Cocteau Twins were an influential and prolific Scottish rock band.
Robin Guthrie (guitar) and Will Heggie (bass), both from Grangemouth, Scotland, formed the band in 1980. At a local disco, Nash, they met Elizabeth Fraser, who eventually provided vocals.
The band's influences at the time included Joy Division, The Birthday Party, Sex Pistols and Siouxsie & the Banshees. The name Cocteau Twins itself comes from an early (unreleased) song by Simple Minds. Their debut recording, Garlands, released by 4AD Records in 1982, was an instant success, as was the subsequent Lullabies EP.
Though the entire band was praised for their performances, Fraser received the most attention. Even on their early recordings, her singing was startlingly unique, and with little precedent. At times barely decipherable, Fraser seemed to veer into glossolalia and mouth music. Ned Raggett writes that "part of her appeal is how she can make hard-to-interpret lyrics so emotionally gripping."1
<...| years active | 1982–1997 |
| origin | Grangemouth |
| country | Scotland |
| status | Inactive |
| music genre | Dream pop |
| current members | Elizabeth Fraser Robin Guthrie Will Heggie Simon Raymonde |
