Cocteau Twins – Blue Bell Knoll

i don't like this album nearly as much as all their previous ones. i have all of them up til this one, including their complete singles box collection, but this one is just a little too mainstream for me. it's odd to hear so many people say that this is one of their favorites. my personal favorite is 'victorialand' but i like all of them up to this one; including their earlier, harder stuff like 'garlands.'

Does anyone else have sibilance issues with their pressing? Trying to troubleshoot.

Does anyone else have sibilance issues with their pressing? Trying to troubleshoot.

A remarkable and somber album. Utterly beautiful at times and achingly sad in moments. Do not listen to this if you had a bad breakup. Favorites include Cico Buff, Suckling the member and Ella Megalast Burls Forever, Not a bad song on here though. Some towards the first half just have tough memories tied to them now. I tend to like Heaven and Las Vegas and Four-Calendar Cafe more because they are a bit more dreamy and uplifting where this album feels a bit more somber. But there is hope thanks to the 2nd half of the album. Maybe that was the direction they took and why this album seems to be one of their most loved. Its a bit of their early stuff and a bit of their later stuff. Production wise, possibly their last colder sounding album. Thin in the lower range compared to Heaven and Las vegas. And maybe because its moving from 4AD to mainstream label. All and all i give this album a 84/100. Very, very strong.

A great lp, with some of the worst cover art of any 4AD release.,It really distracts from the sublime music inside, I'm surprised the group agreed to it- it looked crap when released and put off a few people I know from bothering with it.
One mate said it looked like mutilated fingers on a cheese grater.

Both 23 Envelope & Pete Saville seemed to loose their mojo about the time ';e' culture became the big thing in the uk at the time.
The naff art for later FACTORY /New Order records is a phenomena in itself, especially considering how brilliant they were originally.

Does this release come with a printed inner sleeve or a generic sleeve (what color)?

This album is all sustain and release. Every song seems to explode into gorgeousness in it's last third.

Was it necessary to make such a short album at just 35 minutes. When the glorious guitar solo begins in "The Itchy Glowbo Blow" the track is curiously faded out, far far too early.

Lovely pressing with great dynamic range and a cool sleeve. Be careful to put it in a protective sleeve because the cream card can pick up fingerprints really easily making the cover look dirty. Fab album - and still bloody cheap….

May be the most glorious dream pop albums ever - an intangible oneiric wall of sound, gleefully swirling atmospherics & warm unmoored fuzziness that floats around you like a whirling fog. Utterly beautiful.