SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: HAROLD BUDD, ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN GUTHRIE, SIMON RAYMONDE – THE MOON AND THE MELODIES

HAROLD BUDD, ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN GUTHRIE, SIMON RAYMONDE
THE MOON AND THE MELODIES
4AD

The Moon And The Melodies is a collaboration between four very talented artists, three of which were the three members of The Cocteau Twins. Harold Budd was an American composer and poet who passed away in 2020. He worked within the genre of avant-garde and minimal music. He also recorded music with Brian Eno, John Foxx and a post Cocteau Twins Robin Guthrie. This album was originally released in 1986, making it nearly 40 years old. And hearing it again in 2024, it is amazing to note that it has not aged one little bit.

The idea of Budd working with Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde is really a dream combination. Although Budd is a bit more avant-garde and experimental than the other three made the combination all the more interesting, much like when he collaborated with John Foxx (and on one release Guthrie was also involved). The music here has hints of The Cocteau Twins, but the addition of Budd makes it more sparse, more airy, and much less heavy than what one would expect from the three members of The Cocteau Twins. Jazz saxophonist Richard Thomas appears on the album, playing saxophone and drums.

It is also primarily an instrumental album, with Fraser singing only on four tracks.  The album gives her a chance to explore her own voice. On “Eyes And Mosaics” she seems to channel Yoko Ono in a more mellow mood. And in the context of the song, it works perfectly. When Fraser sings, on this song and others (such as the opening track “Sea, Swallow Me”) they are the most Cocteau Twins sounding songs. However other songs like “Ooze Out And Away, Onehow” in which she sings are very different from standard Cocteau Twins and are the most interesting.

“The Ghost Has No Home” has much more in common with Budd’s work. This quiet, meditative song features a forlorn piano, whereas the other song heavily influenced by Budd, the far too short “Bloody And Blunt” infuses a great deal from Guthrie and Raymonde. It is an incredible piece.

Guthrie was given the job remastering the album for 2024 vinyl and 2024 ears. It doesn’t sound that different from the original release. But it is nice to have back on vinyl after all these years. It does sound better than any streaming or download service and the CD reissues never really did the album justice. The Moon And The Melodies is a very delicate, moving album. It requires the warmth that only vinyl can produce and that is where the album belongs. Although the album has not aged, it is still a snapshot of an era of music where anything was really possible and allowed. Turning on the radio in 1986 (well, the cooler FM stations) one would hear this album played beside The Smiths, Human League and The Waterboys and it all fit together. Much like this collaboration. It was and is a brilliant album and its return should be celebrated.

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