COCTEAU TWINS FOUR CALENDAR CAFE

Cocteau Twins: Elizabeth Fraser (vocals); Robin Guthrie (guitar); Simon Raymonde (bass).
Additional personnel: Ben Blakeman, Mitsuo Tate (guitar).
Recorded at September Sound, London, England.
FOUR-CALENDAR CAF+ is the Cocteau Twins' eighth album. It's also their first since the Twins left 4AD feeling constrained by their long-time label's signature sound. That said, FOUR-CALENDAR CAF+ could only be a Cocteau Twins album. The Twins make no major changes in their trademark ethereal sound here. They do, however, make two minor adjustments. Firstly, Robin Guthrie utilizes more acoustic guitar and doesn't rely quite as much on his bag of guitar effects as he did on earlier records. And Elizabeth Fraser sings in consistent and recognizable English for the first time in the Twin's catalogue.
These alterations notwithstanding, CAFE is still as steeped in fluid atmospheres and airy textures as anything in the Twins' past. Standouts include "Bluebeard," which rides on waves of gentle slide guitar and Fraser's soaring vocals (she is probably the only person on Earth who could sing "are you the right man for me? or you toxic for me?" and make it sound otherworldly). "Theft, and Wandering Around Lost" comes closest to replicating the band's sound, circa-1985. "Squeeze-Wax" features a shimmering, light-reflecting-off-water quality just under its surface, and-believe it or not-"Summerhead" kinda rocks(!).

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Pop