The Spangle Maker Music Cd

Cocteau Twins - The Spangle Maker

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The Spangle Maker      Artist : Cocteau Twins      List Price : $17.99 USD        ProductGroup: Music      Release Date : 2001-01-04      Studio : 4ad      Label : 4ad      Avg. Customer Rating : (2 reviews)

Reviews Customer Reviews for The Spangle Maker      One of the weaker Cocteau Twins EPs      Rating:      One of the most overrated Cocteau Twins releases. People often cite Pearly Dewdrops' Drops as a turning point in quality for the band, but I personally find it trite and annoying, and one of Fraser's most contrived vocal performances. The Spangle Maker is a frequent fan favorite, but the tune is tired and uninspired. Fraser's vocals once again take a fall, only spending a tiny amount of the nearly five minute song delivering characteristically excellent vocals, the rest of which is some of the least melodic of her repertoire. Pepper-Tree is the saving grace. It is quite nice. However, in general, this three song EP is pretty weak. It seems to spark something for other people, but it was only worth it to me for the sake of completion.     Customer Reviews for The Spangle Maker Cd      A bridge from HEAD OVER HEELS to TREASURE      Rating:      Recorded from January to March of 1984, the Cocteau Twins EP "The Spangle Maker" came between the 1983 album HEAD OVER HEELS and their breakthrough TREASURE. This EP marks the first appearance of bassist Simon Raymonde, whose remarkable musicianship immediately adds to the Cocteau Twins' ethereal sound. As with all Twins releases, this EP shows an evolution, which this time is from the rawness of earlier releases to the comparatively more lush and gentle TREASURE. The EP opens with "The Spangle Maker", a throbbing bass drum-driven song that plods along for a few minutes before the vocals explode in a climax of wailing. It may be the weakest song on the EP because it is uncomfortably raw and sounds unfinished. "Pearly Dewdrop's Drops (12" Version)" is a bouncy sugary song that has the distinction of being the highest charting Cocteau Twins song. It's very radio-friendly, but the finest part of the track is the first 20 seconds, before the song actually kicks in, where Liz sings nearly a capella the refrain. Her vocal technique in this part is clearly superior to what anything that she has done before, which was already astounding as it was. The third track is "Pepper Tree", a hidden gem. One of the Cocteau Twins most underrated songs, it seems a little early here, as it is based on a sound the band moved to on 1985's "Aikea-Guinea" EP. A slower, more languishing track, it provides a bit of rest between two bouncing versions of "Pearly Dewdrop's Drops". This is probably the best track to measure the admirable skills of newcomer Simon Raymonde, as the production makes the bass pretty up front. The EP closes with "Pearly Dewdrop's Drops (7" Version)", the radio edit of the second track. A full minute shorter, it regrettably doesn't have the gorgeous intro. One of the oddest things about this EP is its explicitness. Cocteau Twins lyrics are often sexual ("Fotzepolitic" from HEAVEN OR LAS VEGAS, or "Oil of Angels" from FOUR CALENDAR CAFE are good examples), but here it's right out in the open. With the song titles "The Spangle Maker" and "Pearly Dewdrop's Drops", you should be able to guess what exactly Liz is singing about here. The lyrics of these two songs, which are intelligible nearly the whole way through, are so coyly obscene that the attentive listener is simply shocked that such a diminutive and unassuming woman can say such things. How "Pearly Dewdrop's Drops" got so much radio play in the UK upon the EP's release shows that the Cocteau Twins sound is so heavenly absorbing that one could usually care less what words Liz is singing because of the glory of that voice. The artwork of the album, by famed British designer Vaughan Oliver, is just as solid as in the other Cocteau Twins EPs. The cover picture by early 20th-century American photographer Gertrude Kasebier matches the music quite well. While some of the Cocteau Twins' finest work is on their EPs it's probably best to start with their albums. I'd recommend HEAVEN OR LAS VEGAS or TREASURE as an introduction to their work if you've never before heard this excellent group. Once you've got the albums, the EPs await. However, I think that the "Aikea-Guinea" and "Love's Easy Tears" EPs are superior to this one, so try those first.