1989 was the first year in the band’s history that would see no significant new releases from them, with various album CD re-presses seemingly the only new product to emerge. No live work either – in fact, there had been no live appearances during 1987 or 1988 either – a three year gap, that would not be broken until late 1990. But the band were far from idle during the year. 1989 saw the band acquire and fit out their September Sound studio [1], the former Eel Pie studios owned by Pete Townshend, where in time they would record at their leisure and what was to be the venue where all the band’s subsequent albums would be recorded. 1989 was a significant year on a personal level for the band members too, with the birth of Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie’s daughter, Lucy Belle, in September 1989. The month was also significant for Simon Raymonde, though of a sadder nature with the passing of his father, Ivor Raymonde, as detailed in his excellent and moving autobiography published earlier this year, ‘In One Ear: Cocteau Twins, Ivor and Me’. [2]
1990 by contrast was an extremely significant year, with the eventual release of ‘Heaven Or Las Vegas’, which would prove to be the band’s final new album recorded and released for the 4AD label and the work that many fans consider to be their finest album – and, by the latter quarter of 1990, a return to live touring once more, though with a significantly different band line up.
‘Gigantic! 2’ various artists cassette (Melody Maker/ Rough Trade Distribution, MM RTD 002) / CD (MM RT CD002)
The first release to feature Cocteau Twins in 1990 was the various artists compilation ‘Gigantic! 2’, which was available via the UK music paper ‘Melody Maker’ and Rough Trade Distribution and announced/offered for sale in Melody Maker issues from 30 June 1990 onwards. Available on cassette (at £3.99) and CD (at £6.99) formats, amongst its 19 tracks – a number of which were from 4AD label mates of Cocteau Twins, such as The Breeders, Lush and Pale Saints.
The band contributed an exclusive, hitherto unreleased song, ‘The High Monkey-Monk’. The accompanying text printed in the magazine’s initial page-length offer for the release notes the following for this Cocteau Twins track: “A three year old track from the Cocteau archives: it may not be indicative of their current work, but it’s probably how We’d like to remember them. A previously unavailable classic”
Of note, the page in the CD’s accompanying booklet dedicated to the band it notes “One of two previously unreleased recordings from the band circa 1987”, as well a mini discography listing.
‘Iceblink Luck’ 7” / 12” / CD / two track cassette / three track cassette
The first single release to be pulled from the parent album, ‘Iceblink Luck’ was a somewhat up-tempo, joyous piece that also had an accompanying promo video for maximum impact.
Tracklist:
- ‘Iceblink Luck’ (3’20”)
- ‘Mizake The Mizan’ (3’03”)
- ‘Watchlar’ (3’17”)
Released 27 August 1990 in the UK across a number of formats, the 12”, CD and a cassette included three tracks – meanwhile the 7” and a second ‘single’ cassette, did not include ‘Watchlar’. Simon Raymonde’s recent autobiography, ‘In One Ear’ notes that ‘Watchlar’ is a particularly well regarded song by him, despite it being worked up as a B side.
This single was also released on various formats in the US and several European territories such as West Germany, France and Spain.
7” version (4AD AD 0011)
As noted, the 7” single contained two tracks only.
Two track cassette version (4AD ADC 0011)
In an example of the record industry largesse of the era and chart-aimed multiple format sales focussed formats, there were two cassette variants for ‘Iceblink Luck’ – this ‘single’ version contained two tracks only.
12” version (4AD BAD 0011)
The 12” single contained three tracks.
CD single version (4AD BAD 0011 CD)
The CD version of the release contained all three tracks.
Three track cassette version (4AD BADC 0011)
The second version of the cassette releases, this ‘EP’ version of the cassette contained all three tracks as per the 12” and CD.
A promo video was made for ‘Iceblink Luck’ – view it here on YouTube.
Cassette: ‘Red Tape’ (Select RT1)
This various artists compilation cassette contained the otherwise unobtainable ‘alternative version’ of ‘Pitch The Baby’, a slightly different variation of the album version.
The ‘Red Tape’ cassette came free with the October 1990 edition of the relatively recently launched UK monthly magazine ‘Select’. Despite being billed as the October issue, it was on sale in the UK well before October (as is common practice with such monthly magazines). Side one features various 4AD label acts, side two features various Mute Records acts. View the discogs.com entry for fuller details.
A decent quality rip off the cassette version can be found on YouTube.
‘Heaven Or Las Vegas’ LP / CD / Cassette
Released in the UK on 17 September 1990, the ten track LP was issued simultaneously on LP, CD and cassette and all formats went with the same track listing, no variations or extra bonus tracks, As it happens, the inclusion of extra tracks on CD/cassette formats was actually quite a frequent occurrence to find during that era, where they were becoming the dominant formats at the expense of vinyl, but no such variation here.
As an aside, this touches upon something relatively unique for the Cocteau Twins by comparison to many of the acts featured across VersionCrazy. The band were never tempted by the ‘CD bloat’ phenomenon to bulk out album running times – nope, somewhere between eight and ten remained the Cocteau’s standard right across their albums, as opposed to contemporaries, who often ruined otherwise decent albums with far too many tracks, all too often of filler.
And that is borne out by the magnificent music to be found on this album. Robin Guthrie has noted when interviewed that it was almost him ‘showing off’ – such is the album’s strengths, it takes an already familiar Cocteau’s sound but subtly moves it on so that this album arrived at a time that welcomed them with open arms. I can list my favourites – ‘Cherry Coloured Funk’, ‘Heaven Or Las Vegas’, ‘Fotzepolitic’, ‘Wolf In The Breast’ – but pretty much the whole album is strong, start to finish.
Tracklisting:
Side One:
- ‘Cherry Coloured Funk’ (3’13”)
- ‘Pitch The Baby’ (3’17”)
- ‘Iceblink Luck’ (3’18”)
- ‘Fifty-Fifty Clown’ (3’15”)
- ‘Heaven Or Las Vegas’ (4’57”)
Side Two:
- ‘I Wear Your Ring’ (3’40”)
- ‘Fotzepolitic’ (3’30”)
- ‘Wolf In The Breast’ (3’32”)
- ‘Road, River and Rail’ (3’31”)
- ‘Frou Frou Foxes In Midsummer Fires’ (5’37”)
The tracklisting is the same across all formats, there were no format-exclusive extra tracks or variations.
LP version (4AD CAD 0012)
The original release of the vinyl album came packaged in a standard sleeve along with inner sleeve, both in full colour high-gloss finish, unlike the multiple fold-out sleeve that ‘Blue Bell Knoll’ had sported. However, in keeping with ‘Blue Bell Knoll’, once more the design work was not carried out by 4AD’s in-house designers 23 Envelope, but by designer Paul West, with photography by Andy Rumball.
A fascinating and detailed article about the making of the sleeve art was published in November 2022 – ‘Artwork for Cocteau Twins’ Heaven or Las Vegas exhibited in LA to coincide with fashion range launch’ – by the designer Paul West – a recommended read.
CD version (4AD CAD 0012 CD)
The original release appeared at the same time as the vinyl LP and cassette versions, perhaps unsurprisingly, since this was the age where the CD was beginning to reach ascendancy as the dominant album format.
Cassette version (4AD CADC 0012)
The cassette edition – again, no difference to the music contained, but more subtle variations to the design to accommodate the format. Thanks as ever to Lieutenant 030 for the photos of the cassette version.
Promo Single releases…
‘Heaven Or Las Vegas’ USA Promo CD / 12”
Tracklist:
- ‘Heaven Or Las Vegas’ (Edit) (3:59)
- ‘Dials’ (2:41)
- ‘Heaven Or Las Vegas’ (4:54)
The A side (of the 12” at least) was not just a simple edit, but remixed to some degree as well, since it has a very long reverse reverb trail leading into the track instead of the familiar clean start that the album mix sports. Not being a native of the US and not fully understanding the mechanics of the industry, it puzzles me why this never got a full on commercial single release despite there also being a highly atmospheric and well-produced promo video as well. You can view the promo video here on YouTube – it contains the single edit version.
’Dials’ was an unreleased non-album track exclusive to this promo single at the time. Of note, the track was used as the intro music on the band’s live shows in 1990/1991.
CD version (Capitol Records / 4AD DPRO-79291A)
Like the 12” equivalent, there were two variants of the US promo CD – this version with a unique sleeve design in keeping with the album cover styling, and a simpler plain jewel case CD package with information sticker applied to it.
12” version (Capitol Records / 4AD SPRO-79415/79427)
There were two variants of the US 12” promo release, one with a picture sleeve design akin to the US promo CD single and a second version that came housed in a plain, die-cut label hole sleeve with a large blue coloured info sticker applied to the sleeve – but musically no different.
‘I Wear Your Ring’ USA Promo CD / 12”
Another Tracklist:
- ‘I Wear Your Ring’ (4:10)
CD single (Capitol / 4AD DPRO-79498)
One track promo CD single.
12” single (Capitol / 4AD SPRO-79564)
The 12” single includes the same track on both sides.
Summary
By this stage of the Cocteau Twins story, 1989-1990 saw the band’s period with 4AD reach a conclusion, hastened by several key factors: the band appointing a manager (Raymond Coffer), who appears to have made the band deeply question their existing relationship with the label, and label owner Ivo in particular; the slow but increasing drip-feed of criticism of the label publicly aired in press interviews from Robin Guthrie in particular, as a result of this perceived dissatisfaction – and which would ultimately lead to Ivo terminating the band’s existing contract with the label in October 1990 (despite the band still contractually owing several albums); the well documented increasing reliance on drugs as a creative, yet ultimately destructive, stimulus within the band, adversely affected Robin and Elizabeth’s relationship in particular, alongside the dually liberating yet expensive obligation that would be the September Sound studio. Yet, this all led to ‘Heaven Or Las Vegas’, an expansion in the band’s touring line-up and from late 1990 through into the first part of 1991, extensive live touring worldwide. [2] [3]
References / Further Reading
[1]: Interview conducted March 1989, printed in the July 1989 issue of ‘Sound On Sound’ magazine. View on the mu:zines web site.
[2] As detailed extensively in the chapter ‘September Sound’ of ‘In One Ear: Cocteau Twins, Ivor and Me’ by Simon Raymonde. [2024, Nine Eight Books, London UK]
[3] As detailed extensively in Chapter 14 ‘Heaven, Las Vegas and Bust’ of ‘Facing The Other Way: The Story of 4AD’ by Martin Aston [2013, The Friday Project, London UK].