"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 were a Scottish rock music, rock band active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed in Grangemouth on the Firth of Forth by Robin Guthrie (guitars, drum machine) and Will Heggie (bass), adding Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) in 1981. In 19 ...

. It was released by

Fontana Records Fontana Records is a record label that started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records. Fontana Distribution, an independent label distributor, takes its name from the label. History Fontana began in the 1950s as a subsidi ...

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 rock band Cocteau Twins, released on 15 April 1996 in the United Kingdom by Fontana Records and on 14 May 1996 in the United States by Capitol Records. It proved to be their last ...

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

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 Robin Andrew Guthrie (born 4 January 1962) is a Scottish musician, songwriter, composer, record producer and audio engineer, best known as the co-founder of the post punk alternative rock band Cocteau Twins. During his career Guthrie has ...

Elizabeth Fraser Elizabeth Davidson Fraser (born 29 August 1963) is a Scottish singer. She was the vocalist for the band Cocteau Twins, who achieved success in the UK from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. Their studio albums '' Victorialand'' (1986) and '' H ...

Simon Raymonde Simon Philip Raymonde (born 3 April 1962) 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 with the Scottish band Cocteau Twins ...

Charts

References

External links

Cocteau Twins.com discography - first disc

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