Cocteau Twins was formed in 1979 in Scotland by guitarist Robin Guthrie, bassist Will Heggie (who left the band in 1983, giving way to Simon Raymonde) and vocalist Elizabeth Fraser (Guthrie's girlfriend) under the influence of artists such as Kraftwerk, David BowieDavid Bowie, Joy Division, Kate Bush and Siouxsie and the Banshees.
The band's music gained repercussions on the independent scene due to the sophisticated pop that the trio built on their albums, mainly from the album Treasure. The atmospheric songs and the wonderful voice of Elizabeth Fraser, singing indecipherable lyrics, contributed to the group's beautiful and strange music.
Cocteau Twins became an icon band of 4AD, and, with its ethereal style, was one of the dream pop percussionists. In 1982, already residing in London, the trio signed a contract with the label 4AD and released their first album, Garlands. Head over Heels (1983), Treasure (1984) and Victorialand (1986) followed.
Simon Raymonde, who was invited to work on the second album for This Mortal Coil, did not participate in the recording of Victorialand, a predominantly acoustic album that included only Guthrie and Fraser. Raymonde returned to the group for The Moon and the Melodies (1986), a collaboration of the trio with the American composer Harold Budd.
Blue Bell Knoll, Cocteau Twins' fifth album, was released in 1988. In 1990, the band returned with Heaven or Las Vegas, the group's most successful album, reaching seventh place on the British chart. Heaven or Las Vegas was the trio's last studio album released by 4AD.
In 1991, the band performed in Brazil, in the city of São Paulo, in the extinct Project SP.
Through Mercury Records, the group released their last two studio albums: Four-Calendar Café (1993) and Milk and Kisses (1996). In 1997, during the recording of what would be the ninth album, the trio disbanded. In part, the separation of Guthrie and Fraser was the main reason for the end of Cocteau Twins.
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