Published on Dec 13, 2005
Cocteau Twins’ music is not something that is instantly
appealing. Considering how beautiful and amicable their music is,
it is only paradoxical that the concept of “Love at First Sight”
doesn’t work with their style. Their music uncannily and slowly
seeps into the listener, and all of a sudden, as if hit by
serendipity, just when the listener is peeved with how each song
sounds so much like the other, one starts wondering why in the
world didn’t one fall in love with the album the very first time
one’s ears met with the unusually and irresistibly lovable sound of
this hard-to-love but difficult-to-forget band.
Heaven Or Las Vegas is a perfect example of the typical
nature of the Twins’ sound. Though it seems pleasing to the ears,
it does have the listener penuriously showering praises on the
album during the first few listens. However, with more listens, the
encomiums flow more freely and the album becomes a prized
sweetheart in one’s CD collection.
But,
Heaven Or Las Vegas is not all about difficult numbers.
There are a few songs — for instance, “Pitch The Baby,” “Iceblink
Luck,” and “Road, River And Rail,” which have the pleasing quality
of radio-hits, as well as the title song: Not only is it the Twins’
best to date, but their most attractive, touching, appealing,
charismatic, and hypnotic.
For the Twins’ frigid music style, this album is warm; it is a
summer album. Even in the Twins’ laidback style, the songs are
subtly vivified and are as bright as the morning sunshine. Simple
in nature,
Heaven Or Las Vegas is minimally ‘produced,’ and this is
noticeable, especially in Elizabeth Fraser’s vocals, which is
devoid of any echoic embellishments and is considerably stripped.
But this does not make her “Greek” vocals sound more “English.”
Much like the glint in a baby’s eyes,
Heaven Or Las Vegas is innocent; it has a spark with warmth
in its heart. It knows not of the glacial world outside, and seeks
protection from it. Be it due to the instantly charming title song,
or the not-so-striking persona of “Frou-Frou Foxes In Midsummer
Fires,” this relaxed but sprightly album is as interesting as its
song titles, and is as mesmerizing as this band itself.