Echoes in a Shallow Bay
Encyclopedia
Echoes in a Shallow Bay is an EP
by the Scottish rock group Cocteau Twins
, released on 4AD. The EP features four non-album tracks. It was issued on 29 November 1985 two weeks after another EP entitled Tiny Dynamine
. The two EP sets, which feature complementary artwork, were also released combined as double EP in a gatefold cover and as an 8 track CD. The EP was re-issued in 1991 as part of The Box Set
and in 2005 as part of the singles/EP collection Lullabies to Violaine
.
The band did not originally intend to release these songs to the general public, presumably explaining the decision to release the material on EPs, rather than as what would have been their fourth album. The tracks on Tiny Dynamine and Echoes in a Shallow Bay were initially recorded to test the production capacities of a new studio. When the band decided the material was strong enough for release, they completed the recording process and issued the finished product on two EPs.
"Pale Clouded White" has been performed live. A remastered version of the song appears on the 2000 compilation Stars and Topsoil
.
With Fraser's typically indecipherable lyrics it is difficult to be sure, but all the titles on the two EPs seem to have some link with Lepidoptera
(butterflies and moths). The Great Spangled Fritillary
is a butterfly and while there is no Pale Clouded White there is a Pale Clouded Yellow
(as well as several groups of butterflies commonly known as Whites
), while Mellonella is the specific name of the Wax Moth Galleria mellonella
. The lyrics of this track consist of Fraser reciting the scientific names of the families of British moths. Lepidoptera eggs do not have shells though.
Produced by Cocteau Twins. All tracks written by Cocteau Twins.
See also:
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by the Scottish rock group Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
, released on 4AD. The EP features four non-album tracks. It was issued on 29 November 1985 two weeks after another EP entitled Tiny Dynamine
Tiny Dynamine
Tiny Dynamine is an EP by the Scottish rock group Cocteau Twins, released on 4AD Records. The EP features four non-album tracks. It was issued on 15 November 1985, two weeks prior to another EP entitled Echoes in a Shallow Bay. The two EP sets, which feature complementary artwork, were also...
. The two EP sets, which feature complementary artwork, were also released combined as double EP in a gatefold cover and as an 8 track CD. The EP was re-issued in 1991 as part of The Box Set
The Box Set (Cocteau Twins)
The Box Set is a 1991 collection of EPs by the Scottish band Cocteau Twins. It collects their non-album releases up until that time. It also contains a bonus disc including songs from throughout their history which have not been otherwise released....
and in 2005 as part of the singles/EP collection Lullabies to Violaine
Lullabies to Violaine
Lullabies to Violaine is a Cocteau Twins boxset released by 4AD Records in October 2005. Comprising four CDs, the boxset collects the tracks from every Cocteau Twins EP from "Lullabies" to "Violaine".- CD One :#Lullabies...
.
The band did not originally intend to release these songs to the general public, presumably explaining the decision to release the material on EPs, rather than as what would have been their fourth album. The tracks on Tiny Dynamine and Echoes in a Shallow Bay were initially recorded to test the production capacities of a new studio. When the band decided the material was strong enough for release, they completed the recording process and issued the finished product on two EPs.
"Pale Clouded White" has been performed live. A remastered version of the song appears on the 2000 compilation Stars and Topsoil
Stars and Topsoil
Stars And Topsoil is a compilation album by the Scottish rock group Cocteau Twins, released on the 4AD label in October 2000. The album features tracks released between 1982 and 1990, covering every Cocteau Twins album from Garlands to Heaven or Las Vegas.-Track listing:# "Blind Dumb Deaf" - 3:47#...
.
With Fraser's typically indecipherable lyrics it is difficult to be sure, but all the titles on the two EPs seem to have some link with Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
(butterflies and moths). The Great Spangled Fritillary
Great Spangled Fritillary
- Description :The Great Spangled Fritillary is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It reaches 2 1/8 to 3" in wingspan. It is characterized by its orange color above with five black dashes near fore wing base and several iregualer black dashes at the base of the hind wing. In addition, two rows...
is a butterfly and while there is no Pale Clouded White there is a Pale Clouded Yellow
Pale Clouded Yellow
Pale Clouded Yellow is a small butterfly of the Family Pieridae, that is, the Yellows and Whites, which is found in most of Europe and large parts of Asia.-References:* Evans, W.H. The Identification of Indian Butterflies...
(as well as several groups of butterflies commonly known as Whites
Whites (butterfly)
Pieris, the whites or garden whites, is a widespread genus of butterflies of the family Pieridae. Many species of this genus have caterpillars which feed on cabbage and other members of the Brassicaceae...
), while Mellonella is the specific name of the Wax Moth Galleria mellonella
Galleria mellonella
The Greater Wax Moth or Honeycomb Moth is a moth of the family Pyralidae. It is the only member of the genus Galleria. It is found in most of the world, including Europe and adjacent Eurasia , and as an introduced species e.g...
. The lyrics of this track consist of Fraser reciting the scientific names of the families of British moths. Lepidoptera eggs do not have shells though.
Track listing
All tracks by Cocteau TwinsCocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
- "Great Spangled Fritillary" - 4:02
- "Melonella" - 4:05
- "Pale Clouded White" - 4:59
- "Eggs and Their Shells" - 3:06
Personnel
- Elizabeth FraserElizabeth FraserElizabeth Davidson Fraser is a Scottish singer best known as the vocalist for the pioneer alternative rock group Cocteau Twins...
- vocals - Robin GuthrieRobin GuthrieRobin Guthrie is a musician best known as co-founder of the Cocteau Twins. During his career Guthrie has played guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums and other musical instruments, in addition to programming, sampling and sound processing...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Simon RaymondeSimon RaymondeSimon Philip Raymonde is an English musician and record producer. He is the son of the late arranger and composer, Ivor Raymonde.-Career:...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Produced by Cocteau Twins. All tracks written by Cocteau Twins.
See also:
- 1985 in music1985 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...