Track Listing

1. Violaine
2. Serpentskirt
3. Tishbite
4. Half-Gifts
5. Calfskin Smack
6. Rilkean Heart
7. Ups
8. Eperdu
9. Treasure Hiding
10. Seekers Who Are Lovers

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23877 in Music
• Released on: 2006-07-24
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 43 minutes

CD Description
The Cocteau Twins' swansong as a functioning entity, MILK &KISSES was released in 1996, three years after FOUR CALENDAR CAF+. In this period the band had changed record labels for the second time in only a few years, explored their acoustic side on the TWINLIGHTS EP, and even submitted to the trend of remixing tracks on the OTHERNESS EP. With MILK & KISSES' release, and nearly another album's worth of single B-sides, they reclaimed their throne as the biggest name in ethereal pop. Collectors should note that a limited edition of theCD was issued in a very cool-looking magnetically sealed case.
The album marks a triumphant return to form, adding warmth to everything, including Elizabeth Fraser's voice, still one of the most beautiful in music. Standouts include "Serpentskirt", which adds more percussion than usual to the Twins' sound, the laid-back groove of "Rilkean Heart", positively echoing with Robin Guthrie's patented guitar effects, and "Eperdu", with rolling sonic waves framing Fraser's shimmering vocals.

Customer Reviews

Swan Song
The nineties had proved to be tumultuous decade for the Cocteau Twins. They began the decade with Heaven or Las Vegas, the band's most commercially successful album. The then left the 4AD label, Fraser and Guthrie's relationship fell apart, Fraser went through a nervous breakdown and Guthrie's drug problems came to a head. As a result of this Four Calendar Café was a quiet, intimate record; perhaps reflecting Fraser's bruised psyche. The band were still reeling from these changes, problems and revelations in 1995 when the band began work on what would prove to be their final album, Milk and Kisses.

The album's opener Violaine is unrepresentative of the rest of the album. It may have been a reaction to the success of band's like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive, whose music owed so much to the Cocteau's innovations in the eighties. The rest of the album was much more low key, and much closer to the material on Four Calendar Café, except that Milk and Kisses lacks prominent acoustic guitar. This album may be the most elegant and restrained of the band's catalogue.

In common with Heaven or Las Vegas and Four Calendar Café, Liz Fraser's lyrics are somewhat intelligible on this album. However, her greatest contribution is, as always her swooning, impressionistic melodies. Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde really shine on Milk and Kisses too, their guitars sparkle and shimmer. I must go against the general consensus and state that the strongest material on this album is on the second half. Eperdu is gentle and atmospheric, certainly one of the most beatiful moments on any Cocteau Twins album. Album closer Seekers Who Are Lovers is the song on which Robin Guthrie pulls out all of the stops, layering atmospheric guitar parts. Fraser's sings two contrasting vocal parts at the chorus: one with words and one a beautiful, floating, wordless melody. The song is a fitting farewell to such a great and influential band. Milk and Kisses is the Cocteau Twins best album of the nineties.

tishbite-its my tag and its on here too-classic cocteaus
so good-another classic cocteaus offering-i adore the track tishbite-its even my tag-not quite as easy to like as their earlier offerings like treasure,blue bell knoll,victorialand etc -but angelic,beautiful and well worth buying

Their masterpiece
I actually think this is their greatest moment, Liz Fraser is 1 of the greatest singers in human history and never sounded better. Genius.