Re: Re: Favorite all time 4AD release

This is an interesting thread and not one I've seen recently on this list.
Very interesting comments from Neil below, which I'll take as my prompt...

1. This Mortal Coil - Filigree & Shadow
Ivo's finest hour. I liked the debut but it felt cold and distant for the
most part and maybe tried a little too hard. The Liz Fraser songs were the
only ones that were an indication of what was to come on the second album,
which has a warm and epic nature, not usually elements found together. The
3rd album tried to continue the feel of the 2nd but like the first, it felt
forced.

2. Cocteau Twins - Victorialand
I know most people regard 'Treasure' as the peak but this was far more
understated and therefore to my ears much better.  The new remaster sounds
brilliant as well.

3. The Wolfgang Press - Standing Up Straight
This album, together with 'Cut The Tree' epitomises what they were trying to
achieve in the late 80s. It takes the urgency of Echo & The Bunnymen and
marries it with an ethereal quality that was something of a 4AD trademark at
the time. To my ears the dance direction wasn't a great success...

4. Dead Can Dance - Spleen and Ideal
Majestic...

5. Throwing Muses - Red Heaven
...And then there were two. Seemingly in disarray with Tanya Donnelly
departing and a revolving door of bass players, they went back  to the
nucleus and produced an album that still ranks as their most powerful. The
guitar playing is also incredibly manic yet allows space and restraint to
rule it. Genius.

Craig


on 03.3.4 10:46 AM, Neil I. at [email protected] wrote:

> Mine, in no particular order:
> 
> 1) Dif Juz - Extractions
> Music that so darn good it doesn't need words. Their other releases are decent
> (and at times very weird) but they don't level up to this album. Discovered
> after not stopping the CD after the Cocteau Twins track on Lonely Is An
> Eyesore, the reason I bought it in the first place. I think everyone is
> waiting for an Extractions II. I'd pay top dollar for it.
> 
> 2) Lush - Spooky
> Over-produced by Robin Guthrie? Yah, but I like it anyway. His production made
> the music a little more out-of-this-world-ly, and that's not a bad thing in my
> opinion. True, the later non-Guthrie albums were more representative of their
> live shows, but their music and his production were a good match. Which leads
> me to...
> 
> 3) Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll
> How could you not want to hear more after hearing (or seeing the video for, in
> my case) "Carolyn's Fingers"? This album hit me at the right time. Had to own
> every album ever since. "Heaven Or Las Vegas" is a close second.
> 
> 4) Red House Painters - Down Colorful Hill
> True, Mark Kozelek is not a happy camper, but this is an excellent soundtrack
> for misery, just as Nine Inch Nails is a good one for anger. Is there beauty
> in sadness? I think so.
> 
> 5) Michael Brook - Live At The Aquarium
> I bought this because I was starting to gain appreciation for instrumental
> music (along with Dif Juz) and also because as a collector I thought it would
> be cool to have one of them limited edition 4AD "TAD" releases. Now I'm glad I
> got it because it helps me swim off to sleep at night (pun intended). Simply
> swirling, good music. Doesn't do much or go far, but that's why I like it.
> 
> 
> Neil
> [email protected]
> http://welcome.to/kneel
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> 
> 


 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/