Seminal Scots indie act Cocteau Twins have re-released their collaboration with Harold Budd.

‘The Moon and the Melodies’ is available on vinyl for the first time since 1986.

The collaborative effort between the seminal trio and revered American composer has been remastered, from the original tapes, by Cocteaus guitarist Robin Guthrie.

Alongside its brand-new vinyl edition, the remastered record is also available to purchase on CD and is now up on streaming platforms.

‘The Moon and the Melodies’ is acknowledged as an unusually ethereal album, even by Cocteaus standards, and largely instrumental, guided by the free-form improvisations of Budd. It builds on the atmospheric sounds of ‘Victorialand’, released earlier the same year, and signalled a possible future for the trio – hwoever, it was a path they’d never take again.

Over the ensuing years, ‘The Moon and the Melodies’ has attracted a passionate fan base. Its most atmospheric tracks routinely turn up in ambient DJ sets. ‘Sea, Swallow Me’ is one of the Cocteau Twins’ most streamed songs on Spotify, having found a new life on TikTok, where it serves as the soundtrack to innumerable expressions of hard-to-express melancholy.

For such a low-key affair, the album casts a long shadow – but Raymonde believes the record’s uniqueness stems directly from its humble, unpremeditated origins. “It captured a moment in time between friends that are enjoying making music together. Really, that’s the essence of it.”

Guthrie recently spoke to The Yorkshire Post about collaborating with Harold Budd, and completed an interview with Spin magazine about the reissue .

The trackisting is as follows:

A1. Sea, Swallow Me
A2. Memory Gongs
A3. Why Do You Love Me?
A4. Eyes are Mosaics

B1. She Will Destroy You
B2. The Ghost Has No Home
B3. Bloody and Blunt
B4. Ooze Out and Away, Onehow

Cocteau Twins have also recently shared, for the first time, a full HD library of their music videos on the band’s new YouTube channel, upgraded using original masters found in both 4AD and Universal Music’s vaults. From 1984’s ‘Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops’ to 1996’s ‘Tishbite,’ these new uploads span the history of the band and excitingly bring a clarity that’s far closer to their original productions than anything that was previously available.

The band now have an official webstore, where Cocteau Twins t-shirts, totes, and sweaters are currently for sale – the first time the band has sold any official merch since 1997.

In current Cocteau Twins news, Elizabeth Fraser recently completed a tour with Massive Attack (their first run of shows in five years). At each date, she joined the band in their performance of a number of tracks, most notably a rendition of ‘Song to the Siren.’ She is also one half of Sun’s Signature with Massive Attack’s Damon Reece, whose self-titled album was released last year and was favourably reviewed by is this music?.

Last month, Robin Guthrie released ‘Atlas’, a four-track EP of newly recorded instrumentals that gently eases listeners back into his world and precedes more material to come.

Simon Raymonde’s new memoir, ‘In One Ear – Cocteau Twins, Ivor and Me’, will be released on 12 September. The book recalls the history of Cocteau Twins, as well as Simon’s own musical journey through childhood into present day.