Cocteau Twins
Biography
A group whose distinctly ethereal and gossamer sound virtually defined the enigmatic image of the record label 4AD, Cocteau Twins were founded in Grangemouth, Scotland, in 1979. Taking their name from an obscure song from fellow Scots Simple Minds, the Cocteaus were originally formed by guitarist Robin Guthrie and bassist Will Heggie and later rounded out by Guthrie's girlfriend Elizabeth Fraser, an utterly unique performer whose swooping, operatic vocals relied less on any recognizable language than on the subjective sounds and textures of verbalized emotions.
In 1982, the trio signed to 4AD, the arty British label then best known as the home of the Birthday Party, whose members helped the Cocteaus win a contract. The group debuted with Garlands, which offered an embryonic taste of their rapidly developing, atmospheric sound, crafted around Guthrie's creative use of distorted guitars, tape loops, and echo boxes and anchored in Heggie's rhythmic bass as well as an omnipresent Roland 808 drum machine. Shortly after the release of the Peppermint Pig EP, Heggie left the group, and Guthrie and Fraser cut 1983's Head Over Heels as a duo; nonetheless, the album largely perfected the Cocteaus' gauzy formula, and established the foundation from which the group would continue to work for the duration of its career.
Selected Discography
Lullabies to Violaine, Vol. 1
2006
Stars And Topsoil: A Collection (1982-1990)
2000
BBC Sessions
1999
Milk And Kisses
1996
Four-Calendar Cafe
1993
Head Over Heels
1983
Garlands
1982
like a previous commenter mentioned, formed the year I was born...someh o w took me 30yrs before I got a good listen, they are one of the few bands to live up to it's praise. good stuff
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Oh, and I totally agree with the comments about the live shows, despite being a diehard myself. ;)
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Actually, the Cocteaus broke up some time ago, much to the world's detriment (and my own eternal sadness). Robin Guthrie is doing some marvelous solo work, and he also teams up with Siobhan de Maré as Violet Indiana, which Pandora is lacking. Not the same caliber as CT, but how many times can one expect sheer perfection in a musical lifetime? Liz Fraser is scheduled to come out with a solo shot soon but I think it's been postponed. Best voice on planet earth.
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Music from the heavens. Ethereal bliss with voice of an angel. They truly are style and grace. They help your soul open and fly high even in the somber songs. They are really beyond words.
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glad you're still going strong... but let's get a new album out!!! please!
Your music changed my life. Such an enduring emotional hope in your voices, tones, even the dark songs leave you feeling deeper. It's like you perfected how to make music to allow humans to open their hearts and learn to feel, be okay with feeling. bravo! |
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Perhaps the greatest most under-recogn i z e d band in the history of modern pop/rock music. They created pop songs that were rejected by MTV, too avant garde for radio, too strange for alternative, but highly influential for so many musicians that came out of England... and yes Elizabeth Fraser is THE VOICE OF GOD.
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If I hear Liz's ethereal vocals when I die, I know I'm in the right place :)
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There is Cocteau Twins and then there is everything else when it comes to getting your fix of the particular dimension that Cocteau governs in time/space.
That said, I believe the root to the inspiration well that produced Cocteau is cut and never to be replicated as the particular ingredients of events and sociological group think that produced it are near extinct in today's You-Tube/My Space/porn-l i n k atmosphere. |
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Music that makes one question the lyrics. ;) Very good, though, and perfect for work where music with strong lyrics would be terribly distracting.
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i know that the word cocteau just sucks,so that probably narrowed thier popularity,o v e r a l l i havent heard alot of the songs but i notice that they dont have much of a thematic direction as a band,maybe thats why thier concerts came off schizophreni c . s o m e of the songs are really good like iceblink luck and b.of whirl-jack(s u n g with serious attitude).
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.......agree with comments below on studio vis live performing.. . . . . . . . . . . . . a f f i r m s bands like genesis, phil collins, eagles and others which almost always seem to be at their best in real time.
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As someone remarked online years ago, when the cocteau twins are playing, even the air molecules achieve transcendant bliss
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Been a fan since 1985 and still fascinated by their music.
"When Mama was moth" still gives me the chills after all these years. |
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Don't get me wrong regarding my post above. Cocteau Twins is one of the most brilliant, original, overlooked bands that has ever existed. Their music is truly in a world by itself. But CT was one of the worst concerts I have been to. Their best songs were weirdly done, nearly unrecognizab l e .
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Kenneth...
Excellent observation! ! If one enjoys their recordings, chances are a live show will only be a disappointme n t . Liz doesn't even attempt to duplicate her unique studio vocals and often substitutes strange sounds which totally miss the mark. I give them an A++++ for studio material. But, I only give them an C- for live concerts. ((Just great... this comment is bound to suffer the wrath of fanatical "coctheads" who love everything, including bizarre but bad concerts by the Twins.)) |
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I have seen the Cocteau Twins in concert here in Denver. In concert they were not what I expected. The year was like 1994. In concert I didn't care for them at all. It was terrible. Songs barely recognizable . It was a small venue. But the correspondin g light show was cool though. But I grew up on their albums through college. Still live them now in 2008 though. But anyone that has never heard of them does not know what they are MISSING!
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One is easily excused for never hearing of the Cocteau Twins...
most people haven't. But, once listening to them, your perception of music will be changed and your life on the sonic realm will be forever altered. There's a few other artists who might be compared to Robin and Liz, but none have so successfully taken ethereal music and made it their own. |
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Simply divine. Soul shattering, heart rending, and immensely inspiring in the sheer magnitude of beauty and light emanating from the music they have created. The stuff of Gods. Nuff said.
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Wow, here it is 2008 and I've never heard this band until now and I love the sound!
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Thank you Ivo, thank you Liz, Robin and friends, Thank you 4ad. You've touched many lives, you have been blessed. Cheers, Kyle
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The Cocteau Twins have been a huge part of the soundtrack to my life! They have especially influenced the music I write. Thank you Cocteau Twins...
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If it weren't for the Pink Opaque album, I would have never lived thru age 16. I don't care what Elizabeth was saying, lyrics or not, it was the way the syllables landed on the notes...the timing was impeccable and completely original. With that said, there would be no trip hop if it weren't for the Cocteau Twins. Much more to say but no one wants to hear my music drivol! BTW, my email, if anyone wants to email me I am at pinkopaque22 @ y a h o o . c o m . . . . . Y U P , a real live fan!
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wooooooowwoo o o o o d o o o o o o g o o o o o f o o o v o o d o o o v o d o o c v o o d s l a d ; l f j a s d f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f a s d f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l i l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l d d l d k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
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