The Pink Opaque

The Pink Opaque
Compilation album by Cocteau Twins
Released	13 January 1986
Recorded	1982-1985
Genre	Ethereal wave, gothic rock
Length	40:03
Label	4AD Relativity
Producer	Cocteau Twins Ivo Watts-Russell
Cocteau Twins chronology
Echoes in a Shallow Bay (1985) The Pink Opaque (1986) Victorialand (1986)

Professional ratings
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Allmusic	[1]

The Pink Opaque is a 1986 compilation album by Cocteau Twins, composed of tracks recorded between 1982 and 1985. A joint release by the UK-based 4AD (the band's label) and the USA-based Relativity Records, it was the band's first official domestic USA release.^[2]

History

After signing to 4AD in 1982, Cocteau Twins released three LPs and five EPs between the autumn of 1982 and January 1985. Despite having no American distribution, the band was gaining popularity in the USA on college radio, particularly with the 1984 single "Pearly Dewdrops' Drops." The American label Relativity Records reached an agreement to distribute the band's albums on license from 4AD. Rather than reissuing all of the band's releases to that point, it was decided that the compilation The Pink Opaque would be issued instead, as a sampler of the Twins' output up through early 1985.^[2]

The Pink Opaque is also significant in 4AD's history, as it was the label's first CD release. As part of the agreement, Relativity pressed a single CD edition for both US and UK release. Therefore, the CD's sleeve contained both the 4AD and Relativity catalog numbers (CAD513CD and EMCD8040, respectively). Relativity also made the album available on cassette and LP in America only.

Track listing

1. "The Spangle Maker" (4:40) — from The Spangle Maker (12"), 1984
2. "Millimillenary" (3:40) — from NME compilation Department of Enjoyment (cassette), 1984
3. "Wax and Wane" (3:51) — (remixed) from Garlands (LP), 1982
4. "Hitherto" (3:51) — from Sunburst and Snowblind (EP), 1983
5. "Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops" (4:10) — from Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops (7"), 1984 and The Spangle Maker (12"), 1984
6. "From the Flagstones" (3:40) — from Sunburst and Snowblind (EP), 1983
7. "Aikea-Guinea" (3:56) — from Aikea-Guinea (EP), 1985
8. "Lorelei" (3:42) — from Treasure (LP), 1984
9. "Pepper-Tree" (3:57) — from The Spangle Maker (12"), 1984
10. "Musette and Drums" (4:36) — from Head Over Heels (LP), 1983

Personnel

• Elizabeth Fraser sings and Robin Guthrie plays guitar on all tracks.
• Bass guitar is played by Will Heggie on track 3; by Guthrie on tracks 4, 6 and 10; and by Simon Raymonde on all other tracks.
• Like all Cocteau Twins releases, percussion is handled by a drum machine.
• The band is credited as producer on all tracks, except for "Wax and Wane," where Ivo Watts-Russell is credited as co-producer.

References