Cocteau Twins - Lorelei

Welcome to Shoegaze week. Though "week" in this context would normally describe 7 days, on this blog one of my week-long series usually ends up lasting two weeks or more. My "Summer Songs Week" for one continued for over a month. I already have 14 songs lined up for entries, and that list may continue to grow.

I'll be doing these entries in chronological order by year. This takes us back to 1984, when the Cocteau Twins released what many regard as their greatest effort, Treasure. The Cocteau Twins began as another band influenced by Siouxsie & the Banshees and the artsier side of post-punk. However by their second album they developed their own sound, a sound that was unlike anything else at the time, requiring the creation of a new genre to be categorized. Thus dream pop was born. You can get a good idea of the sound from the name alone. Songs are driven by atmospheric textures and extensive instrumental layering often sounding like a collage of sweeping sounds. The mood the song conveys is more of a focus than anything else. The Cocteau Twin's guitarist Robin Guthrie stated that he felt that the way the guitar was recorded was more important than the notes being played. Dreamy, yes.

Their vocalist, Elizabeth Frazer also sounded unlike anything else at the time. Her high-register voice combined with her Scottish accent still sounds unorthodox today. Additionally, making out the lyrics is practically impossible to do by ear, another precursor to shoegaze which more often than not has undecipherable vocals.

Here's "Lorelei" my favorite song off of Treasure, along with someone's best guess at the lyrics.

Cocteau Twins - Lorelei

"Get off the car
Kick his chain, Kick his pride
Get him soaked hit run
Lift up your toes
In my mouth
And we can make love
And we can go
We're covered by the sacred fire
When you come to me, you come to broke

Without a doubt

We're covered by the sacred fire
When you come to me, you come to me broke
Guilty girl, Guilty boy
Get to make out
Him chocked with mousse
Lift up your toes
In my mouth
And we can make love
And we can go"

"Lorelei" Live



Cocteau Twins - Treasure @Amazon.com