Cocteau Twins

Cocteau Twins were an influential and prolific British band formed in 1980, their music becoming nearly synonymous with their record label 4AD. Their trademark sound of layered, ethereal guitar and indecipherable vocals inspired the 1990s shoegazing genre, which included numerous bands such as Lush, Slowdive, Pale Saints, and My Bloody Valentine.

Mid-90s and the breakup

1995 saw the release of two new EPs: Twinlights and Otherness. The former consisted of four gentle acoustic songs, recorded with only piano, acoustic guitar and voice; Otherness, by contrast, was a collaboration with Seefeel's Mark Clifford, and featured four electronic remixes of Cocteau Twins' songs. Both EPs were labeled 'experimental' by the press, since they were very different from the EPs the band released in the past.

Related Topics:
1995 - Piano - Acoustic guitar - Voice - Seefeel - Mark Clifford - EPs

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As it turned out, some of the tracks on both Twinlights and Otherness were versions of songs from the band's eighth album, Milk and Kisses (1996). The record, which some hailed as a "return to form," with heavily layered guitars and voice (Fraser began once again to obscure her lyrics, though not entirely), was released to somewhat mixed reviews. There were two singles for it, Tishbite and Violaine (both exist in two versions, with different b-sides included on each). The band, augmented by an extra guitarist and a drummer, toured extensively to support the album--their last with Mercury--and in live performances seemed to have found a cohesive freshness and power that had been lacking on their previous outing in 1993/94. A new song, "Touch Upon Touch," which debuted during the live shows and was recorded later in 1996, was the last Cocteau Twins song ever released.

Related Topics:
Milk and Kisses - 1996 - B-side - Guitarist - Drummer - 1993 - 94

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

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Fans of the group weren't however, left entirely empty-handed. In 1999, Bella Union released a double-CD compilation entitled BBC Sessions. The collection is a complete record of the band's appearances on UK radio programs from 1983 to 1996, with some rare and/or unreleased material included. In 2000, 4AD released Stars and Topsoil, a compilation of selected songs--hand-picked by the band members--released during their years with 4AD, all digitally remastered by Robin Guthrie. Finally, in 2003, 4AD followed Stars and Topsoil with re-releases of digitally remastered versions of the first six Cocteau Twins LPs.

Related Topics:
1999 - Bella Union - 2000 - 2003 - LPs

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The former members of Cocteau Twins have remained active musically in the years since the band's demise. Guthrie and Raymonde formed the record label Bella Union, and have produced releases from new bands signed to that label. Raymonde has released the solo album Blame Someone Else. Guthrie released his first solo effort Imperial and continues to create music with his band Violet Indiana.

Related Topics:
Bella Union - Blame Someone Else - Imperial - Violet Indiana

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Elizabeth Fraser provided vocals for three songs on Massive Attack's Mezzanine in 1998, all seven tracks on Future Sound Of London's 1994 EP Lifeforms and several tracks on the Lifeforms LP, the soundtrack to the film adaptation of ' (and the second installment: '), as well as for other, less known projects and groups. She has been rumoured to be working on a solo album for some time.

Related Topics:
Massive Attack - Mezzanine - 1998 - Future Sound Of London - Lifeforms

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On January 312005 Cocteau Twins announced that they would be reforming to perform at the Coachella Festival on April 302005, and later indicated that additional tour dates through the fall would be added. On March 16th, however, the reunion was cancelled, with Fraser pulling out for "personal reasons."

Related Topics:
January 31 - 2005 - Coachella Festival - April 30 - March 16th

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