Heaven or Las Vegas

1990 CD

Title

Time

Comment

My Rating

Cherry-Coloured Funk

3.13

see Otherness

* * * * *

Perfect. This could make me happy any day. Everything is so lush and full. The song is so short there is no boring middle part, it is like a typical three minute pop song, yet dreamy and a hundred times better.
Pitch the Baby 3.17 Another lovely peace with soft vocals, swiftly pushing the song forward. * * * *
Iceblink Luck 3.18 see Iceblink Luck * * * * 
This feels more conventional than the previous songs. With some rather normal singing in the chorus, which is a very obvious one, and fast guitars. Not bad at all, and I suppose it was the logical choice for a single.
Fifty-Fifty Clown 3.16 Rather laid-back, very pretty. * * *
Heaven or Las Vegas 4.57 I like the fact that I can actually hear Fraser sing Heaven or Las Vegas in the song, which strangely enough makes the melody more obvious too. This is a great song, but I think I just find it a bit too simple, with the chorus being repeated over and over again for almost five minutes. * * *
I Wear Your Ring 3.41 The mood is somehow lower here than in the beginning of the album. It feels like the album is coming into its darker half. This is probably all in my imagination, but looking at the titles I think they start of very happy, Funk, Luck, Clown, they all give associations to happiness. Then it breaks in Heaven or Las Vegas, which in the title itself implies a path that divides into Heaven and Hell, and after that the songs grow darker and the title Wolf in the Breast is like a picture of anxiety. Just a thought. * * *
Fotzepolitic 3.31 A slightly sad melody, soft singing. * * * *
Wolf in the Breast 3.32 Lovely melody. * * *
Road, River and Rail 3.22 One of my favourite songs ever, the title in itself is worthy of that. Road, River and Rail creates a blindingly clear picture in my head, and at the same time there is a lot of action and danger in each of the three words. Or just as a picture of people meeting or not meeting it works excellent. And the melody is the most touching ever. Just listening to the first few seconds is enough to make me melt. * * * * *
Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires 5.37 A very typical Cocteau Twins song, confusing title, alternating withdrawn and ecstatic singing and music, all kinds of vocals, layering, and so on. A very typical ending of a Cocteau Twins album. Absolutely gorgeous, of course. * * * *
Probably the only CT album I have read a good review of. The last album released by 4AD. I always think of Heaven or Las Vegas as the beginning of a trilogy, as I feel that the last three full-length albums belong together. They have a lighter atmosphere, the artwork is brighter and the melodies are clearer. e-mail me Back To Atlas