Musical analysis aside though, Blue Bell Knoll is simply a rich, beautiful, liquid record - expressive and ambitious yet never impenetrable or awkward.
As always, the Cocteau Twins weave their atmosphere seamlessly from start to finish, and so if you can get past Blue Bell Knoll’s marginally less inviting tone, you’ll find it as worthwhile an experience as any of their essential works.
While Blue Bell Knoll has some striking moments that are pure Cocteaus at their best ... it's still the band's least noteworthy release since Garlands.
I can't unlink an album from the time when I discovered it, and luckily for Blue Bell Knoll that was on my first entirely solo vacation to Lisbon - where the album became this city where I can't speak the language but can move through its tessellated beauty. Like dang, what are they saying.
I'm convinced Elizabeth Fraser died and came back to life to start speaking the language of angels.
This feels like a proto "Heaven Or Las Vegas" like it screams everything great about the dream pop era of Cocteau twins that would be perfected only a couple of years later. It's feels much less dark compared to "Treasure" but it still holds a level of mysteriousness that was also present in Treasure.
It was at this point where the gothic element of their work began to fade ... read more
We are just gonna ignore the second track
Edit: it’s actually not terrible but still the weakest for the Cocteau standard
I twerked at the start and i cried at the end
Fav tracks:Blue Bell Knoll,Carolyns Fingers,Cico Buff,Sucking The Mender,AKORF
Another Cocteau Twins album that has just blown me away. This album is so strange and yet so ethereal and beautiful. There’s only one song I don’t like but I don’t think it takes away from the experience. Cocteau Twins are quickly becoming one of my favorite artists, and I’m sure they will be once I listen to their other stuff.
still lush, still beautiful, just missing that little extra that heaven or las vegas had. elizabeth's high notes are crazy impressive. some people may criticize the lack of discernable lyrics, but i actually quite like it. lets you really soak in the atmosphere and sound without needing to consider whats being said
fav tracks: blue bell knoll, athol-brose, for pheobe still a baby, the itchy glowbo blow, cico buff, spooning good singing gum, ella megalast burls forever
least fav: none
1 | Blue Bell Knoll 3:21 | 90 |
2 | Athol-brose 2:59 | 89 |
3 | Carolyn’s Fingers 3:06 | 92 |
4 | For Phoebe Still a Baby 3:14 | 85 |
5 | The Itchy Glowbo Blow 3:18 | 88 |
6 | Cico Buff 3:46 | 89 |
7 | Suckling the Mender 3:31 | 88 |
8 | Spooning Good Singing Gum 3:50 | 84 |
9 | A Kissed Out Red Floatboat 4:10 | 87 |
10 | Ella Megalast Burls Forever 3:39 | 89 |