Life saving. What a band. Discovered while I was in Princeton, NJ and hanging out with a more intellectual set. I'm a Rock/Metal guitarist so I was intrigued/impressed with Robin Guthrie's heavily modulated/chorused guitar tones. I love all great music, so the hypnotic music, coupled with Liz Fraser's Heavenly vocals had me hooked almost immediately. Fan for Life since the mid 1980s. They are Pure Magic.
They were just ahead of everyone, so many bands followed but never managed to reach their heights, still as relevant today, a music that never ages, productions wise still crisp , i have all their cd' s, loved them from the first day, we are the same age 58, brilliant to hear them tell us about their recording this classic album, in fact all their albums are classics, just so different to everyone else , joyous stuff, and Liz is still so beautiful
Such immense creativity and innate talent. I saw Robin perform (before Brendan Perry!) in a small space in DC. The wall of sound that washed over us was tremendous. What geniuses he and Liz are.
It was great to hear Pat Nevin pay homage to a great band. I knew he was a fan but I didn't know he spoke on radio about them. Thanks for letting us enjoy this too.
How wonderful to heqr these background details. They, in no way, detract from the glorious mystery of the songs, but add the real human stories behind their creation. I can quite understand how Robin could have locked himself away for delirious nights in the studio, high as a kite, polishing and burnishing these precious gems of songs! So much pain and sadness transformed into miracles!
I love Robin's voice! HOLV is one of my top three favorite Cocteau Twins albums and a good introductory album to anyone who has not heard them before. Interesting to hear more about the album.
Ppffff. You're an ignorant twat if you think that Cocteau Twins is "shoegazer" music. Also, My Bloody Valentine's stuff isn't worthy of being mentioned in the same paragraph as Cocteau Twins.
@@kipperfeast why must you be so fucking precious about it? FFS MBV exists well within the same sonic space that the Cocteaus do. The Cocteaus were part of the precursor of shoegaze, dream-pop. Frankly, you're an ignorant fuck if you ask me.
I get a bit annoyed at all the fans thinking of the cocteau twins as Elisabeth Frazier with a backing band, when it was the combination of her voice and the guitars that made the magic. Each alone wasn't that big of a deal, but the sum was far greater than the parts. They clearly inspired each other. Imagine the odds against a combination like that.
Outstanding. Four Calendar Café is amazing. Victorialand. Blue Bell Knoll. Treasure. All my faves. As a guitarist ive always been inspired by Robin Guthrie's sound and the band's production. Less we forget Liz Fraser and her angelic other worldly vocals. She worked with so may other artists. Peter Gabriel. Howard Shore on the LOTR movies. Just some examples. Their music used in Adverts and shows on TV . Timeless unique beauty.
+JonFEllis, She does,she does! But thanx to you too! Im surrounded by givers!! :) This is a fantastic piece of Cocteau treasure right here! Im into my 2nd listen! :)
The first CT album I bought was Treasure.I recently added to my collection.Although I have a few thousand tracks on my phone I have,for the past 6 months, gone back to Cocteau Twins.
I wish people would stop calling them shoegaze or dreampop or whatever else has been conjured up by people way way in retrospect. It's akin to calling Satie's Gymnopedies 'chillout music'.....call it what you like, of course but just remember it was nothing of the sort when it was actually released.
But they literally were the forebearers of shoegaze/dreampop. AR Kane invented the term dream pop in the late 80s, and shoegaze came around in 1990 I think, meaning that they were releasing music while those terms were created. So there is nothing wrong with calling them Dream Pop in retrospect, because they essentially personify the concept.
This album. Amazing. I remember when it came out and had this on cassette. The old school 4ad cassettes. Nearly wore it out. I traded the cassette in to get the CD a couple years later. Should have kept it. Anyone who says other CT releases are better are sorely mistaken.
@@OttoNommik No they didn't. Capitol was who they signed with in the USA prior to Blue Bell Knoll. They were on 4ad until HOLV, they left the label afterwards and joined Fontana, who put out 4CC and Milk and Kisses. You can even find some earlier Cocteau releases from the US on Relativity, who released Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.
@@OttoNommik All of the Cocteau Twins U.K. releases from 1982-1990 were released on 4AD, so that includes Heaven or Las Vegas. Their first record to be released in the U.S. was the Pink Opaque comp from late '85 on Relativity Records, they also had an EP & their collaboration with Harold Budd on Relativity, all other U.S. releases were on Capitol. Both Blue Bell Knoll & HOLV were definitely on 4ad.
Heaven or Las Vegas isn't they're best work maybe in the medias eyes. Real fans acknowledge all the bodies of work imo I perfer the old stuff like Treasure, Garlands, etc the post punk goth sound. Although fifty fifty clown is one of my favorite songs Liz voice shines so brilliantly chanting "emotions are hard".
I couldn’t agree more. Yeah yeah, you’re a genius, Robin. We get it. Sheesh. At least Liz was unabashedly gracious. Painfully shy, but totally genuine.
I adore the Cocteau Twins. Every LP "shines" for me. Although... I do think there's a correlation between the loss of Ms. Fraser's Scots accent (her ego's paralell rise) and the band's eventual demise. I uses to think she was a sweet, shy little thing but, now I've heard/listened/read/watched quite a few interviews from the beginning, right up until the end and post Cocteau Twins plus, stuff in between, I can see what a conceited, vain, egotistical diva she is. I can now see what a Southern Coast wannabe she was from the start. No doubt it matters not a jot what I say - and that's the right way to be - however I'll bet Ms. Fraser monitors these kinds of comment sections. If so "Liz" I want you to know how much your lack of due diligence to fans of your voice & music hurts. Still, I'm pretty sure you just don't give a f**k.
I just love her so much for all of the beauty and joy she's brought to my life and the lives of many others. She's a complicated woman with a dark past and I would forgive her anything...
What the hell kind of shit opinion did I just read? Liz was shy and a tad self-deprecating. I guess being sexually abused by family members and growing up poor in a dead end Scottish town will do that to you. But vain she was not. Never ever got that impression from her. She was always polite, but short. Not snobby, insecure. You obviously can’t read human emotion well. Robin is another story..
One of the greatest albums ever created. Period.
couldn"t say it better.
The first time I heard Pitch the Baby, I cried.
Have to disagree here. Blue bell Knoll is way better. This album is more 'poppy', not so indie as they always were.
Yes.
Wait - is this like, the ACTUAL CVJ commenting on this?
Life saving. What a band. Discovered while I was in Princeton, NJ and hanging out with a more intellectual set. I'm a Rock/Metal guitarist so I was intrigued/impressed with Robin Guthrie's heavily modulated/chorused guitar tones. I love all great music, so the hypnotic music, coupled with Liz Fraser's Heavenly vocals had me hooked almost immediately. Fan for Life since the mid 1980s. They are Pure Magic.
Blue bell knoll is my favourite album of all time x
Mine too. Treasure is second.
@@mcw327 I agree we got good taste xxx
Road River & Rail. What a song. Epoch forming & only possible from Cocteau Twins. Thank You for so many years of properly, real, awesome, music.
All their albums are good & if you’re a true fan, you don’t choose, or you change your choices throughout the years.
They were just ahead of everyone, so many bands followed but never managed to reach their heights, still as relevant today, a music that never ages, productions wise still crisp , i have all their cd' s, loved them from the first day, we are the same age 58, brilliant to hear them tell us about their recording this classic album, in fact all their albums are classics, just so different to everyone else , joyous stuff, and Liz is still so beautiful
Such immense creativity and innate talent. I saw Robin perform (before Brendan Perry!) in a small space in DC. The wall of sound that washed over us was tremendous. What geniuses he and Liz are.
It was great to hear Pat Nevin pay homage to a great band. I knew he was a fan but I didn't know he spoke on radio about them. Thanks for letting us enjoy this too.
This interview takes me back to the way radio once was. Man, it held so much weight compared to now.
Hearing this makes me so happy I could burst! TY!!
cocteautwinned Great to hear and I'm happy to share :)
Loved this. And I love them with every inch of my being. Life savers.
How wonderful to heqr these background details. They, in no way, detract from the glorious mystery of the songs, but add the real human stories behind their creation. I can quite understand how Robin could have locked himself away for delirious nights in the studio, high as a kite, polishing and burnishing these precious gems of songs! So much pain and sadness transformed into miracles!
HoLV is for me their most joyous album. Thanks for posting this. :)
I love Robin's voice! HOLV is one of my top three favorite Cocteau Twins albums and a good introductory album to anyone who has not heard them before. Interesting to hear more about the album.
I genuinely lol'd at Pat Nevin's Brian McClair anecdote. "I'm in heaven", indeed.
Where the mystery lives so regally, a heavenly album.
a most remarkable band and singing !!!!! my God !!!!!!!!!!!!!
IMHO this supersedes My Bloody Valentine's Loveless as the greatest shoegazer guitar album of all.
Way before any shoegazer
@@enigmag9538 and way much better
Incredible vocals.....like nothing I’ve heard before or anywhere else since
Ppffff. You're an ignorant twat if you think that Cocteau Twins is "shoegazer" music. Also, My Bloody Valentine's stuff isn't worthy of being mentioned in the same paragraph as Cocteau Twins.
@@kipperfeast why must you be so fucking precious about it? FFS MBV exists well within the same sonic space that the Cocteaus do. The Cocteaus were part of the precursor of shoegaze, dream-pop. Frankly, you're an ignorant fuck if you ask me.
we got this as a gift from a friend when it came out. we still love it.
their best album by far almost every track feels like perfection
Ever hear Treasure?
@@enigmag9538 Treasure, Victorialand, Blue Bell Knoll, etc.
we get it, you were there first. HLV is still their best album.
I get a bit annoyed at all the fans thinking of the cocteau twins as Elisabeth Frazier with a backing band, when it was the combination of her voice and the guitars that made the magic. Each alone wasn't that big of a deal, but the sum was far greater than the parts. They clearly inspired each other. Imagine the odds against a combination like that.
2 listens later and I can only but bow to you Ms Sara,for posting this! Thank you from the bottom of my ♡
Fantastic interview..Victorialand was also a great album.
Outstanding. Four Calendar Café is amazing. Victorialand. Blue Bell Knoll. Treasure. All my faves. As a guitarist ive always been inspired by Robin Guthrie's sound and the band's production. Less we forget Liz Fraser and her angelic other worldly vocals. She worked with so may other artists. Peter Gabriel. Howard Shore on the LOTR movies. Just some examples. Their music used in Adverts and shows on TV . Timeless unique beauty.
Road, River and Rail will forever be my Anthem ❤❤❤
THIS ALBUM IS SO INCREDIBLE. IT'S TOOK ME ON MANY JOURNEYS INTO ABSOLUTE BLISS.
Thanks so much for uploading this, Sarah! Great insight into one of my favorite records of all time.
Sara rather! 😒
Hi Jon!And TY for sharing this!
Hi Jon!And TY for sharing this!
+cocteautwinned Haha! Sara gets the props here, Paula. :-)
+JonFEllis, She does,she does! But thanx to you too! Im surrounded by givers!! :) This is a fantastic piece of Cocteau treasure right here! Im into my 2nd listen! :)
This is their Purple Rain. Love this album.
fantastic interview..thanks so much..love this album to bits¬
Fantastic ! A truly remarkable music group !
The first CT album I bought was Treasure.I recently added to my collection.Although I have a few thousand tracks on my phone I have,for the past 6 months, gone back to Cocteau Twins.
I wish people would stop calling them shoegaze or dreampop or whatever else has been conjured up by people way way in retrospect.
It's akin to calling Satie's Gymnopedies 'chillout music'.....call it what you like, of course but just remember it was nothing of the sort when it was actually released.
But they literally were the forebearers of shoegaze/dreampop. AR Kane invented the term dream pop in the late 80s, and shoegaze came around in 1990 I think, meaning that they were releasing music while those terms were created. So there is nothing wrong with calling them Dream Pop in retrospect, because they essentially personify the concept.
Thank you so much for this. ❣️🎶
Love it, thank you for sharing!
Very informative piece on a timeless record.
gracias por subir esto!!
Blue bell knoll is equally as good. Victorialand and Four calendar café are excellent too.
The one she sings to her daughter, Liz sings like Chrissie Hynde
Any fans of this please give a listen to Regina Soita Mulle (Finish band - amazing album)
omg. thank you
I remember buying the promo on white label vynil which I still have then the cd
O melhor álbum de todos os tempos! 💖 Cherry coloured funk está tatuado no meu corpo
Thank you!
thanks for posting... superb
This album. Amazing. I remember when it came out and had this on cassette. The old school 4ad cassettes. Nearly wore it out. I traded the cassette in to get the CD a couple years later. Should have kept it. Anyone who says other CT releases are better are sorely mistaken.
this album wasn't on 4ad. it was on Capitol. they left 4ad before the release of blue bell knoll.
sorely mistaken? Treasure is their best release hands down.
@@OttoNommik No they didn't. Capitol was who they signed with in the USA prior to Blue Bell Knoll. They were on 4ad until HOLV, they left the label afterwards and joined Fontana, who put out 4CC and Milk and Kisses. You can even find some earlier Cocteau releases from the US on Relativity, who released Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.
@@OttoNommik All of the Cocteau Twins U.K. releases from 1982-1990 were released on 4AD, so that includes Heaven or Las Vegas. Their first record to be released in the U.S. was the Pink Opaque comp from late '85 on Relativity Records, they also had an EP & their collaboration with Harold Budd on Relativity, all other U.S. releases were on Capitol. Both Blue Bell Knoll & HOLV were definitely on 4ad.
When is this interview from, exactly?
It is a retrospective interview for sure. Somewhere in the 2000s would be my guess.
Heaven or Las Vegas isn't they're best work maybe in the medias eyes. Real fans acknowledge all the bodies of work imo I perfer the old stuff like Treasure, Garlands, etc the post punk goth sound. Although fifty fifty clown is one of my favorite songs Liz voice shines so brilliantly chanting "emotions are hard".
Fantastic band, but Robin Guthrie is so full of himself it's nauseating.
I couldn’t agree more. Yeah yeah, you’re a genius, Robin. We get it. Sheesh. At least Liz was unabashedly gracious. Painfully shy, but totally genuine.
I don't hear that at all. He sounds very down to earth, self-deprecating and just telling pretty matter of fact about what happened over the years.
Yeah, people being interviewed should never talk about their own work. :-/
That’s what drove Liz to write what she did on almost every god damn record
I adore the Cocteau Twins. Every LP "shines" for me. Although... I do think there's a correlation between the loss of Ms. Fraser's Scots accent (her ego's paralell rise) and the band's eventual demise. I uses to think she was a sweet, shy little thing but, now I've heard/listened/read/watched quite a few interviews from the beginning, right up until the end and post Cocteau Twins plus, stuff in between, I can see what a conceited, vain, egotistical diva she is. I can now see what a Southern Coast wannabe she was from the start. No doubt it matters not a jot what I say - and that's the right way to be - however I'll bet Ms. Fraser monitors these kinds of comment sections. If so "Liz" I want you to know how much your lack of due diligence to fans of your voice & music hurts. Still, I'm pretty sure you just don't give a f**k.
I just love her so much for all of the beauty and joy she's brought to my life and the lives of many others. She's a complicated woman with a dark past and I would forgive her anything...
"I've heard/listened/read/watched quite a few interviews...." Oh, I see. So you actually know Liz really well then?
You're of course welcome to your opinion, but I hope you're wrong.
What the hell kind of shit opinion did I just read? Liz was shy and a tad self-deprecating. I guess being sexually abused by family members and growing up poor in a dead end Scottish town will do that to you. But vain she was not. Never ever got that impression from her. She was always polite, but short. Not snobby, insecure. You obviously can’t read human emotion well. Robin is another story..
There’s always one troll.