Cocteau Twins: Treasure Hiding (The Fontana Years) 2018

 

They were a phenomenon. Not necessarily the kind that plays to stadiums or fills MTV's timeslots or

even sells millions of records. Rather, the kind that quietly causes a fundamental shift in perception, exerting a seminal influence that is universally felt if not always seen. Even after having called it quits in 1998—ending a 15-year career together that was impressive by any measure—their mark continues to be recognized everywhere, and legions of fans still hunger for more. But more is not likely to come soon. They emerged fully formed from the post-punk shadows and developed a sound that would become the gold standard for enigmatic, ethereal indie-pop.
                           

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-length LP

record, Head over Heels, relied solely on the latter two, following Heggie's amicable departure after the tour that followed the release of Peppermint Pig (he would later join Lowlife). 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 (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).
                                                 

With Raymonde, the band released a series of critically acclaimed albums and EPs that explored their new style. These included The Spangle Maker (1984), Treasure (1984), Aikea-Guinea (1985), Tiny

Dynamine (1985), Echoes in a Shallow Bay (1985), and Love'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 for The Moon and the Melodies (1986), a collaboration with ambient composer Harold Budd, which was not released under the Cocteau Twins name.
                                          

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

recording their ninth proper LP as a group—the follow-up to the 1996 release Milk & Kisses—Cocteau Twins decided "enough was enough." Elizabeth Fraser, the group's beguiling, singularly distinctive singer, took her leave and moved away from London to pursue a promising solo career. Her long-time collaborators—Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde—continue to focus on their own musical pursuits. Simon's solo work and involvement in developing new talent and Robin's new project, Violet Indiana—along with their successful independent record label, Bella Union—have proven that life beyond Cocteau Twins can be fruitful indeed.
                             

It is ironic, of course, that Bella Union should have been founded as a vehicle for Cocteau Twins music. It was so named in honor of the trio's success and determination to stay together through difficult

circumstances, to continue to make music that defied description and ignored prevailing music trends. Music that transcended boundaries into a realm uniquely their own. But change, as they say, is inevitable, and even such stunning beauty as that created by Cocteau Twins could not—and, perhaps should not—go on indefinitely. But their music and their contribution to the art form, thankfully, will last forever. Cocteau Twins are among the very few artists whose music withstands the test of time: even in 2001, an eleven year-old Cocteau Twins song like "Fifty-fifty Clown" sounds as fresh and new as if it were recorded only yesterday.
                                 

Devoted fans and newcomers alike are sometimes filled with questions about this often-mysterious, sometimes media-shy trio, who were influential in not only defining the post-punk sound of the 1980's (and 4AD in the process) but also influenced generations of musicians in the 1990's and beyond. To-date, they have been cited as notable influences by such diverse artists as Prince, Madonna, Annie

Lennox and Perfect Circle, not to mention bands such as Slowdive, Lush, My Bloody Valentine, Chapterhouse and Curve (just to name a few), who all worked in musical territory pioneered by Cocteau Twins. As recently as 2000—nearly twenty years after Robin and Liz first started to make music with their friend Will Heggie in a small, dirty industrial town in Scotland—a two-CD collection of radio show performances (BBC Sessions) was released on Bella Union in conjunction with the BBC. That was followed in late 2001 by an eighteen-track digitally remastered retrospective from 4AD entitled Stars and Topsoil, which chronicled highlights from their career with their long-time record label from 1982 to 1990.
                                 

The story continued in 2003, as remastered early LPs Garlands, Head Over Heels, Treasure and Victorialand were reissued by 4AD. In 2005—an ill-fated year in which the band nearly reunited—4AD

released a new limited-edition box-set, Lullabies to Violaine, a compilation of digitally remastered EPs, singles and b-sides spanning the entire Cocteau Twins catalog (including non-4AD music) from 1982 to 1996. So, like a compilation of songs from various records, this chronological series of articles is intended to give the reader some insight and perspective on Cocteau Twins, and document the span of their remarkable career together. Readers can look forward to a book-format biography of Cocteau Twins, written by fan extraordinaire Leesa Beales, which is due sometime in the near future.

ELIZABETH FRASER

Born: August 29, 1963 in Grangemouth, Scotland.

Liz is the vocalist and lyricist in Cocteau Twins, and co-founded the group in her hometown in 1981 with her long-time companion Robin Guthrie and their friend Will Heggie. At the time, she was all of 17 years-old, and had never really thought of herself as a singer. Robin and Will noticed her dancing at a club one night, and asked her to join their band. Her unique vocal stylings and mysterious, indecipherable lyrics have generated much debate over the years, but she has often been circumspect on the matter when asked about it. Now among the world's most acclaimed singers, she parted ways professionally with Cocteau Twins in 1998 to pursue her solo ambitions. Liz has appeared as a guest-vocalist on numerous other recordings with other artists, has performed for film soundtracks, and was invited by Peter Gabriel to lend her spectacular voice to the UK's "Milennium Dome Project" in 1999.

ROBIN GUTHRIE

Born: January 4, 1962 in Grangemouth, Scotland.

Robin is a co-founder of Cocteau Twins, and is one of the principal songwriters and musicians. Robin's unique style of guitar-playing and songwriting—not to mention his deft production skills in the recording studio—have earned him the respect of musicians throughout the world. Working at first with Will Heggie and, since, with Simon, Robin has played guitar, bass, keyboards, drums and other instruments over the years, plus programming, sampling and sound processing. Robin shares duties with Simon as a partner in Bella Union Records, and he now works and lives in France with his wife, Florence, and their two children. He is also the proud father of Lucy Belle, his daughter with Liz.

SIMON RAYMONDE

Born: April 3, 1962 in Tottenham, England.

Simon, along with Robin, is a principal songwriter and musician in Cocteau Twins. Having joined Liz and Robin in 1984, Simon has helped shape the signature "Cocteau sound" since then - primarily with bass, guitar, and piano. Following the break-up of Cocteau Twins in 1997, Simon was the first to release a solo work, entitled Blame Someone Else, in 1998, which was widely praised by critics and fans alike. While Simon continues to focus a great deal of energy on Bella Union Records and its burgeoning stable of new artists, he has collaborated with other groups, including the Autumns and the Czars, while continuing to pursue his own musical interests.
                                 

OTHER MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Over the years, there have been several other musicians who have contributed to the music of the Cocteau Twins, usually during live performances.

WILL HEGGIE
BEN BLAKEMAN
BENNY DI MASSA
LINCOIN FONG
DAVE "PELF" PALFREEMAN
MITSUO TATE
HAROLD BUDD
FAYE WONG (WANGFEI)

                                            

Cocteau Twins – Treasure Hiding (The Fontana Years)
Label: Fontana – 5771558, UMC – 5771558
Format: Box Set, Compilation, Remastered
Country: UK & Europe
Released: Oct 12, 2018
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Downtempo, Ethereal, Dream Pop

DISC 1.    FOUR - CALENDAR CAFE

                                         

01. Know Who You Are At Every Age (Remastered 2006)    3:36
02. Evangeline (Remastered 2006)   4:27
03. Bluebeard (Remastered 2006)   3:53
04. Theft, And Wandering Around Lost (Remastered 2006)    4:28
05. Oil Of Angels (Remastered 2006)    4:36
06. Squeeze-Wax    (Remastered 2006)   3:45
07. My Truth (Remastered 2006)     4:31
08. Essence (Remastered 2006)    3:00
09. Summerhead (Remastered 2006)  3:36
10. Pur (Remastered 2006)   5:00

MP3 @ 320 Size:  MB
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DISC 2.   MILK AND KISSES

                                   

01. Violaine (Remastered 2006)    3:44
02. Serpentskirt (Remastered 2006)    3:56
03. Tishbite (Remastered 2006)    3:50
04. Half-Gifts (Remastered 2006)  4:18
05. Calfskin Smack (Remastered 2006)    4:58
06. Rilkean Heart  (Remastered 2006)    4:01
07. Ups (Remastered 2006)  3:35
08. Eperdu  (Remastered 2006)    4:41
09. Treasure Hiding  (Remastered 2006)    4:53
10. Seekers Who Are Lovers  (Remastered 2006)    4:38

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DISC 3.   EPs AND RARITIES

                                             

01. Mud And Dark    3:40
02. Summer-Blink    3:08
03. Winter Wonderland    2:50
04. Frosty The Snowman    2:54
05. Three Swept    3:35
06. Ice Pulse    3:44
07. Bluebeard (EP Version)    3:07
08. Rilkean Heart (EP Version)    2:21
09. Golden-Vein (EP Version)    2:50
10. Pink Orange Red (EP Version) 4:29
11. Half-Gifts (EP Version)    4:13
12. Feet Like Fins    5:30
13. Seekers Who Are Lovers (EP Version)    5:40
14. Violaine (EP Version)    5:06
15. Cherry-Coloured Funk (Seefeel Remix)    5:46
16. Tishbite (Single Version)    3:11
17. Primitive Heart    4:06
18. Flock Of Soul    3:35
19. Round    3:35
20. An Elan    4:35

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DISC 4.   SESSIONS AND RARITIES

                                            

01. Smile    4:25
02. Tranquil Eye    3:53
03. Circling Girl    3:32
04. Alice    4:28
05. Circling Girl (Volume Magazine Version)    3:35
06. Touch Upon Touch (Volume Magazine Version)    4:06
07. Serpentskirt (Mark Radcliffe BBC Session)    3:46
08. Golden-Vein (Mark Radcliffe BBC Session)    2:45
09. Half-Gifts (Mark Radcliffe BBC Session)    3:49
10. Seekers Who Are Lovers (Mark Radcliffe BBC Session)    4:22
11. Calfskin Smack (Robert Elms BBC Session)    4:26
12. Fifty-Fifty Clown (Robert Elms BBC Session)    3:15
13. Violaine (Robert Elms BBC Session)    3:47

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Performer [Line Up] – Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie, Simon Raymonde
Cello – Helen Thomas (tracks: 3-8 to 3-11)
Guitar [Additional Guitars On "Evangeline"] – Ben Blakeman, Mitsuo Tate
Viola – Fiona Griffith (tracks: 3-8 to 3-11)
Violin – Paul Costin (tracks: 3-8 to 3-11), Phil Boyden (tracks: 3-8 to 3-11)
Written-By, Producer – Cocteau Twins
                                      

Cocteau Twins on Urban Aspirines HERE