Disco de Cocteau Twins: “Lullabies to Violaine”

This CD package is perfect - beyond wonderful. Except...

This boxed set rights so many wrongs, putting so many wonderful tracks back in print, but completists will (and should) argue over the final product. Where is the early track "Millimenary"? Or the excellent B-sides "Need Fire" (from the "Judge Dredd" soundtrack to a wretched movie...) Or "See No Evil". Or "Perhaps Another Aion". Or the wonderful by-all-means-essential "Touch Upon Touch" from the Volume 17 compilation. (The final track Cocteau Twins would ever release.) This sounds like the Simpsons' Comic Book Store Guy for sure, but this compilation really was the chance to release everything and anything wonderful about a truly great band. The forgotten tracks were wonderful, and I'm sorry to say that although the CD lengths would have allowed it, they don't appear here. Oh well. We should never expect musicians to be librarians and discographers as well. Close, not perfect - recommended.

I usually don't buy duplicate copies within my collections, but Cocteau Twins are one of the few musicians for who I make an exception. This collection has digitally remastered variations of the songs on my original UK imports I purchased 17 years ago, which were released on singles. When found, I collected a few of the digi-pak singles. I was sceptical upon purchasing this set, and was surprised to find the variations, which I didn't have, interesting and dimensional.

The first disc is of nostalgic, heavier sounding material. The transition continues to a more refined sound on the second and third discs, especially the acoustic versions on the third. The Seefeel Remix of "Cherry-Coloured Funk," on disc four, is magically sublime.

One Christmas, while working at a well known clothing store, the music playing in their sound system included "Winter Wonderland." I heard it day in and day out, and had no idea as to where to find it. I mentioned to one of the 20 something co-workers that it was Cocteau Twins, and she asked, "Who are they?" I didn't feel old, but privileged. That song, as well as "Frosty The Snowman," were two of the reasons I bought this collection. These renditions on the third disc are unique and very wonderful. I should love to hear how they might have rendered other Christmas favourites.

Get this collector's set if you have the money and can still find it, but be warned, this case is somewhat fragile and creases/crumples easily during shipping. It is hard to tell if the creases are factory flaws, or seller/shipping wear as not many of these ended up on store shelves. Why didn't 4ad use a more substantial material for this fine set? The heavy mylar, frosted outer cover is perforated at the top and bottom edges, and can possibly separate at the corners as well as crease. Maybe these packaging character flaws can be seen as part of the art of the set, the beauty of imperfection, but difficult for those who, like me, love perfection. The inner textured paper case is unusual and typically fabulous. It has a slightly suede or rubbery feel to it. In any form, this is high modern musical art, with a unique sophistication.

The Cocteau Twins were a 3-piece Scottish band who pioneered shoegazer (dream pop) along with iconic contemporaries My Bloody Valentine.

This 4-disc set (also available seperately in 2 2-disc sets) is a great retrospective of this much missed band, crammed full of four hours of absolute BLISS from their long list of singles from the 80s up til their demise in 1998. Fans will be anxious to snag this as it includes the christmas songs (Frosty, Winterland) previously only available on the 1993 "Snow" EP. Newbies will be enchanted by the timeless, ethereal sound of Liz Fraser's haunting melodies, which are truely one-of-a-kind. If you already own all the LPs, including the BBC Sessions, and the first box singles, though, you'll be disappointed that there isn't really anything new to add to your collection here. However, a second copy of this fabulous band is never a bad thing....we only wish the reunion hadn't fallen through............

Okay, so I have all of the songs already--in many different formats. But if you are a fan/big slave of 4AD and the band then you just have to go get it. I recommend acquiring this limited edition because of the unique packaging. Just touch the very interesting texture and you will be convinced. The box set also enabled me to rediscover and appreciate all of the songs again.

Oh yeah, I kept this version sealed and purchased the two separate cd sets to play. I am that much of a fan!