OhOf the many fascinating bands to emerge from the 1980s, perhaps the duo Cocteau Very unique. The Scottish-London trio of Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde, whose enigmatic appeal was enhanced by the fact that Fraser seemed to be singing in her own language, as the often faint, heavenly music resonated. The walls of the cathedral must be torn down. The title of each song was a poem: Phoebe's Got Another Baby, Itchy Balloon Blow, Sugar Hiccup.
In bassist Raymonde's memoir, decades too late, he attempts to unravel their mysterious allure by confirming that they are, in fact, human. “Sorry to dispel illusions, but we are not a cerebral intellectual,” he writes, revealing that they were on a television show. rabbi c Nesbitt. However, he claims that they are “difficult.” Stubborn too: they rejected invitations The best of popsBrian Eno was offered the opportunity to produce them and was told not to write the score for David Lynch's 1986 film. blue velvet.
still, in one ear – Since Raymonde developed an acoustic neuroma 20 years ago that left him partially deaf, this is a conversation-friendly book. Ultimately, the author comes across as a perfectly decent guy who can't believe his luck at being able to remember for so long. After the Cocteau Twins disbanded, he delivered a satisfying second act. In 1997, after years of frustrated resentments, bitter romances and drug problems, he founded Bella Unionfather, an independent record label that nurtured the careers of artists such as John Misty and John Grant, launched as a labor of love rather than to get rich. -quick scheme.
Those who turn to his book for Cocteau revelations may be disappointed. We learn very little about Fraser; it should be; He always carries his puzzle like Dior, and Raymonde is either a born diplomat or fears legal action. As a result, any fight (and a life in music) will always arise between the lines. For example, in 1986, when he took time off to work on a side project, Guthrie and Fraser released another Cocteau Twins album. VictorialandGuthrie will continue to say whatever he wants. Raymond felt like a spare wheel.
“I was never under any illusions about my place in Cocteau Twins history,” he writes, adding: “If you read the interviews Robin has done since it all fell apart, you'd be forgiven for thinking he'd never been in the band. This It makes me a little sad. On the other hand, he was surprised when the Navy Foxes jumped ship and joined Warner Records without telling him after leading the career of an American band “I can't lie, it hurts so much.”
Above all, though, it's more of a love letter to a charmed life lived through music. It features a biography of his father Ivor, who wrote I Just Want to Be With You for Dusty Springfield, and records his own journey through marriage, children, divorce, remarriage and Tottenham Hotspur home games. Bella Union continues to thrive and he gently reminds you whether you have a spare tire or not. was Cocteau was part of the Twins and helped create some of their most memorable songs, including Pearl-Ice Drops. What this book does best is bring you back to the music. If the Cocteau Twins always sounded timeless, they sound timeless now.
