The Pink Opaque

Though they were a new band with an incredibly unconventional style, The Cocteau Twins quickly gained a loyal following during the early '80s, both in the U.K. and abroad—despite the fact that their records were only available in the U.S. as expensive imports. Released at the start of 1986, The Pink Opaque encapsulated the band’s first three years at the very moment its audacious style was being codified and subsequently revered. What is this style, exactly? It's an impressionist assortment of fragile, icicle-like melodies hidden within caves of ominous atmosphere. The band let their songs be guided by mood alone. In spite of this elusive approach, their sound offered moments of awe-inspiring romance and perfumed allure. Their greatest ability was to be very frightening and very pretty at the same time. Their style could feel amorphous, but this 10-song collection is in fact shrewdly designed with concision in mind. The three group members were only in their early 20s, but their early recordings suggested that these three Scottish upstarts were already in touch with ancient and otherworldly forces.