The record label 4AD

Russell Martin | 2 Mar 2003 04:52

Favorite all time 4AD release

So, I'm really curious. I'd like to know what people's all time
favorite 4AD releases are, and why?

I'm not 100% sure, 'cause there's been so much great stuff. I love
Cocteau Twins, Pixies, Wolfgang Press, Dif Juz, Dead Can Dance, Lush,
& Mojave 3.

I got to see:
-Cocteau Twins live (2x- Las Vegas & Mesa, AZ)
-Lush (lollapooza)
-Ultra Vivid Scene
-Pixies (2x- opening for the Cure in Denver 1989 & opening for U2 in
Tempe, AZ 199?)

Wish I could have seen DCD, but they did give us a video (which is
now on DVD). I would have like to have seen Dif Juz (anyone got any
live recordings?).

So, before I ramble too long. Here's my top 5:

#1 Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll
There was just something magical about driving across the Arizona
desert and listening to this album that I don't think I will ever
forget. It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think this is it.

#2 Dif Juz - Soundpool
It's strange, but I almost didn't notice them at first. I first heard
them on Lonely Is An Eyesore, but didn't think much of them at first.
Now, even though I'm listing them as #2 in release, in a list of
acts, they'd rank #1.

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Lazzell, Bob | 3 Mar 2003 15:15

RE: Digest Number 882

I have to agree, Blue Bell Knoll is my favorite Cocs CD, and probably all
time fav 4ad release. BBK reminds me of college days, when the leaves and
weather change in late September and friends now long gone.

Wait..was BBK still on 4ad? Didn't they move to Capitol or something?

> ----------
> From: 	4ad-l <at> yahoogroups.com
> Reply To: 	4ad-l <at> yahoogroups.com
> Sent: 	Monday, March 3, 2003 7:32 AM
> To: 	4ad-l <at> yahoogroups.com
> Subject: 	[4ad-l] Digest Number 882
> 
> 
> There is 1 message in this issue.
> 
> Topics in this digest:
> 
>       1. Favorite all time 4AD release
>            From: "Russell Martin <russell_martin <at> yahoo.com>"
> <russell_martin <at> yahoo.com>
> 
> 
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
> 
> Message: 1
>    Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2003 03:52:50 -0000
>    From: "Russell Martin <russell_martin <at> yahoo.com>"
> <russell_martin <at> yahoo.com>

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José Enrique Plata Manjarrés | 3 Mar 2003 23:01

A Message from Bogot�, Colombia and Nocturama Review


Bogotá, Colombia
South America
March  2003

Hi there 4AD and Goodson listees. Perhaps you may remember a special 
messagge that I wrote last year. I asked people from these lists to help me 
during a trip I made to Europe. I wanted to meet people who could introduce 
me to nice places in Paris, Cologne, Basel and Berlin. And also those who 
could help me finding a cheap hotel accomodation.

I got an e-mail from Louis Trumpbour an American Goodson Listee who lives in 
Berlin and runs a bar with some other people in there. (The internet address 
is www.8mmbar.com)

Louis gave me the opportunity to stay in his appartment in Berlin. For me it 
was something really good. We had the opportunity to speak some times about 
our lives and music. I was able to visit those nice places where Nick Cave 
lived and played during his Birthday Party years and his time in there. I 
could never believe it in my life I was going to be there. It was somehow 
like a Birthday present. I was there imagining things that people in there 
have taken as an influence to their sounds, films or writting. I walked lots 
of blocks and felt the Berliner touch.
Louis gave me recommendations and advices and well, believe me being there 
was something great.

I was able to buy Nick Cave´s "Nocturama" and missed some other records from 
people like Die Haut, Anita Lane, Sonic Youth, The Cramps and lots of 
others. Why? Same as ever, things in Europe are really expensive for people 
like me who come from Latin America.

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bwillard | 3 Mar 2003 23:44

Re: Favorite all time 4AD release

Russell,
  I think that the reason that there are no discussions on this group is 
due to the fact that 4ad has a message board.  All of the discussions that 
in the past have taken place on lists such as this have migrated to the 
message board.  I check both of them frequently but just to maybe "liven 
up" this group, I'll post my response here:

I'm not going to put my top albums in any kind of order because I think 
that it would be impossible.  I'm just going to jump right in...

Dead Can Dance - Within the Realm of a Dying Sun
  This album is in my opinion the best album by Dead Can Dance.  (Although 
there isn't a DCD album that I do not like)  I think that this one strikes 
a perfect balance between Brenden and Lisa's voices.  I also love the fact 
that they used an actual orchestra instead of sythesizers on this album.  I 
can listen to it over and over (especially "Anywhere Out of This World")

Cocteau Twins - Victorialand
  Cocteau Twins purists will argue that this isn't a proper Cocteau Twins 
album because all of the members were not present, but it is one of my 
favorites.  No real "hits" on this album but it flows so well.  It also 
reminds me of fun times long lost...

Clan Of Xymox - Medusa
  When this album was released I thought that I had found the perfect 
album.  I literally wore out the vinyl on my first purchase.  This was the 
true "Golden Age" of 4ad in my opinion.

This Mortal Coil - First two 
  I lumped these two albums together because when I listen to one of them,

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Neil I. | 4 Mar 2003 02:46

Re: Favorite all time 4AD release

Mine, in no particular order:

1) Dif Juz - Extractions
Music that so darn good it doesn't need words. Their other releases are decent (and at times very weird) but
they don't level up to this album. Discovered after not stopping the CD after the Cocteau Twins track on
Lonely Is An Eyesore, the reason I bought it in the first place. I think everyone is waiting for an
Extractions II. I'd pay top dollar for it.

2) Lush - Spooky
Over-produced by Robin Guthrie? Yah, but I like it anyway. His production made the music a little more
out-of-this-world-ly, and that's not a bad thing in my opinion. True, the later non-Guthrie albums were
more representative of their live shows, but their music and his production were a good match. Which leads
me to...

3) Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll
How could you not want to hear more after hearing (or seeing the video for, in my case) "Carolyn's Fingers"?
This album hit me at the right time. Had to own every album ever since. "Heaven Or Las Vegas" is a close second.

4) Red House Painters - Down Colorful Hill
True, Mark Kozelek is not a happy camper, but this is an excellent soundtrack for misery, just as Nine Inch
Nails is a good one for anger. Is there beauty in sadness? I think so.

5) Michael Brook - Live At The Aquarium
I bought this because I was starting to gain appreciation for instrumental music (along with Dif Juz) and
also because as a collector I thought it would be cool to have one of them limited edition 4AD "TAD"
releases. Now I'm glad I got it because it helps me swim off to sleep at night (pun intended). Simply
swirling, good music. Doesn't do much or go far, but that's why I like it.

Neil
KNEEL <at> cox.net

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stone ghosts | 4 Mar 2003 03:05

Re: Re: Favorite all time 4AD release

This is an interesting thread and not one I've seen recently on this list.
Very interesting comments from Neil below, which I'll take as my prompt...

1. This Mortal Coil - Filigree & Shadow
Ivo's finest hour. I liked the debut but it felt cold and distant for the
most part and maybe tried a little too hard. The Liz Fraser songs were the
only ones that were an indication of what was to come on the second album,
which has a warm and epic nature, not usually elements found together. The
3rd album tried to continue the feel of the 2nd but like the first, it felt
forced.

2. Cocteau Twins - Victorialand
I know most people regard 'Treasure' as the peak but this was far more
understated and therefore to my ears much better.  The new remaster sounds
brilliant as well.

3. The Wolfgang Press - Standing Up Straight
This album, together with 'Cut The Tree' epitomises what they were trying to
achieve in the late 80s. It takes the urgency of Echo & The Bunnymen and
marries it with an ethereal quality that was something of a 4AD trademark at
the time. To my ears the dance direction wasn't a great success...

4. Dead Can Dance - Spleen and Ideal
Majestic...

5. Throwing Muses - Red Heaven
...And then there were two. Seemingly in disarray with Tanya Donnelly
departing and a revolving door of bass players, they went back  to the
nucleus and produced an album that still ranks as their most powerful. The
guitar playing is also incredibly manic yet allows space and restraint to

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Mwscholtz | 4 Mar 2003 21:00

Re: Favorite all time 4ad release

bwillard wrote

> All of the discussions that 
> in the past have taken place on lists such as this have migrated to the 
> message board.  

which in my view is a sad thing, since the message board is slow to navigate, 
and since the content is ultimately under the control of the label.

i'm all in favor of livening up the discussion on this list, so i'll bite ... 
but it's "all-time favorites" for today only, it'll be a different list 
tomorrow...
1.  cocteau twins "sunburst and snowblind"
2.  wolfgang press "standing up straight"
3.  dead can dance (first album)
4.  pixies "doolittle"
5.  pale saints "comforts of madness"

and there is so much more out there ...  how can you leave out the birthday 
party (pretty much everything), the throwing muses' "house tornado", lush's 
"scar" e.p., colin newman's "singing fish", dif juz's "extractions", on and 
on and on.  so much good stuff on the label, especially while ivo still held 
the reins.  

mike
p.s.  jose, i'm glad to hear you enjoyed your trip!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Russell Martin | 5 Mar 2003 04:58

Re: Favorite all time 4ad release

--- In 4ad-l <at> yahoogroups.com, Mwscholtz <at> A... wrote:
> bwillard wrote
> which in my view is a sad thing, since the message board is slow to navigate, 
> and since the content is ultimately under the control of the label.

I'm feeling kinda stupid 'cause I don't see any message boards at 4ad.com?

> on and on.  so much good stuff on the label, especially while ivo still held 
> the reins.  

I guess I haven't kept up with things, what's this about Ivo not holding the reins?

Also, I picked up a copy of Spirea X "Fireblade Skies" this evening at a used CD shop for $3.99. I've never even
seen this CD before. Anyone know anything about it?

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bgmailorder | 5 Mar 2003 12:38

Re: Favorite all time 4ad release

> bwillard wrote
> > All of the discussions that 
> > in the past have taken place on lists such as this have migrated to the 
> > message board.  
> --- In 4ad-l <at> yahoogroups.com, Mwscholtz <at> A... wrote:
> which in my view is a sad thing, since the message board is slow to navigate, 
> and since the content is ultimately under the control of the label.

well not totally... I mean, I've not had to remove anything, and there's enough people on there who complain
about things - 4ad themselves have very little to do with the boards though, that may change, I don't know.
But at the moment I'm the only person involved on a day to day basis.

just thought I should  clarify this.. sorry to hear the board is slow - let me know any problems (at my work
email - mailorder <at> almaroad.co.uk) and I'll see if there's anything can be done, its felt a lot faster
lately since the major system crash

I checked the message after this - the forums url is www.beggars.com/forum for all the Beggars Group
labels, bar Matador who have their own vbulletin boards

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Toni | 5 Mar 2003 15:48

Re: Favorite all time 4ad release

Clan of Xymox - self titled & Medusa
This Mortal Coil - Filigree & Shadow
Dead Can Dance - Spleen and Ideal
Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll

to name a few ...

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun

					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31

3	June 2013
4	May 2013
1	April 2013
2	March 2013
7	February 2013
2	January 2013
1	November 2012
1	September 2012
2	July 2012
2	April 2012
5	February 2012
1	January 2012
1	June 2011
8	May 2011
2	February 2011
1	November 2010
3	October 2010
21	September 2010
7	August 2010
12	July 2010
1	June 2010
5	May 2010
17	April 2010
9	March 2010
8	February 2010
10	January 2010
11	December 2009
32	November 2009
11	October 2009
14	September 2009
13	August 2009
47	July 2009
3	June 2009
2	May 2009
23	April 2009
15	March 2009
6	February 2009
6	January 2009
7	November 2008
11	October 2008
5	September 2008
11	August 2008
1	July 2008
3	May 2008
17	April 2008
1	March 2008
2	May 2007
3	April 2007
18	February 2007
1	November 2003
16	October 2003
17	September 2003
20	August 2003
62	July 2003
39	June 2003
22	May 2003
31	April 2003
52	March 2003
32	February 2003
27	January 2003
45	December 2002
22	November 2002
46	October 2002
49	September 2002
29	August 2002
57	July 2002
27	June 2002
37	May 2002
39	April 2002
58	March 2002
43	February 2002