Cocteau Twins have announced vinyl reissues of their final two albums, 1993’s Four-Calendar Café and 1996’s Milk & Kisses. The fresh pressings are out January 12th via 4AD.
With 24-bit remasters by guitarist Robin Guthrie, the reissues mark the first time both Four-Calendar Café and Milk & Kisses have been released on vinyl in the United States. It also reunites Cocteau Twins with 4AD after the band left the storied London label for Capitol Records for US distribution in 1988.
Recorded at Cocteau Twins’ September Sound studio in West London, Four-Calendar Café was a departure for the band — in that you could actually sort of understand what Elizabeth Fraser was singing. The record spawned two moderate hits, “Evangeline” and “Bluebeard.”
Its follow-up (and ultimately the band’s swan song), Milk & Kisses, was recorded between September Sound and Pors Poulhan, France. It features the singles “Violaine” and “Tishbite.” Pre-orders for both reissues, which will also be available on CD, are ongoing.
Since breaking up in 1997, the members of Cocteau Twins have gone on to start solo careers. Guthrie’s last project was the 2022 EP Springtime, while Fraser teamed with Massive Attack drummer Damon Reece for the Sun’s Signature EP that same year. Just last month, meanwhile, the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid “Fraser” after the singer’s ethereal persona.
Four-Calendar Café Artwork:
Four-Calendar Café Tracklist:
Side One
01. Know Who You Are at Every Age
02. Evangeline
03. Bluebeard
04. Theft, and Wandering Around Lost
05. Oil 0f Angels
Side Two
01. Squeeze-Wax
02. My Truth
03. Essence
04. Summerhead
05. Pur
Milk & Kisses Artwork:
Milk & Kisses Tracklist:
Side One
01. Violaine
02. Serpentskirt
03. Tishbite
04. Half-Gifts
05. Calfskin Smack
Side Two
01. Rilkean Heart
02. Ups
03. Eperdu
04. Treasure Hiding
05. Seekers Who Are Lovers
