Tiny Dynamine/Echoes in a Shallow Bay

Nice pressing on thick vinyl.

YES!! One of the many beautiful and perfect Cocteau Twins recordings.

This CD features the 1985 four-song EP's "Tiny Dynamite" and "Echoes in a Shallow Bay," which shows the Cocteau Twins in a bit of an experimental period between the "surely this is the voice of God" 1984 release TREASURE and the 1998 new-direction album BLUE BELL KNOLL. The production is much more raw and sparser than the songs of that album. Unlike earlier releases, guitarist and producer Robin Guthrie has here made the drum machine just a prominent as the guitar work.The "Tiny Dynamite" EP begins with the slow "Pink Orange Red". The second track, "Ribbed and Veined" is the second of two instrumentals the Cocteau Twins did in the 1980's (the other being "Rococo" on the "Aikea-Guinea" EP). "Plain Tiger" is the standout of this EP, featuring excellent guitar work and moving vocals. "Sultitan Itan" is the low point of the EP, it doesn't really go anywhere.The "Echoes in a Shallow Bay" EP shows the Cocteau Twins experimenting. The first track is "Great Spangled Fritillary" One of the most remarkable songs the band has ever released, it begins with Liz Fraser intoning the same few lines again and again as the guitar slowly builds in the background. In the end, her vocals explode in a climactic series of wails. "Melonella" is four minutes of Liz Fraser singing the Latin names of butterflies, "hesperiidae, papilionidae..." A random collection of entomological names becomes a one of the most beautiful of this group's songs. "Pale Clouded White" is a swinging song that stands out due to its use of sequencers, which didn't really feature much in Cocteau Twins songs until 1988's release BLUE BELL KNOLL. The EP closes with the soothing "Eggs and Their Shells".What might strike the listener first, especially if he or she has heard mostly the softer Twins of VICTORIALAND or the especially smooth HEAVEN OR LAS VEGAS, is how *threatening* Liz sounds in some of these songs, especially "Plain Tiger." Her voice has a ferocity to it that was never found afterward in the Cocteau Twins repertoire.There are remastered versions of "Pink Orange Red" and "Pale Clouded White" on the Cocteau Twins best-of STARS AND TOPSOIL. I'd certainly recommend getting that, as the sound quality of the remastered versions is incredible. Also, the 1995 "Twinlights" EP included an acoustic version of Pink Orange Red that is interesting in that it shows how the Twins came to interpret the music of this era ten years later.While some of the Cocteau Twins' finest work is on their EPs (especially 1986's "Love's Easy Tears" EP and 1985's earlier EP "Aikea-Guinea"), it's probably best to start with their albums. I'd recommend HEAVEN OR LAS VEGAS or TREASURE as an introduction to their work if you've never before heard this excellent group. Once you've got the albums, the EPs await, and "Tiny Dynamite/Echoes in a Shallow Bay" should be one of the first you get.

This CD features the 1985 four-song EP's "Tiny Dynamite" and "Echoes in a Shallow Bay," which shows the Cocteau Twins in a bit of an experimental period between the "surely this is the voice of God" 1984 release TREASURE and the 1998 new-direction album BLUE BELL KNOLL. The production is much more raw and sparser than the songs of that album. Unlike earlier releases, guitarist and producer Robin Guthrie has here made the drum machine just a prominent as the guitar work.The "Tiny Dynamite" EP begins with the slow "Pink Orange Red". The second track, "Ribbed and Veined" is the second of two instrumentals the Cocteau Twins did in the 1980's (the other being "Rococo" on the "Aikea-Guinea" EP). "Plain Tiger" is the standout of this EP, featuring excellent guitar work and moving vocals. "Sultitan Itan" is the low point of the EP, it doesn't really go anywhere.The "Echoes in a Shallow Bay" EP shows the Cocteau Twins experimenting. The first track is "Great Spangled Fritillary" One of the most remarkable songs the band has ever released, it begins with Liz Fraser intoning the same few lines again and again as the guitar slowly builds in the background. In the end, her vocals explode in a climactic series of wails. "Melonella" is four minutes of Liz Fraser singing the Latin names of butterflies, "hesperiidae, papilionidae..." A random collection of entomological names becomes a one of the most beautiful of this group's songs. "Pale Clouded White" is a swinging song that stands out due to its use of sequencers, which didn't really feature much in Cocteau Twins songs until 1988's release BLUE BELL KNOLL. The EP closes with the soothing "Eggs and Their Shells".What might strike the listener first, especially if he or she has heard mostly the softer Twins of VICTORIALAND or the especially smooth HEAVEN OR LAS VEGAS, is how *threatening* Liz sounds in some of these songs, especially "Plain Tiger." Her voice has a ferocity to it that was never found afterward in the Cocteau Twins repertoire.There are remastered versions of "Pink Orange Red" and "Pale Clouded White" on the Cocteau Twins best-of STARS AND TOPSOIL. I'd certainly recommend getting that, as the sound quality of the remastered versions is incredible. Also, the 1995 "Twinlights" EP included an acoustic version of Pink Orange Red that is interesting in that it shows how the Twins came to interpret the music of this era ten years later.While some of the Cocteau Twins' finest work is on their EPs (especially 1986's "Love's Easy Tears" EP and 1985's earlier EP "Aikea-Guinea"), it's probably best to start with their albums. I'd recommend HEAVEN OR LAS VEGAS or TREASURE as an introduction to their work if you've never before heard this excellent group. Once you've got the albums, the EPs await, and "Tiny Dynamite/Echoes in a Shallow Bay" should be one of the first you get.

Well there's not much else I can say about this album. It truly is one of those great pleasures to listen to these EPs and marvel at their magnificence. With music like this you can forgive the Cocteau's reluctance to talk about their music because in a way it speaks for itself. And there's not one review, in my opinion, that can speak of this highly enough. Because words aren't needed for this at all.Just listen and you will enjoy

All that keeps this 2 EP collection from being 5 stars isthat, with 8 tracks, it's just too short. Though a few ofthe tracks don't really stand out from anything on, say,Treasure, others like "Eggs and Their Shells," "GreatSpangled Fritillary" and the masterful "Pink OrangeRed" are beautiful beyond description. Of course LizFraser always gets the spotlight, but these songs go a long wayin proving Robin Guthrie's excellence as a composer andproducer. So otherworldly that over 15 years later itstill doesn't sound outdated.

Clearly if you are looking at CD version of these songs then this is not the best option; the Lullabies to Violaine collections (either the 4 CD version or Vol. 1 of the two 2CD versions), however, if you are looking to augment your vinyl collection, adding to they albums, then this is perfect. I bought the two 12” EPs when they were originally released two weeks apart (15th and 29th November 1985) and really liked them. Unfortunately I got rid of most of my original vinyl collection with the advent of CD. It is only in the past six or seven years that I have started to rebuild my vinyl collection again. I still have a a remarkably pristine copy of Head Over Heels, and I played it a lot in the 80s, but my copy of Victorialand had to be replaced.The vinyl edition of Tiny Dynamine/Echoes in a Shallow Bay is brilliant and well worth adding to your Cocteau Twins vinyl collection. I re-bought Garland and Treasure on vinyl, despite having nearly everything (bar the odd rare track) on excellent CD, and bought last four albums on vinyl for the first time so this was the obvious other thing I could get on vinyl and it really takes me back to the late 80s, yet this music seems timeless.

For many the purchase of this collection of two 1985 EPs could be seen as superfuous when a full collection of cocteau twins miscellany can be found on the "Lullabies To Violaine" volumes for very little more than the cost of this disc. I am, however somewhat of a die hard fan still holding on to vynil copies as well as collecting CD versions. I have been collecting the EPs individually where ever possible and thats the way I am. The music is, as you would expect, nothing short of mesmerising showing the bands progression from their earlier punk / post punk influenced sound to their trademark soundscapes.

It's one 33rpm disc. Thought it would be two 45rpm. Lacks bass, CD sounds better. Disappointed.

Es la reedición en vinilo de dos eps en un sólo disco. Suena bien, muy bien, por éste mismo motivo, se hace corto. Pero vamos...Es tal y como lo editó 4 ad en su momento.

Hallo. Ich bin sehr zufrieden. Tolle Arbeit. Danke schön.