After telling a friend about the Cocteau Twins 4 CD set Lullabies to Violaine earlier this month, he gave me one for Christmas. How sweet! Robin did a nice job remastering everything. It’s cool to hear the muddier recordings brought to life with more sparkling guitars and more distinct basslines. Comparing just the 320 AAC files I ripped from the original EPs to the ones ripped from the new CDs, the sound is quite improved on some songs.

I was thinking that I wouldn’t get the set because I already have almost everything on it, but now I’m happy that Todd picked up a copy for me. I’m still comparing the more recent tracks trying to decide, for instance, if I prefer the original Twinlights or the new Lullabies versions, but on the 80’s stuff it’s really no contest. “Sighs Smells of Farewell” is an exception, though. I thought the original sounded better on that one. That’s why I’m checking everything individually. It’s awesome to get the 2 Christmas tracks, too, because I didn’t have Snow and have been wanting those tunes.

I’m not sure if this is a secret or not, but Ryan recently digitized the original mixdowns of Ardor
from his master DATs and the sound quality was noticeably better on those. The high end of the guitar especially shines. It would be so cool if we could manage to do a 4 CD set of his 4 Love Spirals Downwards’ albums remastered like this Twins set, but I’m pretty sure the cost would be too prohibitive. I’d really love to hear Idylls remastered, though. I imagine he could get it sounding much cleaner and louder with modern equipment.

Speaking of equipment, my friend Todd, and the Cocteau Twins; he showed me a postcard that Robin Guthrie mailed him awhile back to thank Todd for giving him an Acetone drum machine. Apparently he used it on some recordings, but I’m not sure which ones. I should ask Todd if he knows which songs use his drum machine.