Lullabies

Album review

The Twins' immediate follow-up to Garlands was something a little more energetic and just a touch friendlier all around, exchanging the album's sometimes trudging feeling for a more fun if still fairly moody set of three songs. "Feathers-Oar-Blades" has something of the rush of prime Siouxsie and the Banshees, often used by contemporaneous critics needing to compare the Twins to somebody. However, Fraser's vocals are her own gentle keening mystery, while Guthrie's rough guitar art and the rumbling punch of the drum machine equally have their own distinct appeal. "Alas Dies Laughing" uses heavy flanging much like Robert Smith did in his Cure recordings of the time to create a queasy, strange atmosphere; the song itself feels more like something that could have ended up on Garlands, but Fraser's more direct vocals mark it as a later performance. "It's All but an Ark Lark" concludes the EP, a lengthy fair enough mid-paced effort that fit in alongside many other Twins songs of the time, most notable for some of Guthrie's strong guitar work as the track progressed.
© Ned Raggett /TiVo