Head over Heels (Cocteau Twins album)


Head over Heels is the second studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins. The album was released in October 1983 by 4AD, and was their first album as a duo of Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie. It featured the band's signature sound of "Guthrie’s lush guitars under Fraser’s mostly wordless vocals" and is considered an archetype of early ethereal wave music.

Music

Writing for The Quietus, journalist Julian Marszalek said that with this album, "Fraser’s voice became just as much an instrument" as those played by her musicians", including Guthrie's "multi-layered and heavily reverberated guitars". He also remarked: "'In Our Angelhood' probably fits the bill best and it's a track that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Siouxsie and the Banshees' Kaleidoscope". "The Tinderbox " conveys a sense of menace and danger, while the closing track "Musette and Drums" features sweeping guitars and chimes backed up with keyboards.

Release and reception

Head over Heels was released on 31 October 1983 by 4AD. The original United Kingdom and Canadian cassette and CD of Head over Heels, and the Brazilian CD versions, also included the Sunburst and Snowblind EP. The 2003 CD, remastered by Guthrie, did not include the EP.
Head over Heels was ranked at No. 7 in Sounds magazine's End of Year List for 1983.
In 2003, the album was named one of the most eccentric British albums of all time by Mojo magazine.
In March 2018, the album was repressed on 180g vinyl using new masters created from high definition files transferred from the original analogue tapes.

Track listing

Credits

; Cocteau Twins
; Additional personnel