"Four-Calendar Café" is the seventh studio album by the Scottish band Cocteau Twins, released on October 18, 1993, by Fontana Records. This marked their first release after leaving their former label, 4AD. To promote the album, two singles were released: "Evangeline" in September 1993 and "Bluebeard" in February 1994. The band's performance of "Bluebeard" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno was their debut on American television.
The album's creation was influenced by the personal turmoil faced by band members Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie, who had ended their 13-year relationship in 1993. Guthrie entered rehab during this time, while Fraser underwent psychotherapy. As a result, Four-Calendar Café is noted for being more direct and pop-oriented, with Fraser's lyrics more intelligible than in previous works. Guthrie described his approach as one of stripping back excess, focusing on more substantial ideas.
Fraser acknowledged the shift in style, noting the stark contrast between this album and earlier works like Blue Bell Knoll and Heaven or Las Vegas. The title of the album was inspired by William Least Heat-Moon's book Blue Highways, which reflects on the quality of restaurants based on the number of calendars displayed. The album cover features a photograph by Walter Wick, known for his work in children's literature.
Upon its release, Four-Calendar Café received recognition, with "Evangeline" achieving moderate success in several countries and "Bluebeard" performing well on U.S. modern charts. The album has been viewed as a significant departure from their earlier sound, garnering appreciation over time for its beauty and distinctiveness.
