On this album Fraser and Guthrie created a much more simply beautiful effort, with a relaxed air to it. Rhythms are subtler, with bass and drum machine often totally eschewed in favor of Guthrie's delicate guitar filigrees and lush, produced textures.

Compiled by Cocteau Twins and remastered by Robin Guthrie, this collection is taken from their golden era which spanned seven LPs of studio material and nine singles and serves as an introduction to the delights of this remarkable band.

The Pink Opaque is a lovely taster for anyone wanting to discover the peerless early years of the Cocteaus, with ten tracks cherry picked from the first three records and some rare, non-album singles.

Their third album, which debuts Simon Raymonde on bass, had the band scaling new heights and the accomplished variety is what stands out. Treasure lives up to its title and then some as a thorough and complete triumph.

Recorded mostly as a duo of Fraser and Guthrie, the album introduces a variety of different shadings and approaches to the incipient Cocteaus sound, pointing the band towards the exultant, elegant beauty of later releases.

Those who only know the band's other material will likely be more than a little surprised on hearing Garlands for the first time. This debut owes more to the nascent gothic scene with it's deep, heavy mood verging on doom and gloom.