Head Over Heels:

Critic's Review

Head Over Heels
Artist: Cocteau Twins
Release Date: Sep 3, 1991
(Original Release Date: Aug 1, 1983)
Label: Vinyl 180
Styles: Alternative Pop/Rock, Post-Punk, Dream Pop, Ambient Pop
Critics' Rating:
read review
Avg. User Rating:
3 ratings
Your Rating:
write a review
Critic's Review:
Losing original member Heggie might at first have seemed a troubling blow, but in fact it allowed the duo of Fraser and Guthrie to transcend the darkened one-note gloom of Garlands with Head Over Heels. The album introduces a variety of different shadings and approaches to the incipient Cocteaus sound, pointing the band towards the exultant, elegant beauty of later releases. Opening number "When Mama Was Moth" demonstrates the new musical range nicely; Fraser's singing is much more upfront, while Guthrie creates a bewitching mix of dark guitar notes and sparkling keyboard tones, with percussion echoing in the background. Other songs, like the sax-accompanied "Five Ten Fiftyfold" and "The Tinderbox (Of a Heart)" reflect the more elaborate musical melancholy of the group, while still other cuts are downright sprightly. "Multifoiled" in particular is a charm, a jazzily-arranged number that lets Fraser do a bit of scatting (a perfect avenue for her lyrical approach!), while "In the Gold Dust Rush" mixes acoustic guitar drama into Fraser's swooping singing. Perhaps the two strongest numbers of all are: "Sugar Hiccup," mixing the mock choir effect the band would use elsewhere with both a lovely guitar line and singing; and "Musette and Drums," a massive, powerful collision of Guthrie's guitar at its loudest and most powerful and Fraser's singing at its most intense. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide
buy album from Zune
Currently Unavailable.
advertisement
Music data provided by: AMG