[Turbo Land] -- Forty years ago, in April 1986, two bands that could not be more different from each other released new albums into their respective catalogs. One was a dreamy, ethereal experience. The other was a harsher, yet glammed up, experiment with a then new instrument. I'm talking about Victorialand by Cocteau Twins and Turbo by Judas Priest.
Turbo – Judas Priest released the US version of their 10th studio album 40 years ago this week on April 14, 1986; it had already been released in the UK as of April 7, 1986. Much more glam than their previous releases, this record also found Judas Priest's guitarists experimenting with guitar synthesizers, specifically the Roland G-707 Guitar Synthesizer. That experimentation, which did result in a more pop-friendly sound served with some cheesy lyrics, did not seem to adversely impact commercial viability. Turbo sold well enough for Gold certification, and it reached #33 in the UK while also peaking at #17 on Billboard 200, their highest charting to date (an achievement they would not exceed until 2005). It might be one of the most, if not the most, divisive album in Priest's catalog. Back in 2008, vocalist Rob Halford said:
The only agenda we've ever had in Priest was to really give every album its own life and I think we've achieved that on everything from Rocka Rolla up to the new one, Nostradamus. That said, if ever there was a controversial record in terms of what people might have expected from us, it's Turbo. It was the fact that we moved into a different atmosphere, but that's where we were at that particular time. Some of the technological advances like the pedal boards that Glenn and KK used were giving us options for different sounds and experimentation. Personally I think there are still some great tracks on that album ... It's one of the recordings that divide opinion. [Kerrang!. No. 1211. p. 52.]
The singles – "Turbo Lover", "Locked In", and "Parental Guidance" – all have hints (to my ears) of guitar synth, more as supportive layers than the primary focus. The more, shall we say aggressive, experiment with the Roland instrument is definitely "Out in the Cold", a ballad with not only heavy guitar-synth bordering on keyboards, but also a multi-tracking of Halford's vocals to a point I don't recall in prior songs. And, I have to admit, I quite like it. However, the use of guitar-synth in some of the other songs (such as "Hot for Love" and "Wild Nights, Hot & Crazy Days") feel like last-minute add-ons; in my opinion, those riffs could be removed from the mix and the song would not miss it.
Victorialand – Released in the UK on April 14, 1986, Victorialand was the fourth studio LP from the Scottish band, Cocteau Twins. The album peaked at #10 in the UK, but didn't chart anywhere else as best I can determine. As I mentioned in this post's intro, Victorialand is dreamy and ethereal. With song titles like "Lazy Calm", "Fluffy Tufts", and "Little Spacey", how could it be otherwise? The lyrics are largely indecipherable. But with these lush, acoustic arrangements, the vocals feel more like an additional instrument rather than poetry or even storytelling. This outing is pretty much the duo of Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) and Robin Guthrie (instruments/production) as bassist Simon Raymonde was no longer in the fold.
Victorialand received mixed reviews, but most critics were at least somewhat kind. Retrospectively, the Spin Alternative Record Guide (1995) judged the album as Cocteau Twins' "simplest" and "most beautiful". And it is, indeed, a beautiful listen. And while it might not demand much of your attention, you will come away with a richly rewarding experience.
Now, on to the music. 🎶
Flashback: Turbo (April 14, 1986)
Flashback #2: Earth Run (April 1986)
And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
See you in seven!
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