Cocteau Twins - Stars and Topsoil – A Collection (1982–1990) poll

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This was going to be Head over Heels as it hasn't been polled but I needed to step my game up. I have done two compilations in this series, so this will be a third. This comp has a lot of songs from EPs so I thought it would be a good one to do.

"Watchlar" and "Fifty Fify Clown" are magnificent...Simon Raymonde raves about them in his (excellent) book

Whereas I was just thinking that "Watchlar" seemed a somewhat improbable inclusion on a 'best of'. :) Though I certainly don't know what the most correct answer would be here...

God, so many specific and emotional memories for these songs. CT were my world, aged 17-20 (spanning BBK and HOLV but the joy of discovering all the earlier work was incredible).

Thanks for this Bee. Such a range --- what a run this group had.

Going to sit on this and listen for a few days. I am huge fan of Blue Bell / Las Vegas era but there are so many other standout songs before and after.

Re-sharing something I'm sure was found on this board - Miley taking a pretty good shot at Vegas title track (with many apologies to the audience for obscurity of the source). Hard to think of who else could even approach these songs vocally, much less do them proper justice. Very short list...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emkO5pGwF1w

Would have picked "Musette and Drums" if it was on here, or "The Spangle Maker." Since they aren't..."Pearly," I'd guess. But they're all keepers.

It's such a great title for a greatest hits I almost wish I could vote for it

went lazy calm. Victorialand forever

Victorialand is their best album, but I don't know if it contains their best song... which is complicated by the fact that that is Love's Easy Tears which isn't on this comp

haha I would have gone for "Wax And Wane" if it was here

I think this might be Orange Appled but... Ned's right, the lack of The Spangle Maker or From The Flagstones make this a third or fourth choice or more.

Love’s Easy Tears is the enigmatic, transcendent peak of the Cocteaus for me, such ecstatic music I can hardly stand to listen to it. So “Orange Appled” I guess, if forced to choose.

Checked the poll thread and that's what I said 12 years ago too. xpost to me

The multiple apologies in that Miley clip are pretty annoying. She's doing good, the fans seem to enjoy it, just own it.

From that list of CT songs it's a tight race between "Aikea-Guinea" and "Orange Appled". But AG just edges it. When those chimes come in at the end, I feel like I'm levitating.

Yeah that’s another blinder

Not sure how Goth this comp actually is, Jead over Hills sure but they sort of turned into their own thing.

This comp is so good, I could listen over and over again. I know a few albums but what I like most about this comp is those EP songs, all are new to me.

It's probably the normie choice, but I'm going with "Iceblink Luck"

Still evocative of a fleetingly happy moment in my life back then

Bee OK I recommend you check out the early EPs-heavy compilation The Pink Opaque, it's pretty immaculate.

Settled on "Pink Orange Red" somewhat arbitrarily. Fun fact: that 2-EPs-combined package was the first CT artefact I procured.

this is hard. aikea-guinea EP was the first one I owned, it was the one that won me over; victorialand my favorite album; all the early singles are pure fire; but carolyn's fingers, geez, it's so iconic to me, it really takes so much of their style and concentrates it, the clarity of the vocal track is like sunlight on wet grass, a joy to hear every time, and when they shore it up with the lower register it's like settling into a warm blanket in a cool room...it must have my vote, it's such joy

the run of Tiny Dynamine/Echoes in a Shallow Bay/Love's Easy Tears EPs is incredible... to be languid underwater, in the sky, or in a parade

pretty sure Carolyn's Fingers was the first song by them I heard, on a Capitol Records sampler cassette... also had Testure by Skinny Puppy on it!

really can't decide what to vote for here

I still listen to this CD often. For the full immersive experience in the Cocteaus sound you need to hear the EPs in full (among other things), but as a 70-minute summary of the band, there's nothing better than this disc.

I also think that Love's Easy Tears was the epitome of their sound, so I'm tempted to pick Orange Appled without a second thought, but Pearly Dewdrops Drops is the Cocteaus song I listen to the most, that chorus is so unfathly majestic.

Love 'Pink Orange Red', being an EP track I think I only first heard about 8 years ago, but went for HOLV - their strongest version of their softer sound.

I think Lullabies To Violaine is their best compilation. It's only missing "Crushed", another masterpiece from the Love's Easy Tears era.

agreed, pair that with the 10CD bonus EP and you're good

matttkkkk otm. as a used record store employee in the early 2000s, we had a LARGE AND WELL-STOCKED cocteaus section. i was allowed to borrow store stock like a library, so after sorting through that rush of early 80s releases, it became immediately clear upon hearing pink opaque that its selections were made with a lot of consideration. it stops at 85(?)ish though?

that was perfect for a one disc vinyl summary. this comp kinda does the same thing, but for cd. i have to parrot the usual sentiment whenever cocteaus come up: their incredible mid-80s run is a thing to get lost in. i randomly put on disc two of this set a couple weeks back and it sounded as good as ever, even going into the 90s material.

The multiple apologies in that Miley clip are pretty annoying.

Agreed, and also, her arrangement left out the best bit, the "Come fantasy, for a carnival" section.

Re-sharing something I'm sure was found on this board - Miley taking a pretty good shot at Vegas title track (with many apologies to the audience for obscurity of the source). Hard to think of who else could even approach these songs vocally, much less do them proper justice. Very short list...

― Psychocandy Apple Grey (Pyschocandles), Thursday, November 20, 2025 6:25 AM (two days ago)

Faye Wong (HK via Beijing mainstream model/actress/singer) covered not one but TWO cocteau twins songs on her 1994 album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqr4AeR5COo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx34QxXzZrg

At the time, Faye was imho a bigger and popular than Miley comparatively.

voted Aikea-Guinea

Austin yeah TPO came out in 1986 and it was 4AD’s first CD release; I bought the cassette. No barcode on the sleeve either, like all their early CDs.

(and for the format geeks, Blue Bell Knoll was 4AD’s only DAT release)

CADT807! I remember the ad in Blitz magazine :)

xo to myself - actually you still need TPO for "Millimilenary" and the remixed "Wax And Wane", neither of which are on Lullabies To Violane sadly

MILLIMILLENARY

There was a 180gm vinyl reissue of TPO about ten years ago which someone bought me as a gift (with download links for 24/96k WAVs). I think I’ve the NME comp somewhere where Milli… first appeared but this is probably better. Simon R’s first appearance?

I think so, yeah!

Needs another EP of that, “Crushed” and “The High Monkey-Monk” I think. (basically the EP box bonus with “Millimillenary” added)

I saw HoLV tour:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2DFHjIvdqCI/UjkxvRV3eiI/AAAAAAAAAl4/Sacv2Iodjkc/w793-h595-no/downsize%25281%2529.jpg

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/cocteau-twins/1990/hollywood-palladium-los-angeles-ca-2bd2e8c2.html

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2DFHjIvdqCI/UjkxvRV3eiI/AAAAAAAAAl4/Sacv2Iodjkc/w793-h595-no/downsize%25281%2529.jpg

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

The bonus tracks included on the Canadian CD of Garlands would've also made a great EP. "Dear Heart", "Hearsay Please", "Speak No Evil", and "Perhaps Some Other Aion" all deserve to be more accessible.

100%, those are great

i only saw CT live once, on the Heaven or Las Vegas tour, it was easily one of the greatest shows I've ever seen, as proven by the fact that I still remember it over 30 years later (whereas there are shows I went to this year that I barely recall)

I couldn't help myself and voted "Lorelei" as Treasure was my first love.

going with "aikea-guinea"

A brutal five-way tie for me between Lorelei, Aikea-Guinea, Orange Appled, Carolyn’s Fingers and Fifty-Fifty Clown : /

A brutal five-way tie for me between Lorelei, Aikea-Guinea, Orange Appled, Carolyn’s Fingers and Fifty-Fifty Clown : /

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

55 votes with almost every song getting a vote. Shows that this band is so utterly classic!

I could have easily voted for Cico Buff, but probably not My Love Paramour

looking at the results, this comp could really have used a stronger song from HoH, either side's opener would have been better imho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1cyfRoMzj0

This is taken from the YT channel of Lincoln Fong who assisted at September Sound studios and mixed their front of house live sound for a good while, there's some fantastic stuff he's leaked onto there, including some lovely Dif Juz live recordings.

Okay guys, I’ve never really given the twins a proper listen. Where’s the best place to start for a newbie?

Okay guys, I’ve never really given the twins a proper listen. Where’s the best place to start for a newbie?

the Lullabies To Violane comp!

I would recommend Treasure or Haven or Las Vegas. This comp is pretty good too.

lullabies to violane, vol1, is a fiver for the mp3s the 4ad site at the moment (no sign of vol2, but vol1 is the better half, 32 tracks). stars and topsoil, same. in fact they all are.

and it's about now that i realise I'm missing the last LP and the last two eps

Lincoln Fong from Moose? It's a small world.

I believe he also played drums for them live