Cocteau Twins

Bio

Cocteau Twins were an innovative and influential Scottish dream pop band. Forming in 1979 in Grangemouth, Scotland, UK (the name taken from an obscure song by fellow Scots Simple Minds), they built a sound based on woozy atmospherics and singer Elizabeth Fraser's unmatchable vocals, most of which featured lyrics of made-up words and words plucked at random from the dictionary. Their first release was "Garlands" in 1982 on 4AD Records, which was received well. Founding member Will Heggie left the group in 1983 and soon joined fellow Grangemouth band Lowlife. The band's second full-length, "Head Over Heels", did enjoy more commercial and critical success than their first. In 1983, the two remaining members, Fraser and Robin Guthrie, were part of the first album recorded by This Mortal Coil, a supergroup put together by Ivo Watts-Russell, head of 4AD Records. The pair had a hit with a cover of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren", and met Simon Raymonde, who joined the band on bass. In April 1984 they released "Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops", the 12-inch that included "The Spangle Maker". It was their first to reach the national top 40. When it peaked at 29 they were asked to play Top of the Pops, but turned it down. The 1984 album "Treasure" followed, peaking at 29 on the UK album chart. A musical sidestep was to follow, as the Twins recorded a collaborative effort with minimalist composer Harold Budd, "The Moon And The Melodies" in 1985, and then a year later their next album, "Victorialand", was recorded without Raymonde (who was working on the second This Mortal Coil album) or drums. The resulting album is possibly the most ambient of all their releases. "Victorialand" hit the UK album chart top 10, their biggest hit to date. Following this, Raymonde returned and they recorded "Blue Bell Knoll", which was released in 1988 and was described by some critics as 'the voice of god'. 1990's "Heaven or Las Vegas" was possibly the most accessible album of their career, featuring fuller arrangements, for the first time Fraser singing recognizable lyrics (a few), and even what could be called a hit single, "Iceblink Luck". "Iceblink Luck" was another top 40 hit single, and "Heaven or Las Vegas" charted at number 7, becoming their biggest hit to date. Following this, two more albums were released, "Four-Calendar Cafe" in 1993 and "Milk and Kisses" in 1996; both charted inside the top 20. The band split up in 1997 following the breakup of Liz Fraser and Robin Guthrie. As with many 4AD bands, Cocteau Twins released many 12" singles and EPs, often featuring additional tracks not available on the full-length albums (yet complementary to them). In 2006, these were released as a 4-CD boxed set "Lullabies to Violaine", later made available as two double-CD compilations. . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Similar artists

Harold Budd, Simon Raymonde, Robin Guthrie & Elizabeth Fraser, This Mortal Coil, Cranes, Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine

Genres

alternative,dream pop,ethereal,post-punk,shoegaze,ethereal wave,gothic rock,ambient,electronic,4ad,british,scottish,classic pop and rock,uk,ambient techno,alternative rock,art pop,dream pop,ethereal wave,melancholia,new wave,scottish indie,shoegaze,synthpop,

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Infos

On Tour: No

country: GB

city: Grangemouth

Begin Date: 1981

Last Update:

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Videography

Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las Vegas (Official Video)

Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las Vegas (Official Video)

Aug/2025

Artist discography

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Last FM

The Black Sessions 1995

The Black Sessions 1995

Jan/2012

Treasure Deluxe

Treasure Deluxe

Jan/2010

Lullabies To Violaine - Volume 2

Lullabies To Violaine - Volume 2

Jan/2005

Lullabies To Violaine: Singles and Extended Plays 1982-1996

Lullabies To Violaine: Singles and Extended Plays 1982-1996

Jan/2005

Mourning Star: The Best of Cocteau Twins

Mourning Star: The Best of Cocteau Twins

Jan/1999

Milk & Kisses (Limited Edition)

Milk & Kisses (Limited Edition)

Jan/1996

Serpentskirt

Jan/1996

(A Taste Of) Milk And Kisses

(A Taste Of) Milk And Kisses

Jan/1996

Treasure Hiding: The Fontana Years

Treasure Hiding: The Fontana Years

Oct/2018

Four Calender Cafe

Four Calender Cafe

Jul/2006

Lullabies To Violaine (Volume One)

Lullabies To Violaine (Volume One)

Feb/2006

Four-Calender Cafe (Remastered)

Four-Calender Cafe (Remastered)

Jan/2006

Lullabies To Violaine

Lullabies To Violaine

Nov/2005

Stars and Topsoil: A Collection (1982-1990)

Stars and Topsoil: A Collection (1982-1990)

Oct/2000

Stars And Topsoil - A Collection 1982-1990

Stars And Topsoil - A Collection 1982-1990

Oct/2000

BBC Sessions

Oct/1999

Violaine

Jul/1996

Tishbite

Mar/1996

Otherness

Oct/1995

Twinlights

Sep/1995

Live @ Radio France Black Session (1995)

Live @ Radio France Black Session (1995)

Dec/1995

Lullabies TO Violaine (singles and extended plays 1982-1996)

Lullabies TO Violaine (singles and extended plays 1982-1996)

Nov/2005

Treasure Hiding (The Fontana Years)

Treasure Hiding (The Fontana Years)

Oct/2018

Lullabies to Violaine, Vol. 2 (Remastered)

Lullabies to Violaine, Vol. 2 (Remastered)

Mar/2006

Ethereal Wave

Sep/2022

selected works 83 to 96

selected works 83 to 96

Oct/2020

Milk & Kisses (2024 Remaster)

Milk & Kisses (2024 Remaster)

Jan/2024

Four-Calendar Café (2024 Remaster)

Four-Calendar Café (2024 Remaster)

Jan/2024

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