Treasure

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2009-06-23 rating:
Without this Treasure, the anulls of music history would be substantially lacking.. seriously!
When this album came out there had been nothing quite like it previously. Ok, there must have been influences, but they would have been so broad it would be almost impossible to piece them together. This is the album that took the Cocteau Twins to playing in posher venues like Sadlers Wells and the Royal Festival Hall.. The music sort of fitted with something a little grander. Through this album you can also, in some ways, see why some people draw parallels to pre-Raphaelite painting, although, if I had to make such pretentious artistic comparisons, I would say its far less Rossetti and far more the Howard Hodgkin. br / br /Treasure starts off mid pace with 'Ivo'.. all centring on Liz Fraser's distinctly wonderful indecipherable vocals.. although who needs words when the emotions say it all. This is why the pre-Raphaelite parallel does not work for me.. its two obvious and leaves nothing to the imagination. Art is as much about the viewer or listener as it is the artist. The second track Lorelei opens with massive chiming guitars that stick rigidly to just one or two changes, leaving all the work to the bass in order to give the impression of change. Liz's vocals are again ever incoherent and bouncy in places with a kind of tongue in cheek flirty sensuality. The following track 'Beatrix' with its almost Baroque feel conjuring up images of ornate gardens and things all grand is followed by a brisk change to Persephone's crashing drums and chain saw guitars with Liz getting serious and yelling coherently (for once).. 'here's what it says.. here's what it says!' The album moves beautifully trough the jazzyesk Pandora almost vaguely later period Billy Holiday, to the indescribably wonderful Amilia, Aloysius and Cicely and on to the gentle and slow enveloping feel of Otterly. Finally, the Cocteau's do what they do so well.. Donimo starts almost still for a good few minutes before bursting into a crescendo of chiming guitars, crashing drums and Liz Fraser's almost oriental style vocals that would fit well with Bharatanatyam dances of the Indian Subcontinent (and not in the aspiring hippiesk yoghurt weaving sense either). This CD is a real journey.. and for me was one of those life changing albums.. Perfect!

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review by: Celtic Soul Boy date: 2008-10-16 rating:
Treasure Hiding...
I should start by saying that this isn't my favourite Cocteaus album - that varies betweeb Head over Heels and Blue Bell Knoll depending on the day. This is, however and truly spellbinding album which is sums up entirely what they are about - and it's probably the best, or most skillfully produced. I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewers who say that your reaction to this album says something about you - the beauty and intensity of this album aren't accessible to all but to those who can see what its about you are in for a special experience. Obviously Lorelei is the standout [and where the Kate Bush accusations come from - even though that is the only track where Liz does sound like her] but I also love the chilled out vibe of Persephone and the dramatic coda of Otterley. I see this as, to some extent, a pastiche of the CTs work but all the same a beautiful and moody exposition of what could be done. br / br /The Cocteau Twins will always be my favourite band...they go way beyond what was being achieved musically then and now...and there has been no-one who got near them before or since. Strangely, I can see why they think they should have had Top 10 singles...they are as original, creative and inspirational as any of their contemporaries - U2? Hah! br / br /So, if you buy no other CT album, buy this one...and if you like it you will buy the rest...I'm sure of it...love.....Neil

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review by: my heart bleeds Tel! date: 2008-06-23 rating:
For diehard fans.....The Remaster IS Worth It!!!
I won't try and explain Cocteau twins' music..other reviewers have already tried that... br / br /Fans of the twins will know the limitation of the production quality of their best albums, but at the time I(and I imagine most fans) didn't care, listening to Liz and co on a "personal stereo cassette player". br /Thats 20 years ago... br /If you have a decent mp3player (i.e. not an ipod) the remastering of these albums makes listening almost as good as the first time...they shine, in fact the older the album the more the remastering makes a difference to clarity and soundstage (i.e. W-I-D-E !!!) br /One thing to note: The fact that the discs are remastered is displayed as a tiny note at various points on the case br /..really hard to find in some cases... br /the fact Robin Guthrie was so coy about mentioning it god only knows. br /Thank you Robin for polishing the family jewels! br / br /Treasure benefits from the remaster more than any, the walls of Guitar absolutely sweep through your head and Liz is even more angelic than before...The complex nature of the guitars effects is far more detailed; the mix of delay,distortion,flange,phase and a shed load of reverb etc have new life. The twins have never been replicated, so just buy it. br / br / br /

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review by: date: 2008-06-10 rating:
Multifoiled
`Treasure' is so aptly named - wonderful album rightly revered amongst devotees of Cocteau Twins. The flowering pop sensibilities of its predecessor `Head Over Heels' burst fully into bloom on `Treasure'; the band sound so confident and self-assured as they handle a rich variety of styles. br / br /`Ivo', `Lorelei' (particularly noteworthy for its thrilling, chiming intro) and the rousing finale `Donimo' are pure melodic pop delights, whilst `Beatrix', Pandora' and especially `Otterley' display a dreamlike, drifting, almost ambient quality, a sound the band would develop further on 1986's `Victorialand'. `Persephone' and Cicely' are harder-edged numbers with pre-dominant drum patterns and layers of guitar. br / br /Everyone knows about the remarkable quality of Liz Fraser's voice, perhaps the single most important ingredient of Cocteau Twins' unique sound. If you care about easily distinguished lyrics you may be disappointed, but more open-minded listeners can surely only be thrilled by the stunning range and purity of her vocals as they provide the melodic hook for many songs on the record such as `Amelia'. br / br /It is hard to believe that this record is nearly 25 years old, it sounds so fresh. A sheer delight from beginning to end. br / br /


review by: dystopia date: 2008-04-02 rating:
Something else
This is my favourite Cocteau Twins album. It seems to be the most complete and what they do best. It has gothic overtones and multilayered instrumentation and vocal performance. It is all so neatly packaged together with no filler and absolutely no bad tracks as far as I can see. br /Absolutely stunning atmospheric dreamy pop that borders on classical for quality. The twins are Something else.

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