Twinlights

The "Twinlights" EP is one of two experimental EPs released shortly before MILK AND KISSES. The other EP was "Otherness," which featured four ambient remixes by Mark Clifford of Seefeel. The "Twinlights" EP includes four tracks given a acoustic treatment.First up is an acoustic and slow version of "Rilkean Heart," which was found eventually on M&K. Liz's voice is brought to the forefront and the production really shows off her sweeping vocals, which were buried on the K&K version."Golden-Vein" is a short b-side from MILK AND KISSES which is so short, in fact, that there isn't much to say about it. It sounds a little like "Rilkean Heart"The third track is an acoustic version of "Pink Orange Red" which, after listening to the original, loud, and drummy version (on 1984's "Tiny Dynamite" EP), sounds shy and subtle. Even though a quiet background piano is the only thing besides Liz Fraser's voice, her lyrics are still as incomprehensible as ever.Last is the acoustic (and music video) version of "Half-Gifts." This version is excellent, involving strings and piano behind Liz's emotional vocals. It is much better than the poor version on MILK AND KISSES, which featured a rather silly-sounding calliope.My only complaint about the "Twinlights" EP is that after all of the Cocteau Twins' earlier work, full of wailing vocals and dreamy, atmospheric guitar, these acoustic treatments may seem a little sterile. Nonetheless, this is indeed superior to MILK AND KISSES, at least.

LOVE THIS CD

ok

Before Milk and Kisses was released, the Cocteau Twins released an EP called Twinlights. Usually a listener is treated to maybe a song or two from the forthcoming CD as well as songs that didn't make it onto the CD. This wasn't the case with Twinlights. The two songs on this EP which later showed up on Milk and Kisses had much different arrangements. The other two songs from albums past were also revamped. I view this as a stand-alone work of art in their discography.At first listen, I was shocked at how stripped down their sound was on this EP. The Twins usually employ quite a bit of production and layers to their music which causes the dreaming/swirling effect a listener experiences when a Twins song unfolds. Here on a stripped down, quasi-live set of songs, the Twins still do the same thing without all the overdubbing and layered production. This indeed is a testament to their strength as artists and songwriters.The arrangements on this EP are breathtaking. They play and feel like torchsongs. What a brilliant move for them to make.I was expecting Milk and Kisses to sound much like this EP which it didn't. While I thought Milk and Kisses was a great album, I have to admit that I was very intrigued by the soul-piercing intimacy they showed on Twinlights. Liz has never been this raw and exposed, and beautifully so. I thought perhaps they would experiment a little more with this stipped down version of themselves but these songs were to be some of the last they would write together.Of all the music they have ever written, this EP stands out to me as their most intriguing and surprising, and probably their best work.

yes, this is mellow and really close to ambient new age stuff...and i know it turned alot of fans away from this band; but these songs are so good and performed so well...it will melt your heart. the etheral edge is stripped away and all that's left is the beauty of these songs in their pale naked glory. so so lovely.

this is an absolute must-have! rarely have we seen the cocteau twins perform their music in an acoutic environement. and it's quie outstanding. well, i am also a big fan of theirs! but i think this cd maxi is among their best.

This must be one of the most brilliant works ever. Not only because of Liz's magnificent voice but also the atmospheres each song creates within the hearer's mind. This unique proposal -if we compare another Cocteau's works where their eclectic electric rhythms turn into gorgeous experiencies- becomes the perfect tunes to explore, undoubtedly, the exquisiteness of the best female voice worldwide.Cocteau Twins has also defined refined portraits for its works which are as mesmerizing as its sonique. "Twinlights" shows spines to explain that beauty exists even in unusual things... as well as everywhere...

For my money, the most outstanding track here is the subtle, stripped-down version of PINK ORANGE RED. Although I'm also fond of the epic, Morriconesque original, it was one of those many Cocteaus tracks that can now sound a little dated and 80s and drum-heavy. A whole album of stripped-down, unplugged versions of some of the best of the band's older tracks (including the under-rated SHE WILL DESTROY YOU from MOON & MELODIES) would have been nice. Five stars, anyhow.

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Essential for any Cocteau fan.