The Moon and the Melodies

On the surface, Cocteau Twins and Harold Budd might seem like curious collaborators, the former known for their ethereal pop music, the latter for his contemplative classical moods. But this 1986 album finds Budd’s piano to be the perfect accompaniment for the band. His plinking keys effortlessly complement vocalist Elizabeth Fraser on gauzy songs like “Sea, Swallow Me” and “She Will Destroy You”, while on dark, drifting pieces like “Memory Gongs”, Budd’s echoing melodies seem to just melt into Robin Guthrie’s dreamlike guitar riffs.