Cocteau tw Headed Eagle

2008 release. Paris 1919. Playwright, novelist, poet, surrealist, filmmaker and self-publicist Jean Cocteau was the literary spokesman for Les Six. With his endorsement, and the inspiration of Erik Satie and fired by the principles of Dada and surrealism, the group, comprising Francis Poulenc, Arthur Honegger, Darius Milhaud, Georges Auric, Germaine Tailleferre and Louis Durey, expressed their irreverence towards the twin spectres of lifeless tradition and bloodless modernism. Our edition comprises famous examples of the work of this group of composers who so scandalized '20s Paris. Includes themes from Georges Auric's scores for Cocteau's very influential surrealistic film fantasies; Orphée (Orpheus), La belle et la bête (Beauty and the Beast) and L'aigle à deux têtes (The Eagle has Two Heads) and more.

The Cocteau Twins' latter-period work - spanning the years 1993 to 1996 - are compiled this fall on this 53-track box set that includes the dreampop icons' final two albums plus two discs' worth of B-sides, EP tracks, live radio sessions and rarities. The set's first two discs include the studio albums Four-Calendar Café (1993) and Milk & Kisses (1996), while the latter two discs round up songs appearing on the six EPs and singles released during that span, along with radio sessions and a couple rarities. The collection comes in a sturdy box with a booklet that includes photos, sleeves notes by Chris Roberts and a discography. The collection pulls together the music the Cocteaus - guitarist Guthrie, singer Elizabeth Fraser and bassist Simon Raymonde - recorded for Fontana Records after leaving the 4AD label.

BBC Sessions is an album of BBC studio recordings by the band Cocteau Twins released in 1999 by Bella Union in the UK and Rykodisc in the USA. The album spanned the band's career from the early 1980s through the 1990s. Much of the first disk was taken from a series of early 1980s Peel sessions. The second disk contained several tracks recorded during the group's performance on the 1980s Radio 1 series Saturday Live. The compilation peaked at No. 87 on the UK Albums Chart.

"Treasure" is the third studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins. It was released on 1 November 1984 by 4AD. With this album, the band settled on what would, from then on, be their primary lineup: vocalist Elizabeth Fraser, guitarist Robin Guthrie and bass guitarist Simon Raymonde. This new lineup also coincided with the development of the ethereal sound associated with the band's music.

"Tiny Dynamine and Echoes in a Shallow Bay" are two EPs by Cocteau Twins that were released in November of 1985. The tracks were originally recorded in order to test a new recording studio the band was using.

"Blue Bell Knoll" from Cocteau Twins gets the reissue treatment, remastered some 26 years after its initial release. Strikingly beautiful at points, it features standouts such as 'Athol-Brose' and the title track 'Blue Bell Knoll', but it's a slow burner of an album that features them retreading their best path while venturing into unknown territory. 'Carolyn's Fingers' - perhaps the album's highest point - features Elisabeth Fraser intoning hip-hop rhythms and delightful guitar melodies as played by Robin Guthrie. While not their best work, it's a must for collectors and newcomers alike.

"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.

"Heaven or Las Vegas" was released in 1990 and is recognized as their most commercially successful release, reaching number seven in the UK album charts. Numerous publications have since declared it one of the best albums of the 90s, Pitchfork calling it “a core of ungodly gorgeous songs that is every bit as moving and relevant today as it ever was.” Label founder Ivo Watts-Russell goes further, candidly revealing in the recent 4AD biography, Facing The Other Way, that this album wasn’t just his favorite Cocteau's album, but also his favorite all-time 4AD album, and “by a long shot”, calling it “the perfect record”.

A key actor on the hazy side of post-punk music, Scottish trio COCTEAU TWINS became famous for their ethereal soundscapes and for pioneering what would become known as dream pop. The group's sound was also highly inspirational for Jason Köhnen (BONG-RA, THE KILIMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE). Paying tribute to this legendary band, Köhnen's THE LOVECRAFT SEXTET has created an experimental 30-minute cover of the song 'Seekers Who Are Lovers' which originally appeared on the 1996 album "Milk & Kisses".