"Violaine" is a

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

Cocteau Twins Cocteau Twins was a Scottish rock band active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed in Grangemouth by Robin Guthrie (guitars, drum machine) and Will Heggie (bass), adding Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) in 1981 and replacing Heggie with multi-instrum ...

. It was released by

Fontana Records Fontana Records is a record label that was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records. The independent label distributor Fontana Distribution takes its name from the label. History Fontana started in the 1950s as a subs ...

in July 1996. It was the second single to be released from the ''

Milk & Kisses ''Milk & Kisses'' is the eighth and final studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, issued by Fontana Records in March 1996. It proved to be their last; a meeting two years later to record a new album ended with the breakup ...

'' album, and their last single to be released from a non-compilation album. It reached No. 56 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

Background and release

"Violaine" was the second single to be released from the 1996 album ''Milk and Kisses'', and includes five tracks released across two CDs, making it the band's second multi-disc single. It was the last single to be released by the band prior to their disbandment in 1997 following a series of unsuccessful attempts by the band to record new material for their ninth studio album. The song "Touch Upon Touch", which was released in 1996 on the compilation ''Volume 17'' and in 1997 on the compilation ''Splashed with Many a Speck'', was the last song recorded by the band prior to their breakup in 1997. Like their previous single, "Violaine" enjoyed considerable success on European radio, including in Poland where it was considered a "power play" track on various radio stations in the country. The lyrics of "Violaine" are words in English sung backwards.

Critical reception

Justin Chadwick of ''Albumism'' felt that the song "ranks among the band's finest arrangements ever". In a review for ''Milk & Kisses'' on

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, Robert Garland wrote that "Violaine has an impact as far as dream pop goes, but the album's larger mainstays are found in its belly."

Live performances

The track has been performed several times by the band, mostly during their 1996 tour for ''Milk and Kisses'' prior to the disbandment of the group.

Track listing

All tracks are written by

CD: Fontana / CTDC6 (UK)

# "Violaine" – 3:46 # "Smile" – 3:52 # "Tranquil Eye" – 4:25

CD: Fontana / CTDD6 (UK)

# "Violaine" – 3:46 # "Circling Girl" – 3:32 # "Alice" – 4:26

Personnel

* Robin Guthrie *

Elizabeth Fraser Elizabeth Davidson Fraser (born 29 August 1963), is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician. Hailing from Grangemouth, Scotland, she is best known as the vocalist for the pioneering dream pop band Cocteau Twins who achieved international ...

Simon Raymonde Simon Philip Raymonde (born Simon Philip Pomerance; 3 April 1962, in London) is an English musician and record producer. He is the son of the late arranger and composer Ivor Raymonde. He is best known as the bass guitarist and keyboard player ...

Charts

References

External links

Cocteau Twins.com discography - first disc

{{Authority control 1996 singles Cocteau Twins songs 1996 songs Fontana Records singles