Cocteau Twins "Milk & Kisses" (1996)

Milk & Kisses
release date: Mar. 1996
format: cd (2006 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
produced by Cocteau Twins
label: Fontana Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Violaine" - 2. "Serpentskirt" - 3. "Tishbite" - 5. "Calfskin Smack" - 10. "Seekers Who Are Lovers"

8th and final studio album by the Scottish trio Cocteau Twins released on Fontana and produced by the band. This is a continued journey from their previous album Four-Calendar Café (1993) into a subtle 'dream pop' universe but also a return to a more Robin Guthrie (multi-layered) guitar-driven sound compared to the predecessor, and you could argue that it takes them back to their trademark of distorted wall-of-sound guitars. What it really leaves me with, is an impression of "nothing new", and that's a bit sad 'cause it's not all bad. It just doesn't offer anything... new, which they basically always did with previous releases. They were always on the move to a new sound, only here, they re-use what seem to work previously.

By 1997 the band had split. While in the band and afterwards, Robin Guthrie has worked as record producer and in 2003 he released his first solo album Imperial after which he has pursued a solo career releasing new albums every now and then including a number of fine soundtracks - alone, or in collaborations. Simon Raymonde released his so far only solo album Blame Someone Else in 1997 and has been involved in other bands as well as worked as record producer, and together with Guthrie the two have worked on several projects since the break-up. Elizabeth Fraser has been a much-asked for artist but mainly lived a life away from the spotlight, although she has occasionally contributed as featuring guest vocalist on other artists' albums, as well as at live concerts, but an announced solo album has yet to be realised.
Milk & Kisses was reissued in 2006 in a remastered edition produced by Guthrie.

Fine but not amongst their absolute best.

2006 remaster