COCTEAU TWINS STARS AND TOPSOIL - A COLLECTION (1982-1990) COMPILATION ALBUM 4AD, PIAS, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: OCTOBER 16, 2000 REVIEW: FEBRUARY 2, 2001

The Scottish band Cocteau Twins has, after almost twenty active years, released this compilation with earlier material. The 18 songs are taken from different albums and EP:s released between the years 1982 and 1990.
The album starts off well with three songs from the first two albums, "Garlands" and "Head over Heels". These songs are definitely highlights of this collection. The journey through the career of Cocteau Twins continues and it strikes the cunning listener that they pretty much had a sound, which can be explained as a cross between Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Cure and modern US darkwave (Lycia, Black Tape for a Blue Girl etc) or ethereal. This means that the music can be described as soft, calm, peaceful and dreamlike. All of the material is good, although some of the selections can be questioned.
This is a very good introduction to Cocteau Twins. If you've been curious about them, now you definitely have a good chance to check them out! Another selling point is the fact that you get a lot of good music for your money.

JOHAN ASTEMARK