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Cocteau Twins

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Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins in 1986, from L-R: Simon Raymonde, Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie
Cocteau Twins in 1986, from L-R: Simon Raymonde, Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie
Background information
OriginGrangemouth,Scotland
Genres
Years active1979–1997
Labels
Past members
Websitecocteautwins

Cocteau Twinswere a Scottishrockband active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed inGrangemouthbyRobin Guthrie(guitars,drum machine) and Will Heggie (bass), addingElizabeth Fraser(vocals) in 1981 and replacing Heggie with multi-instrumentalistSimon Raymondein 1983. The group earned critical praise for their ethereal,effects-laden sound and thesopranovocals of Fraser, whose lyrics often eschew any recognisable language.[1]Fraser's vocals included unknown words she found in foreign language books, adding to the band's dreamy ambience.[2][3]They pioneered the 1980salternativesubgenre ofdream pop[4][5]and helped define what would becomeshoegaze.[6][7]

They signed with the record label4ADin 1982 and released their debut albumGarlands.[1]The addition of Raymonde in 1983 solidified their final lineup, which produced their biggest hit in the UK, "Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops",peaking at No. 29 on theUK Singles Chart.In 1988 Cocteau Twins signed withCapitol Recordsin the United States, distributing their fifth album,Blue Bell Knoll,through a major label in the country. After the 1990 release of their most commercially successful album,Heaven or Las Vegas,the band left 4AD forFontana Records,where they released their final two albums.

After nearly 20 years together, the group disbanded in 1997 in part due to issues stemming from the disintegration of Fraser and Guthrie's romantic relationship. In 2005 the band announced that they would reunite to headlineCoachella Festivaland embark on a world tour but the reunion was cancelled a month later after Fraser "couldn’t bring herself to work with Guthrie".[8]In a 2021 interview, Raymonde claimed that Cocteau Twins "will never reform".[9]

History[edit]

1979–1983: Early years[edit]

Guthrie and Heggie, both fromGrangemouth,Scotland, formed the band in 1979.[10]They met the 17-year-old Fraser in 1981 at a local disco, The Hotel International, where Guthrie wasDJing,and she became the group's vocalist.[1]

Doctor WhoactorPeter Capaldirecalls that the Cocteau Twins were the support act for his band The Dream Boys at a gig at a hotel inGrangemouth,for which he did a runner and failed to pay them because the door takings did not cover the cost of his van hire.[11]

Prior to releasing their debut album, the band recorded a four track session forJohn Peelin June 1982, including "Wax and Wane" and "Garlands".[12]Their debut LPGarlands,released through 4AD in July 1982,[13]was a sales success, peaking at number 14 in the indie albums chart in the UK.Soundswrote that the style of the band was "mi xing strongSiouxsie and the BansheesandJoy Divisioninfluences ".[14]NME's Don Watson compared it togothic rockbands such asGene Loves JezebelandXmal Deutschland,[15]whileSpinmagazine's Sue Cummings compared it in 1986 to Siouxsie and the Banshees andBauhaus.[16]It was followed by the EPLullabiesin October. In April 1983 the band released a second EP,Peppermint Pig.[1]

Cocteau Twins' sound on their first three recordings relied on the combination of Heggie's rhythmic basslines, Guthrie's minimalist guitar melodies, and Fraser's voice. The band's next full-lengthLP record,Head over Heels,relied solely on the latter two, following Heggie's amicable departure after the tour that followed the release ofPeppermint Pig(he would later joinLowlife).[1]This led to the characteristic Cocteau Twins sound: Fraser's voice, by turns ethereal and operatic, combined with increasingly effects-heavy guitar playing by Guthrie[1](who has often said that he is far more interested in the way the guitar is recorded than in the actual notes being played, though he later admitted that his reliance on effects and layering was initially due to his own technical limitations).[17]

In 1983 the band participated in 4AD'sThis Mortal Coilproject, which spawned a cover version ofTim Buckley's "Song to the Siren"(performed by Guthrie and Fraser). Despite appearing under the This Mortal Coil name, the cover has subsequently become one of the best-known Cocteau Twins tracks. During the TMC sessions, Guthrie and Fraser became acquainted with another project contributor, multi-instrumentalist Simon Raymonde (formerly a member ofDrowning Craze), who joined Cocteau Twins later that year.[1]

1984–1989: Rise to fame[edit]

Cocteau Twins promotional shoot to promote the release ofThe Moon and the Melodies(1986)

With Raymonde, the band released a series of critically acclaimed albums and EPs that explored their new style. These includedThe Spangle Maker(1984),Treasure(1984),Aikea-Guinea(1985),Tiny Dynamine(1985),Echoes in a Shallow Bay(1985), andLove's Easy Tears(1986). Raymonde, who was called in to work on the second album by This Mortal Coil, did not participate in the recording of the fourth Cocteau Twins LP,Victorialand(1986), a predominantly acoustic record which featured only Guthrie and Fraser. Raymonde returned to the group forThe Moon and the Melodies(1986), a collaboration withambientcomposerHarold Budd,[1]which was not released under the Cocteau Twins name, instead being credited to all four participating musicians Alpha betically.

In 1985 4AD signed an agreement withRelativity Recordsfor distribution of Cocteau Twins releases in the US and other territories. To commemorate the event, the compilationThe Pink Opaque(1985) was released as a way of introducing the new, broader audience to the band's back catalogue.

While remaining a 4AD band internationally, Cocteau Twins finally signed a major-label contract withCapitol Recordsin 1988 for distribution in the United States, and released their fifth album,Blue Bell Knoll,in September of that year.[18]The US promotional only single "Carolyn's Fingers"was heavily played on the U.S. radio stations, peaking at No. 2 onBillboard'sAlternative Songschart.[19]

1990–1994: Mainstream success[edit]

The group releasedHeaven or Las Vegasin early 1990.[18]The most commercially successful of their many recordings, the album reached number seven in theUK Albums Chartimmediately after its release.[20]Despite the success of the record and the subsequent concert tours, not everything was well with the band. They parted ways with 4AD followingHeaven or Las Vegaspartly because of conflicts with the label's founderIvo Watts-Russell,and were close to breaking up over internal problems due in large part to Guthrie's substance abuse.[21]

While on their international tour supportingHeaven or Las Vegas,the group signed a new recording contract withMercury Recordssubsidiary Fontana for the UK and elsewhere, while retaining their US relationship with Capitol. They added several live musicians to their touring band during this era, to better replicate the layered sound of their studio albums. In 1991 4AD and Capitol released a box set that compiled the band's EPs from 1982 to 1990, and also included a bonus disc of rare and previously unreleased material.

Fraser and Guthrie had a daughter, Lucy Belle, born in 1989. The couple ended their 13-year relationship in 1993.[22]The band's seventh LP,Four-Calendar Café,their first since Fraser and Guthrie's separation, was released in late 1993.[10]The band explained thatFour-Calendar Caféwas a response to the turmoil that had engulfed them in the intervening years, with Guthrie entering rehab and quitting alcohol and drugs, and Fraser undergoing psychotherapy.

1995–1997:Milk & Kissesand break-up[edit]

1995 saw the release of two new EPs:TwinlightsandOtherness.Some of the tracks onTwinlightsandOthernesswere versions of songs from the band's eighth album,Milk & Kisses(1996).[1]The record saw the return of more heavily layered guitars, and Fraser began once again to obscure her lyrics, though not entirely. Two singles were taken from the album: "Tishbite"and"Violaine";both exist in two CD versions, with differentB-sidesincluded on each. The band, augmented by an extra guitarist and a drummer, toured extensively to support the album, their last for Mercury/Fontana. A new song, "Touch Upon Touch", which debuted during the live shows and was recorded later in 1996 was also one of the two songs written and arranged by Fraser, Guthrie and Raymonde for Chinese pop singerFaye Wongfor her Mandarin albumFuzaoreleased in June 1996, the other being "Tranquil Eye" fromViolainereleased in October 1996.

In 1997 while recording what was to have been their ninth LP, the trio disbanded over irreconcilable differences in part related to the breakup of Guthrie and Fraser. While a number of songs were partially recorded and possibly completed, the band has stated that they will likely never be finished or released in any form.

1998–present: Post-breakup[edit]

Lead singer Elizabeth Fraser performing live in 2006

In 1999Bella Union,the record label founded by Guthrie and Raymonde, released a double-CD Cocteau Twins compilation entitledBBC Sessions.The collection is a complete record of the band's appearances on UK radio programs from 1982 to 1996, with rare and unreleased material included. In 2000 4AD releasedStars and Topsoil,a compilation of selected songs picked by the band members that had been released during their years with 4AD; all recordings had been digitally remastered by Guthrie. In 2003 4AD followedStars and Topsoilwith the release of digitally remastered versions of the first six Cocteau TwinsLPs.

In January 2005 Cocteau Twins announced that they would be reforming to perform at theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festivalon 30 April 2005, and later indicated that additional tour dates would be added. However, on 16 March, the reunion was cancelled after Fraser announced that she would not take part. In a 2009 interview Fraser said she could not go through the pain of sharing the stage with her former lover Guthrie, the issue behind the band's 1997 breakup.[21]Raymonde revealed that the band had also booked a 55-date world tour, which would have paid him £1.5 million.[8]Later in 2005 4AD released a worldwide limited edition of 10,000 compilation box set titledLullabies to Violaine,a 4-disc set that details every single and EP released from 1982 to 1996. This was shortly followed up by two 2-disc sets of the same names, known as Volume 1 and Volume 2.

Since March 2007 the band has startedpodcastsof exclusive material.[23]On 6 October 2008 Cocteau Twins were awarded theQ AwardsInspiration Award, which they accepted in a rare collective live appearance.[24][25]

In 2022 Fraser, Guthrie and Raymonde were awarded with the Visionary Award byThe Ivors Academy.[26]Fraser and Guthrie attended the award ceremony in London in May 2022 in a rare public appearance since the band's disbandment in 1997.[27]

Solo work[edit]

Guitarist Robin Guthrie performing in 2008

The former members of Cocteau Twins have remained active musically in the years since the band's demise. In addition to forming Bella Union, Guthrie and Raymonde have produced releases from new bands signed to that label.

Raymonde released the solo albumBlame Someone Elseas the first release on Bella Union. He also co-produced the posthumous album byBilly Mackenziefrom theAssociates,then went on to produce severalDomino Recordsartists likeJames Yorkston,Archie Bronson Outfit(whom he later managed) andClearlake.More recently he has produced the UK bandthe Duke Spirit,London-based duo Helene, former Golden Virgins frontman Lucas Renney and has mixed theMercury Prizenominated albumThe End of HistorybyFionn Regan.In his role running Bella Union, he has discovered such artists asLaura Veirs,Fleet Foxes,Midlake,Lift to Experience,the Low Anthem,I Break Horses,the CzarsandJohn Grant.The label is renowned for its long-term relationships with its artists, such asBeach Housewho released the first four of their albums with Bella Union, as haveDirty Three,Midlake etc. Raymonde picked up the Independent Record Company of the Year award at the Music Week Awards (as voted by UK independent retailers) in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Guthrie has released six solo albums –Imperial,Continental,Carousel,Emeralds,Fortune,andPearldiving– and eight EPs. He toured extensively with his band Violet Indiana, which included ex-Cocteau Twins guitarist Mitsuo Tate in the line-up. He has also scored the music for three movies —Gregg Araki'sMysterious Skin(in collaboration with Harold Budd),Dany Saadia's3:19 Nada Es Casualidad(a Mexican/Spanish production), and again with Gregg Araki and Harold Budd on the score and the soundtrack ofWhite Bird in a Blizzard.He reunited with Budd to collaborate on two companion albums,Before the Day BreaksandAfter the Night Falls,and the albumsBordeaux,Winter Garden(a collaboration that included Italian electronica artistEraldo Bernocchi), andAnother Flower,which was released after Budd's passing in 2020. In 2006 Guthrie produced three songs onMahogany'sConnectivity.He also produced and played guitar onApollo Heightsdebut album,White Music for Black People.

Fraser provided guest vocals onthe Future Sound of London's single "Lifeforms"(1993), vocals for three songs onMassive Attack'sMezzaninein 1998 (as well as touring with them several times), and for other musical projects and groups. She wrote the lyrics and sang the vocals for "Teardrop"by Massive Attack which was released as a single in 1998 and reached number 10 in the UK singles chart.[28]Fraser provided the vocals for "Lament for Gandalf" onThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringsoundtrack.In 2000 she sang withPeter GabrielonOvo (The Millennium Show).In 2005 she worked with Breton musicianYann Tiersenon two songs for his albumLes retrouvailles.In 2009 she released the single "Moses" onRough Trade.[29]

Musical style and influences[edit]

"The Spangle Maker"
Sample of "The Spangle Maker", (1984)
Problems playing this file? Seemedia help.

Cocteau Twins' early recordings were classified in thegothic rock[30][31][32][33]andpost-punkgenres.[34]The band's influences at the time they formed includedThe Birthday Party(drummerPhill Calvertencouraged the group to sign to 4AD),[35]Sex Pistols,Kate BushandSiouxsie and the Banshees[36](Fraser had Siouxsie tattoos on her arms for several years).[37][38]The band was named after the earlySimple Mindssong "The Cocteau Twins" (later rewritten as "No Cure").[39]As the band's sound developed, their subsequent music was classified asdream pop,[4][40]darkwave[41]andethereal wave.[citation needed]

Cocteau Twins' music has influenced numerous artists in different genres, includingSlowdive,[42]Quicksand,[43]Deftones,the Weeknd,Napalm Death,John Grant,andPrince.[44]

Members[edit]

Touring contributors:

  • Ben Blakeman – additional guitars (1990–1994)
  • Mitsuo Tate – additional guitars (1989–1996)
  • Benny Di Massa– drums (1994–1996)
  • David Palfreeman – percussion (1993–1996)

Discography[edit]

Main article:Cocteau Twins discography

Bibliography[edit]

  • The First Time I Heard Cocteau Twins(2012), edited by Scott Heim. Rosecliff Press.
  • Manuceau, Jean-Christophe (2013).Cocteau Twins, Des Punks Célestes.Camion Blanc.ISBN9782357793309.Retrieved17 April2014.

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdefghiAnkeny, Jason."Cocteau Twins' Biography".AllMusic.Archivedfrom the original on 8 September 2011.Retrieved8 March2012.
  2. ^"The nonsense lyrics at the centre of Cocteau Twins' best songs".faroutmagazine.co.uk.6 July 2023.Retrieved7 May2024.
  3. ^Elizabeth Fraser talks about her lyrics.Retrieved7 May2024– via youtube.
  4. ^ab"Dream Pop Music Genre Overview – AllMusic".AllMusic.Archivedfrom the original on 12 September 2019.Retrieved15 March2018.
  5. ^Reynolds, Simon(1 December 1991),"Pop View; 'Dream-Pop' Bands Define the Times in Britain",The New York Times,archivedfrom the original on 2 September 2020,retrieved7 March2010
  6. ^Troussé, Stephen (15 December 2021)."Ultimate genre guide: shoegaze".Uncut.
  7. ^Parys, Bryan (13 September 2019)."Do You Shoegaze?: a primer on the underground genre".Berklee.
  8. ^abAnonymous (30 November 2009)."Elizabeth Fraser breaks silence about aborted Cocteau Twins reunion, releases new single".Slicing Up Eyeballs.Archivedfrom the original on 13 April 2020.Retrieved13 April2020.
  9. ^"Cocteau Twins' 'Milk & Kisses' Turns 25: Bassist Simon Raymonde revisits the band's swan song".Spin.15 March 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 16 March 2021.Retrieved18 March2021.
  10. ^abColin Larkin,ed. (2000).All Time Top 1000 Albums(3rd ed.).Virgin Books.p. 105.ISBN0-7535-0493-6.
  11. ^Sayle, Alexei (19 December 2023)."A Very Capaldi Christmas! Part 1: The Dreamboys (with Peter Capaldi)".The Alexei Sayle Podcast(Podcast). Audioboom. Event occurs at 58:00.Retrieved4 June2024.
  12. ^Peel Sessions: Cocteau Twins 21/06/1982Archived20 January 2022 at theWayback MachineBBC
  13. ^"Cocteau Twins: Garlands".Cocteau Twins.Archivedfrom the original on 27 July 2021.Retrieved6 July2022.
  14. ^Prince, Bill (11 September 1982). "New 2 U: Cocteau Twins".Sounds.
  15. ^Watson, Don (6 November 1982)."The Cocteau Twins: Fun From Falkirk – Fat Chance?".New Musical Express– via cocteautwins.
  16. ^Sue Cummings:"The Pink Opaque",Cocteau Twins review, p. 28,SPINmagazine, March 1986
  17. ^Paynes, Steph: "Robin Guthrie",Guitar Player,25(2):25–26, 1991.
  18. ^"Cocteau Twins".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on 17 November 2021.Retrieved13 April2020.
  19. ^"Cocteau Twins, UK charts, Albums".Officialcharts.Archivedfrom the original on 8 November 2014.Retrieved8 August2012.
  20. ^abSimpson, Dave (26 November 2009)."Elizabeth Fraser: the Cocteau Twins and me".The Guardian.London.Archivedfrom the original on 22 June 2013.Retrieved30 December2011.
  21. ^Bush, Calvin (8 October 1993)."These Childish Things".The List.Archivedfrom the original on 20 January 2022.Retrieved28 June2019.
  22. ^"Cocteau Twins offer previously unreleased live tracks via podcast".Side-line.22 February 1999.Archivedfrom the original on 6 September 2013.Retrieved30 December2011.
  23. ^"Q Song Awards".Wn.Archivedfrom the original on 20 January 2022.Retrieved30 December2011.
  24. ^"Cocteaus an Inspiration – Q Awards 2008".Qawards.co.uk.29 June 2005. Archived fromthe originalon 14 June 2013.Retrieved17 April2014.
  25. ^"The Ivors | the Ivors Academy | Champions of Music Creators".Ivorsacademy.18 May 2023.
  26. ^"The official website for independent record label 4AD".4ad.
  27. ^"Artists".Officialcharts.Archivedfrom the original on 20 January 2022.Retrieved15 October2019.
  28. ^Elizabeth Fraser releases new single "Moses".Archived6 September 2013 at theWayback MachineSide-line. 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  29. ^"10 Essential Gothic Rock Albums".Treblezine.27 October 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 19 July 2021.Retrieved15 March2018.
  30. ^Dale, Jessica (4 August 2020)."A New Generation Love This Classic Goth Group Because Of (You Guessed It...) TikTok".TheMusic.Retrieved11 November2022.
  31. ^"The Story of Goth in 33 Songs".Pitchfork. 25 October 2017.Retrieved11 November2022.
  32. ^Pearis, Bill (30 October 2020)."Classic Goth's 13 Greatest Albums".Brooklyn Vegan.Retrieved11 November2022.
  33. ^"cocteau twins – history".Cocteautwins.Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2007.Retrieved15 March2018.
  34. ^"cocteau twins | history | chapter 1: 1982".Cocteautwins.Archivedfrom the original on 31 May 2018.Retrieved15 October2019.
  35. ^Liz Fraser interview.Melody Maker.6 November 1993
  36. ^Chapman, Rob (July 1998)."Dark Side of the Spliff: Massive Attack".Mojo.Archived fromthe originalon 31 August 2016.Retrieved5 September2020."Have you met Liz?" 3D splutters with laughter. "[...] She loved our Siouxsie and the banshees sample off 'Metal Postcard' — she'd just had this Siouxsie and the Banshees tattoo removed from her arm.
  37. ^King, Richard (2012).How Soon is Now?: The Madmen and Mavericks who made Independent Music 1975–2005.Faber & Faber.ISBN978-0571243907.Colin Wallace, their friend, confident and roadie has come from the same background as Fraser; Heggie and Gutrhie. [...] he says, '[...] Elisabeth was a huge Siouxsie fan - she had Siouxsie tattoos which she's had lasered off since'.
  38. ^DeRiso, Nick (20 February 2020)."Simple Minds Never Wanted to Record 'Don't You (Forget About Me)'".Ultimate Classic Rock.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2020.Retrieved13 April2020.
  39. ^"The Story Behind the Music of 'Twin Peaks'".rollingstone.25 July 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 14 June 2018.Retrieved15 March2018.
  40. ^Isabella van Elferen, Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock:Goth Music: From Sound to Subculture.Routledge Studies in Popular Music, 2015,ISBN0-415-72004-4
  41. ^Trunick, Austin (12 August 2014)."Slowdive - Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell on the Bands That Inspired Them".undertheradarmag.Archivedfrom the original on 8 June 2023.Retrieved1 December2023.
  42. ^Hill, Stephen (9 November 2017)."Quicksand's track by track guide to new album Interiors".Louder.Archivedfrom the original on 25 April 2023.Retrieved27 October2023.It's a little bit of a homage to The Cocteau Twins, who are a really big influence on us...
  43. ^Pearis, Bill (17 September 2020)."Cocteau Twins' vast influence lives on:: 24 great artists they've inspired".Brooklyn Vegan.Retrieved11 November2022.

External links[edit]

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