Ombrenuit on 28/2/2010 at 01:18
Never before have I listened to something that so strongly reminds me of more of Thief: The Dark Project than the Cocteau Twin's eerie 1982 debut, 'Garlands'. One need only to listen to the track '(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hirADPT5bx4&feature=related) Shallow than Halo' to fully appreciate the dark, brooding atmosphere and plodding, deliberate rhythms that set a perfect mood for the tension that entering Bafford's Manor for the first time gave you. Lurking behind every corner is this feeling of "otherness", and the creeping sensation that you are in an secret place you don't belong.
The lyrics however are the album's masterstroke. They are steeped in pagan and religious imagery such as in But I'm Not, "Things from the forest dying / but I don't / Dead forest things are offered here / but I'm not" conjuring up memories of the maw as well as solemn Hammerite cathedrals. Elizabeth Fraser does a fantastic job at delivering these with a voice that sounds almost like a tortured spirit or a frenzied oracle. The perspective brings to mind the stolid observation of the keepers.
Hell, the lyrics are abstract and visceral enough where you could even step-by-step demonstrate how each song is about the Dark Project even though it was released 16 years prior. The opening track, "Blood Bitch" easily evokes Viktoria, the second track "Wax and Wane" has the lyrics "The Devil by studying you wax and wanes" repeated over and over capture's the Trickster carefully observing Garrett.
If you like Thief's creepier / brooding supernatural side, then I'd highly recommend checking out this album! It's atmosphere really nails Thief and it's not techno or industrial for once.
sterlino on 1/3/2010 at 09:54
Of course ..Garlands is a great masterpiece in the music history.
I remember when i listen it for the first time i was shocked, just because before that album i just listened 'HeavenOrLasVegas', 'Four-Calendar Café', 'Blue Bell Knoll' and 'Victorialand'.
The difference between them and Garlands is enormous.
It seemed to me like the 'dark side' of the CocteauTwins' mind. Evil atmospheres.. bad feeling with great mystical sensations.
In other words i think is the best CT album of ever.
Of course you can find something of thief's related to it. but is not only that.
Garlands is the translation into music of feelings of lost innocence and ancestral fears.
I consider all the CT albums masterpieces but Garlands has something of special, different and unique.
So i understand your feeling about it.
Ahris on 10/3/2010 at 09:01
Garlands is definately one of the best albums the 80's had to offer, it was highly experimental at the time but i feel that even though few know about Cocteau Twins nowdays, they were one of the bands that lay the foundation for much of the music we hear today.
Albert on 10/3/2010 at 09:38
Is this a Thief thread or a cocteau twins thread? Erm, actually, (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WybSSagVvoU&fmt=18) this is kinda catchy.
Quote Posted by Ahris
they were one of the bands that lay the foundation for much of the music we hear today.
Really? They had an influence on the Justin Timberlake and Eminem? Damn, I hate todays' music. Well, music from the US side of things anyway. Knowing the music industry, I'm betting it's a different story in most of Europe, am I right?
But erm, good to know Cocteau Twins reminds Ombrenuit of Thief, which the two evoke nothing of the sort to me, anyway...
Yeah, I'm gonna go pass out.
Ahris on 13/3/2010 at 13:05
If you limit 'todays music' to Eminem and Justin Timberlake you don't know the music industry very weall at all.
First of all they are hardly 'todays music' and second, it's pop music for a mainstream audience. Neither Thief or Cocteau Twins has anything to do with that genre, so if you want to keep things in context you need to educate yourself about alternative rock, where both Thief and Garlands belong. :)
Cocteau Twins is one of the bands that lay the foundation for Gothic and Industrial rock (Thief), the Emo style, various kinds of trip-hop and many other genres.
And it has nothing to do with geographical location.
