Victorialand

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Professional reviews
Victorialand

Studio album by Cocteau Twins
Released	April, 1986
Recorded	???
Genre	Ethereal Ambient Dream Pop
Length	32:45
Label	4AD
Producer(s)	Cocteau Twins
All Music Guide link
Cocteau Twins chronology
The Pink Opaque (1985)	Victorialand (1986)	The Moon and The Melodies (1986)

This is about the music album. For the Antarctica region, see Victoria Land

Victorialand (1986) is the fourth album by Scottish band Cocteau Twins, although without the presence of bassist Simon Raymonde who was a member at the time. Vocalist Elizabeth Fraser and guitarist/producer Robin Guthrie produced a record almost completely devoid of percussion, drenching guitars in reverberant space to create a wide, expansive sound that borders on ambient. The title refers to the part of Antarctica known as Victoria Land after Queen Victoria (and forming the British claim to the continent, currently dormant under international treaty). Several song titles seem to have polar themes (although not exclusively Antarctic), including "How to Bring a Blush to the Snow", "Feet-Like Fins", presumably about penguins, "Throughout the Dark Months of April and May", which could be about the beginning of the South Polar winter, the obvious "Whales Tails" and "Oomingmak" which is an Inuit name for the Musk Ox. As is often the case with Fraser's vocals, the lyrics are indecipherable.

On its initial release in the UK the vinyl edition was unusual as it was a 12" disc which played at 45 rpm, which would be normal for EP rather than a full album which would normally play at 33⅓ rpm. This was due to difficulties in the mastering process in reproducing the minimal soundscapes. Some test pressings at 33⅓ rpm are known to exist.

An uncredited instrumental version of "Oomingmak" was used as a backing track for the credits at the end of the 4AD compilation video "Lonely Is An Eyesore". This instrumental version was later made available in the 1991 4AD singles box set.