Cocteau Twins – The Pink Opaque (1985/2015) [Qobuz FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

The Pink Opaque is the first compilation album by Cocteau Twins, composed of tracks recorded between 1982 and 1985. A joint release by the UK-based 4AD (the band’s label) and the USA-based Relativity Records, it was the band’s first official domestic USA release. The American label Relativity Records reached an agreement to distribute the band’s albums on license from 4AD. Rather than reissuing all of the band’s releases to that point, it was decided that the compilation The Pink Opaque would be issued instead, as a sampler of the Twins’ output up through early 1985.

After having built up a considerable reputation in the U.K. and Europe, the Cocteaus first fully reached America via this compilation, cherry-picking some of the group’s finest moments for this trans-Atlantic co-release between home label 4AD and then-stateside label Relativity. None of the ten tracks had been released in America before, but whoever assembled the release knew exactly what they were doing in terms of whetting appetites. The only absolute rarity on the disc was “Millimillenary,” originally turning up on a compilation tape given away by New Musical Express. It’s a fine number, recorded soon after Raymonde joined the group – a good mix of the Cocteaus’ instrumental lushness and Fraser’s vocal acrobatics. The version of Garlands’ “Wax and Wane” included here is slightly remixed and arguably even better than the original, bringing out everything a little more clearly and powerfully. A sage decision was the inclusion of all three tracks from the Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops EP; as flawless as that was, all deserved inclusion, while beginning the compilation with “The Spangle Maker” was also inspired. Other cuts include “Hitherto,” “From the Flagstones,” “Lorelei,” and the then-recent single “Aikea-Guinea.” Concluding with the similarly album-ending “Musette and Drums” from Head Over Heels, The Pink Opaque is a lovely taster for anyone wanting to discover the peerless early years of the Cocteaus.

Tracklist:
01 – The Spangle Maker
02 – Millimillenary
03 – Wax and Wane
04 – Hitherto
05 – Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops
06 – From the Flagstones
07 – Aikea-Guinea
08 – Lorelei
09 – Pepper-Tree
10 – Musette and Drums

Download:

mqs.link_CcteauTwinsThePinkpaque19852015Qbuz2496.rar

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