP from 1985 with slightly louder guitars) showcases how the Twins were able to evoke incredible feeling and emotion, and "Hitherto" which showcases the early guitar brilliance of Robin Guthrie.

The Pink Opaque is not an album. It is, granted, a collection of songs put onto a single CD, packaged and sold for public consumption. But if you think that puts into the same category as Clay Aiken or Fantasia's latest bilge-droppings, or even ordinary by comparison fare like Pet Sounds or Sgt Pepper, you are sadly and bitterly mistaken. The Pink Opaque is not like anything else on amazon.com- it is a magical talisman.

There is a school of parapsychology that posts that what would classify as paranormal, magical or spiritual phenomena are actually events that have reached our plane of existence from parallel dimensions. These planes are like our own in some ways, but profoundly different in others. Hence this theory would have it that ghosts are actually images of departed spirits from the other dimensions trapped in our plane or between planes by a traumatic death. UFOs are dimension-hopping visitors who have learned to pierce the veil between the worlds and come here to put things in our orifices to get their kicks. Trans-dimensional migration is the only way I can explain Elizabeth Fraser. She's not of this earth.

Pink Opaque is not like the cozy, Starbucks-friendly lullabies of late period Cocteaux. This album has sharp points and rough edges. And every single note of every single song on this album will jar your consciousness loose from it's earthly moorings. Every single utterance from Liz's beautiful lips is an invocation to the elder spirits of the otherworld. Even if you have all of these songs from other sources, you need to buy this CD. Magic is about doing things properly, so don't put the tracks on your IPod. Or that is, don't if you expect to pierce the veil of Eternity.

Taken on a mere earthly musical level, these songs are ecstatic mantras. The Spangle Maker begins the unearthly proceedings, as the droning bassline provides the backdrop for the high priestess to darkly proclaim who is the "spangle baby." The final 60 seconds of this sound is an ecstatic eruption of shamanic howls, nearly orgasmic in its purity. You will worship this song for the rest of your life. Millimenary allows you to catch your breath, but summons up visions of children's nightmares from the Victorian Age. Wax and Wane will fill you with dread as the priestess turns her scorpion gaze on her foes and "laughs in their faces.". Hitherto and Pearly Dewdrops Drop are cut from the same cloth- Yuletide carols from our Paganized, interdimensional future. From the Flagstones, Aikea Guinea, Lorelei are breathlessly erotic paeans to the lovers who haunt our favorite dreams. PepperTree is a woozy reverie, similar to the song-forms of Absinthe lovers. As it fades, a clock ticks quietly until Musette and Drums crashes in, flying shards of barb wire guitar flying through the air. At the song ends, you will play it over and over again. I've been listening to this album and it still sounds as fresh and magical as the day I first dropped the needle on it, 20 years ago. I would say it's the greatest album ever released, but it's not an album. It's an express train to Ecstasy.

This compilation has apparently been deleted and replaced by "Stars and Topsoil", which is unfortunate as the latter album seems to over-emphasise the "more accessible" ambient-tinged side of the band. "The Pink Opaque", though short (even for the LP era), better reflects the diversity of the Cocteau Twins' music.

Tracks like "The Spanglemaker", "Wax and Wane", "Hitherto", "Lorelei" and "Musette and Drums" proved influential on the goth movement, whilst other tracks, especially "Aikea-Guinea", could be said to anticipate shoegazing/dreampop. And then there's the genuine rarity - "Millemillenary" - otherwise only available on the increasingly rare CD Singles Box Set (and a lovely song, too!)

While it's a slight exaggeration to say that "Stars and Topsoil" may leave newcomers wondering what all the fuss was about, the fact is "The Pink Opaque" best explains why they generated so much excitement and acclaim in the first half of the '80s.

(Please Note: I am in fact ghengisadonis, aged twenty-something, using the Kids Review form due to a technical mishap that has deleted the regular form).