Treasure (Cocteau Twins album)

The album was recorded from August to September 1984 at Palladium Studios in Edinburgh and at Rooster in West London.{{cite web |title=Cocteau Twins: Treasure LP |url=https://cocteautwins.com/treasure.html |website=cocteautwins.com |access-date=12 April 2024}}

Record label executive Ivo Watts-Russell originally tried to hire Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois to produce the album. However, Eno felt the band did not need him and Guthrie ended up producing the album.{{cite web |first=Cam |last=Lindsay |date=10 June 2015 |title=An Essential Guide to Cocteau Twins |website=Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/essential_guide_to_cocteau_twins |access-date=14 December 2020}} Pitchfork noted that the album's drum machine backing added a sharp edge in contrast to the band's ethereal sound and Elizabeth Fraser's "angelic vocals". On the album's title, Fraser said, "I thought it was a really good idea because I thought, well, what are people gonna see in these names? They're gonna realise it’s got nothing to do with mythology and all that bollocks. Well, it's not bollocks, but I foolishly thought people wouldn't think that we were into that sort of thing".{{cite web |title=Cocteau Twins: Treasure LP |url=https://cocteautwins.com/treasure.html |website=cocteautwins.com |access-date=12 April 2024}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/treasure-mw0000189535 |title=Treasure – Cocteau Twins |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=24 August 2012 |last=Raggett |first=Ned}}

| rev2 = Louder Than War

| rev2score = 10/10{{cite magazine |title=Cocteau Twins: Head Over Heels / Treasure |magazine=Louder Than War |issue=14 |date=February–March 2018 |last=Ray |first=Mark}}

| rev3 = Q

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Cocteau Twins: Treasure |magazine=Q |issue=384 |date=May 2018 |last=Segal |first=Victoria |page=117}}

| rev4 = Record Collector

| rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/head-heels-treasure |title=Head Over Heels, Treasure {{!}} Cocteau Twins |magazine=Record Collector |issue=477 |date=March 2018 |access-date=10 May 2018 |last=Atkins |first=Jamie}}

| rev5 = Record Mirror

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Cocteau shaker |magazine=Record Mirror |date=24 November 1984 |last=Strike |first=Andy |page=20}}

| rev6 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev6score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Cocteau Twins |last=Considine |first=J. D. |author-link=J. D. Considine |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/174 174–175]}}

| rev7 = Smash Hits

| rev7score = 8/10{{cite magazine|last=Cranna|first=Ian|url=https://archive.org/details/smash-hits-8-21-november-1984/page/n21|title=Albums: The Cocteau Twins – Treasure (4AD)|magazine=Smash Hits|location=Peterborough|publisher=EMAP National Publications, Ltd.|volume=6|issue=22|page=23|date=8–21 November 1984|issn=0260-3004|access-date=22 December 2023}}

| rev8 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

| rev8score = 9/10{{cite book |chapter=Cocteau Twins |last=Hannaham |first=James |author-link=James Hannaham |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=Vintage Books |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |pages=86–88}}

| rev9 = Stylus Magazine

| rev9score = 7/10{{cite web |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=1969 |title=Cocteau Twins – Treasure |website=Stylus Magazine |date=7 May 2004 |access-date=24 August 2012 |last=Parrish |first=Peter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041108094633/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=1969 |archive-date=8 November 2004 |url-status=dead}}

| rev10 = Uncut

| rev10score = 9/10{{cite magazine |title=Cocteau Twins: Head Over Heels / Treasure |magazine=Uncut |issue=252 |date=May 2018 |last=Bonner |first=Michael |page=44}}

}}

Treasure is considered by many fans to be the band's finest work, and has received critical acclaim. Upon its release, Smash Hits Ian Cranna gave the album an 8 out of 10 rating, finding Cocteau Twins on their third album in a "noticeably lighter mood. The songs are airier, almost swinging, with more delicate acoustic guitar than the familiar electric razzle" and noting Elizabeth Fraser's vocals that "soars, weaves or whispers through the instrumental mix (,,,) to build beguiling, impressionist pieces based on vaguely Victorian names." Steve Sutherland in Melody Maker described the album as "true brilliance" and stated that the band were "the voice of God".{{cite magazine |first=Steve |last=Sutherland |title=? [Cocteau Twins: Treasure review] |magazine= Melody Maker |date= 10 November 1984}}

Retrospectively, Pitchfork wrote, "Cocteau Twins' third album was titled simply enough. Treasure was an adjective for the endlessly inventive melodic lines you'd find buried in these songs, and a verb for what you'd do with them for years to come", and noted that the record signalled the start of Cocteau Twins' "signature ethereality". Ned Raggett of AllMusic complimented its "accomplished variety", saying, "Treasure lives up to its title and then some as a thorough and complete triumph". BBC Online wrote, "Treasure was where the Cocteau Twins first got it 100 percent right".{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/2v25 |title=BBC – Music – Review of Cocteau Twins – Treasure |last=Jones |first=Chris |date=22 August 2008 |work=bbc.co.uk |access-date=24 August 2012}} {{cite web |first=Ned |last=Raggett |date=24 February 2016 |title=Cocteau Twins – 10 of the best |website=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/feb/24/cocteau-twins-10-of-the-best |access-date=14 December 2020}}

In March 2018, the album was repressed on 180g vinyl using new masters created from high definition files transferred from the original analogue tapes.{{cite web|url=http://4ad.com/news/870 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707235610/http://4ad.com/news/870 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2018 |title=Cocteau Twins : 'Head Over Heels' and 'Treasure' Represses |publisher=4ad |date=16 January 2018|access-date=2 July 2018}}

Jeff Terich of Treblezine placed the album on his list of best dream pop albums, stating: "In contrast to the band's more abrasive post-punk albums that arrived earlier, Treasure is an exercise in making beauty seem alien, and making alienation seem sublime, for that matter".{{cite web | url=http://www.treblezine.com/10-best-dream-pop-albums/ | title=10 Essential Dream Pop Albums | publisher=Treblezine | date=5 April 2012 | access-date=27 October 2015 | author=Terich, Jeff}} Slant Magazine listed the album at No. 74 on its list of the best albums of the 1980s,{{cite web |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/feature/best-albums-of-the-1980s/308/page_3 |title=Best Albums of the 1980s | Music | Slant Magazine |date=5 March 2012 |work=Slant Magazine |access-date=24 August 2012}} while NME named Treasure the 37th best album of 1984.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/bestalbumsandtracksoftheyear/1984 |title=Albums and Tracks of the Year: 1984 |work=nme.com |access-date=3 January 2013}} Pitchfork listed Treasure as the 27th best album of the 1980s.{{cite web |title=The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s |url=https://cocteautwins.com/press-and-news/2018/09/10/the-200-best-albums-of-the-1980s-pitchfork/ |website=cocteautwins.com |access-date=30 January 2025 |language=en}} Paste magazine's Josh Jackson listed the album at No. 38 on his list of "The 50 Best Post-Punk Albums", describing it as "the first full realization of the band's ethereal pop sound".{{cite web | url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/07/the-50-best-post-punk-albums.html | title=The 50 Best Post-Punk Albums | work=Paste | date=13 July 2016 | access-date=26 August 2016 | author=Jackson, Josh}} PopMatters included it in their list of the "12 Essential 1980s Alternative Rock Albums" saying, "Fraser's ability to deliver her nonsensical lyrics with the diaphanous touch of a moth or with the muscle of a ravenous lion is astonishing". Jennifer Makowsky concluded that "Treasure is an aptly titled album".{{cite web |last=Makowsky |first=Jennifer |url=https://www.popmatters.com/184696-184696-hope-despite-the-times-12-essential-alternative-rock-albums-f-2495629508.html |title=Hope Despite the Times: 12 Essential Alternative Rock Albums from the 1980s |website=PopMatters |date=11 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130125416/https://www.popmatters.com/184696-184696-hope-despite-the-times-12-essential-alternative-rock-albums-f-2495629508.html |access-date=11 February 2020|archive-date=2018-11-30 }} The album was included in the 2008 edition of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.{{cite book|author1=Robert Dimery|author2=Michael Lydon|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=7 February 2006|publisher=Universe|isbn=0-7893-1371-5}} In Beautiful Noise, the shoegaze/dream pop documentary, Robert Smith of the Cure calls it one of the most romantic records ever recorded, so much that he played it as he was getting ready on his wedding day.{{cite web |title=Treasure, by Cocteau Twins |url=https://musicaficionado.blog/2018/10/31/treasure-by-cocteau-twins/ |website=The Music Aficionado |access-date=30 January 2025 |date=31 October 2018}} Music critic Jim DeRogatis called Treasure the “strongest” of the band's early releases.{{Cite book |last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |title=Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock |publisher=Hal Leonard |year=2003 |pages=511}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side A

| all_writing = Cocteau Twins (Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde)

| title1 = Ivo

| length1 = 3:53

| title2 = Lorelei

| length2 = 3:43

| title3 = Beatrix

| length3 = 3:11

| title4 = Persephone

| length4 = 4:20

| title5 = Pandora (for Cindy)

| length5 = 5:35

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side B

| title1 = Amelia

| length1 = 3:31

| title2 = Aloysius

| length2 = 3:26

| title3 = Cicely

| length3 = 3:29

| title4 = Otterley

| length4 = 4:04

| title5 = Donimo

| length5 = 6:19

}}

Initial pressings of the Canadian LP release included the "Aikea-Guinea" 12" single as a bonus.

Cocteau Twins

• Elizabeth Fraser – vocals, production
• Robin Guthrie – guitar, production
• Simon Raymonde – bass guitar, production

Production

• Droston J. Madden – engineering
• Jon Turner – engineering
• 23 Envelope – sleeve design

{{reflist|2}}

• Raymonde, Simon. In One Ear: Cocteau Twins, Ivor Raymonde and Me. Nine Eight Books, 2024. {{isbn|978-1-7887-0938-5}}

• {{Discogs master |5232 |Treasure|type=album}}

{{Cocteau Twins}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cocteau Twins albums

Category:1984 albums

Category:4AD albums