In 1979 Robin Guthrie (guitar, drum machine) and Will Heggie (bass guitar) met up in Scotland and formed the Cocteau Twins. A short time later they would incorporate Elizabeth Fraser on vocals. The band took their name from a song by fellow Scottish indie rockers Johnny and the Self-Abusers, who would later go on to greater fame and fortune after a name change to Simple Minds. Around 1983 Heggie left. While making contributions to 4AD's This Mortal Coil, Guthrie and Heggie became acquainted with Simon Raymonde and he joined the pair as the band's bassist, more or less remaining in that position until the band broke up in 1997.
Their overall sound is most notable for Ms. Fraser's often indistinct, fragile and airy vocalizing combined with tsunami like cascades of heavily treated guitar fueled arpeggios from Robin Guthrie. I first heard the Cocteau Twins during the mid/late 80s when I was most interested in heavy, fast and weird music - with emphasis on the first two; but it was impossible to dismiss their sonic spectrum of new school psychedelic pop art and I've remained a fan since.
Cocteau Twins
The Tube - late 1983
From the Flagstones
Musette and Drums
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