Cocteau Twins: Milk & Kisses Vinyl LP
$27.95
<p><i>Milk & Kisses finds the <a href="https://www.turntablelab.com/search?type=product&q=Cocteau+Twins" target="_blank"><strong>Cocteaus</strong></a> straddling the apex of their classic ethereal pop sound</i> with the increasingly mainstream sound of alt rock, but by this time, the band had mastered blending acoustic instruments with electronics - the guitars sound immaculately digital and the synths sound like crystal artifacts. In our current age of endless lo-fi-ism and analog retro-fetishism, this record is a big refreshing gulp of ice cold water on a hot ass day. It would prove to be their last album after their next studio sessions fizzled into a breakup, but they managed to squeeze off a few final brilliant songs here - specifically, the <a href="https://www.turntablelab.com/search?type=product&q=David+Lynch" target="_blank">Lynchian</a>-western vibes of "Serpentskirt," the incredibly titled "Calfskin Smack" (their christening powers on 100 til the bitter end), <a href="https://www.turntablelab.com/search?type=product&q=Jeff+Buckley" target="_blank"><strong>Jeff Buckley</strong></a> love letter "Rilkean Heart," the life-affirming "Treasure Hiding" and dazzling coda "Seekers Who Are Lovers." <strong>Liz</strong> has never sounded as grounded as she does on "Tishbite" - who knows where they might have gone if they’d made a few more records (drum & bass? reggaeton?). Opener "Violaine" is a big stern slice of guitar rock that really shows where the gang was at in 1996… it’s not really my thing (seek out <strong>Mark Clifford</strong>’s <em>Otherness</em> version if you can) but characteristically brilliant songwriting shines through nonetheless. The artwork is a bit more on-brand than the unsightly departure that was <em><a href="https://www.turntablelab.com/search?type=product&q=Four+Calendar+Cafe" target="_blank">Four Calendar Cafe</a></em><a href="https://www.turntablelab.com/search?type=product&q=Four+Calendar+Cafe" target="_blank"></a> (also <a href="https://www.turntablelab.com/search?type=product&q=Four+Calendar+Cafe" target="_blank">reissued</a>), but it’s still got ‘we’re on a major label now’ stamped all over it. This nicely-packaged 2024 reissue marks the first time <em>Milk & Kisses</em> has been released in North America, and is now on 4AD along with <a href="https://www.turntablelab.com/search?type=article%2Cpage%2Cproduct&q=Cocteau+Twins" target="_blank">the rest of their catalog</a>. Recommended.</p> <ul> <li>final album, official 4AD reissue approved by the band<br> </li> <li>black vinyl pressing</li> <li>newly remastered by Robin Guthrie</li> <li>original release year: 1996</li> <li>music label: 4AD 2024</li> </ul> <h6>reviewed by Peppermint Pig 07/2019</h6> <!---ALSO AVAILABLE START---> <p> </p> <h4>ALSO AVAILABLE</h4> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.turntablelab.com/products/cocteau-twins-four-calendar-cafe-vinyl-lp" target="_blank">Cocteau Twins: Four Calendar Café Vinyl LP</a></li> </ul> <!---ALSO AVAILABLE END--->