Cocteau Twins - Carolyn's Finger

Music critics have not been kind to this album. I have read this album described as a failure of sorts. It seems the "experts" felt that the Twins were resting on their laurels, after cranking out some of the most introspective and melodic music of the early-to-mid eighties. With song titles like The Itchy Glowblo Blow, Spooning Good Singing Gum, and A Kissed-Out Red Floatboat, perhaps they were also taking themselves a little too seriously. Accusations abound about Blue Bell Knoll being the zenith of prettiness for prettiness' sake, forsaking in the process any depth or gravitas. Yet, many fans describe this as either their favorite CT album, or among their favorites. Who is to be believed?

I have a theory about why Blue Bell Knoll isn't critically praised. The reason has to do with the timing of its release. It succeeded two very important albums, the seminal Treasure, and the highly conceptual Victorialand. Conversely, it was followed by Heaven or Las Vegas, which broke with the past and established the Cocteau Twins' mature sound. Sandwiched between those albums, Blue Bell Knoll doesn't seem to break any ground, thus inviting dismissal, which is a mistake.

If you think about it, Blue Bell Knoll was the end of an era in musicmaking. After their early "post-punk" efforts (the Garlands album and the Lullabies / Peppermint Pig EP's), the Twins found their signature sound. After Blue Bell Knoll, however, they hit middle age soundwise, and were forced (perhaps) to stay relevant in the wake of a changing music scene. Much of the change was achieved by scaling back and lifting a few veils. Then, three albums later, they sounded the death knell, calling it quits.

Blue Bell Knoll is a bit like floating lazily down a river atop an inner tube. The Twins weave a sound tapestry that is uniformly beautiful and ethereal. The only vague bit of melancholy is Spooning Good Singing Gum.

It would have helped if the Cocteau Twins had composed a song of equal strength as Carolyn's Fingers. Just about every other full-lengh album in their canon achieves this effect. Sugar Hiccup is mirrored by My Love Paramour, Ivo by Lorelei, Iceblink Luck by Heaven or Las Vegas, Bluebeard by Evangeline, etc. Don't get me wrong- there is NO filler in Blue Bell Knoll, but Carolyn's Fingers does stand apart from the rest.

For fans of Heaven or Las Vegas, a precursor can be found in A Kissed-Out Red Floatboat, a shimmering, exquisite blend of Elisabeth Fraser's soulful lower range, and angelic upper range, spread across a percolating backdrop.

My personal favorite, aside from the obvious choice of Carolyn's Fingers, is Suckling the Mender. That high note Elisabeth sings midway through is jaw-dropping, a mighty feat for one who isn't classically trained.

Really, the whole album gives you great pleasure. The opening title track begins with an electronic equivalent of a spider spinning a web.

Contrary to folk wisdom, the Cocteau Twins' Blue Bell Knoll album proves that God is in the details.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Shoegaze
• Dreampop
• 4AD Records

[Tarotprincess]

thanks for the great description and the upload. :)