45-694: Holly Macve is an Ireland-born musician who performs as a solo artist. She released her first album Golden Eagle on the Bella Union label in March 2017. Her follow up album Not The Girl was released in May 2021. Born in Galway in western Ireland, Macve and her sister were whisked away "in the night" by her mother from their errant father, to live with her grandparents in Holmfirth , West Yorkshire. Macve's grandfather Duncan Druce
90-615: A 2021 interview, Raymonde claimed that Cocteau Twins "will never reform". Guthrie and Heggie, both from Grangemouth , Scotland, formed the band in 1979. They met the 17-year-old Fraser in 1981 at a local disco, The Hotel International, where Guthrie was DJing , and she became the group's vocalist. Prior to releasing their debut album, the band recorded a four track session for John Peel in June 1982, including "Wax and Wane" and "Garlands". Their debut LP Garlands , released through 4AD in July 1982,
135-535: A 4AD band, Cocteau Twins signed a major-label contract with Capitol Records in 1988 for distribution in the United States, and released their fifth album, Blue Bell Knoll , that September. The US promotional only single " Carolyn's Fingers " was heavily played on the U.S. radio stations, peaking at No. 2 on Billboard 's Alternative Songs chart. The group released Heaven or Las Vegas in early 1990. The most commercially successful of their many recordings,
180-661: A BRIT Award. In 2016, following his sold out show at Royal Albert Hall , artist John Grant received a Silver disc for the album Pale Green Ghosts . The label's releases are distributed by the distributors PIAS worldwide. Cocteau Twins Cocteau Twins were a Scottish rock band active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed in Grangemouth on the Firth of Forth by Robin Guthrie (guitars, drum machine ) and Will Heggie (bass), adding Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) in 1981. In 1983, Heggie
225-400: A bonus disc of rare and previously unreleased material. Fraser and Guthrie had a daughter, Lucy Belle, born in 1989. The couple ended their 13-year relationship in 1993. The band's seventh LP, Four-Calendar Café , their first since Fraser and Guthrie's separation, was released in late 1993. The band explained that Four-Calendar Café was a response to the turmoil that had engulfed them in
270-543: A two-night showcase at London's Royal Festival Hall featuring their artists such as Beach House and Midlake , along with guest appearances from Paul Weller and members of Editors . That year, Fionn Regan 's debut album was nominated for the Mercury Prize . The label underwent financial troubles in 2007 and Raymonde considered shutting it down. While in Oslo, Raymonde received a link to Fleet Foxes ' Myspace page, who at
315-425: Is far more interested in the way the guitar is recorded than in the actual notes being played; he later said that his reliance on effects and layering was initially due to his own technical limitations). Guthrie has cited Phil Spector 's wall of sound as "an obvious influence" on his sound. In 1983 the band participated in 4AD's This Mortal Coil project, which spawned a cover version of Tim Buckley 's " Song to
360-507: The UK Indie Chart . 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
405-536: The Bella Union record label in 1997, through which they could release their own work as well as any collaborative efforts. The band had a difficult relationship with 4AD founder Ivo Watts-Russell and also regretted signing with Universal Music Group 's Mercury Records . The band split up not long after, but instead of letting the newly formed label go under, Robin Guthrie , Simon Raymonde and their former manager Fiona Glyn-Jones decided to take charge of it. One of
450-504: The Girl , Macve listened to "loads of different things", including The Shangri-Las , The Beatles and John Lennon , John Cale , PJ Harvey , and Nick Cave . Bella Union Bella Union is a British independent record label founded in 1997 by Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins . It is now run solely by Raymonde. After releasing records with 4AD for a large part of their career, Cocteau Twins decided to start up
495-576: The Independent Record Company of the Year award at the Music Week Awards (as voted by UK independent retailers) in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Guthrie has released six solo albums – Imperial , Continental , Carousel , Emeralds , Fortune , and Pearldiving – and eight EPs. He toured extensively with his band Violet Indiana, which included ex-Cocteau Twins guitarist Mitsuo Tate. He has also scored
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#1732868954636540-527: The No. 29 UK hit " Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops ", their highest-charting UK single. The trio crystallised their "swelling, euphoric" dream pop style on the 1984 album Treasure , which became the band's first UK Top 40 album. In 1988, Cocteau Twins signed with Capitol Records in the United States, distributing their fifth album Blue Bell Knoll through a major label in the country. After the 1990 release of their most commercially successful album, Heaven or Las Vegas ,
585-562: The Siren " (performed by Guthrie and Fraser). Despite appearing under the This Mortal Coil name, the cover has subsequently become one of the best-known Cocteau Twins tracks. During the TMC sessions, Guthrie and Fraser became acquainted with another project contributor, multi-instrumentalist Simon Raymonde (formerly a member of Drowning Craze ), who joined Cocteau Twins later that year. With Raymonde,
630-668: The Sky , Fleet Foxes , The Acorn , Mercury Rev , Peter Broderick , PINS , M. Ward , Philip Selway , John Grant , Lawrence Arabia , The Low Anthem , Hannah Cohen , Laura Veirs , The Flaming Lips , Lanterns on the Lake , Inventions , John Tavener , Marissa Nadler , Arc Iris , Clarence Clarity , and Jambinai . The label won the Independent Record Company Of The Year award at the Music Week Awards, as voted by
675-603: The UK band the Duke Spirit , London-based duo Helene, former Golden Virgins frontman Lucas Renney and has mixed the Mercury Prize nominated album The End of History by Fionn Regan . In his role running Bella Union, he has discovered such artists as Laura Veirs , Fleet Foxes , Midlake , Lift to Experience , the Low Anthem , I Break Horses , the Czars and John Grant . Raymonde picked up
720-517: The UK independent retailers, in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016. In 2012, for the 15th anniversary the label took over the curation of one day at End of the Road Festival . In 2014, signee John Grant was nominated for a Brit Award . In 2015, Raymonde signed the Yorkshire-born singer Holly Macve, releasing the single "Corner of my Mind". In 2016, artist Father John Misty was also nominated for
765-555: The album reached number seven in the UK Albums Chart immediately after its release. Despite the success of the record and the subsequent concert tours, not everything was well with the band. They parted ways with 4AD following Heaven or Las Vegas partly because of conflicts with the label's founder Ivo Watts-Russell , and were close to breaking up over internal problems due in large part to Guthrie's substance abuse. While on their international tour supporting Heaven or Las Vegas ,
810-518: The album: " Tishbite " and " Violaine "; both exist in two CD versions, with different B-sides included on each. The band, augmented by an extra guitarist and a drummer, toured extensively to support the album, their last for Mercury/Fontana. A new song, "Touch Upon Touch", which debuted during the live shows and was recorded later in 1996 was also one of the two songs written and arranged by Fraser, Guthrie and Raymonde for Chinese pop singer Faye Wong for her Mandarin album Fuzao released in June 1996,
855-670: The albums Bordeaux , Winter Garden (a collaboration that included Italian electronica artist Eraldo Bernocchi ), and Another Flower , which was released after Budd's death in 2020. In 2006 Guthrie produced three songs on Mahogany 's Connectivity . He also produced and played guitar on Apollo Heights debut album, White Music for Black People . Fraser provided guest vocals on the Future Sound of London 's single " Lifeforms " (1993), vocals for three songs on Massive Attack 's Mezzanine in 1998 (as well as touring with them several times), and for other musical projects and groups. She wrote
900-468: The band left 4AD for Fontana Records , where they released their final two albums. After nearly 20 years together, the group disbanded in 1997 in part due to issues stemming from the disintegration of Fraser and Guthrie's romantic relationship. In 2005 the band announced that they would reunite to headline Coachella Festival and embark on a world tour but the reunion was cancelled a month later after Fraser "couldn’t bring herself to work with Guthrie". In
945-508: The band released a series of 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). From The Spangle Maker , " Pearly Dewdrops Drops " was a hit single, reaching no. 29 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1984 and No. 1 on
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#1732868954636990-508: 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 departure (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
1035-464: The earliest bands to sign on was the Australian trio Dirty Three , who continue to release under Bella Union. Other early signees include Françoiz Breut and The Czars , who were the first American band signed to the label. Since 2000, when Guthrie moved to France to concentrate on his own music, Raymonde took the reins at Bella Union. In 2007, the 10th anniversary celebrations saw Bella Union host
1080-475: The first six Cocteau Twins LPs . In January 2005 Cocteau Twins announced that they would be reforming to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on 30 April, and later indicated that additional tour dates would be added. On 16 March, the reunion was cancelled after Fraser announced that she would not take part. In a 2009 interview Fraser said she could not go through the pain of sharing
1125-405: The group signed a new recording contract with Mercury Records subsidiary Fontana for the UK and elsewhere, while retaining their US relationship with Capitol. They added several live musicians to their touring band during this era, to better replicate the layered sound of their studio albums. In 1991 4AD and Capitol released a box set that compiled the band's EPs from 1982 to 1990, and also included
1170-486: The intervening years, with Guthrie entering rehab and quitting alcohol and drugs, and Fraser undergoing psychotherapy. 1995 saw the release of two new EPs: Twinlights and Otherness . Some of the tracks on Twinlights and Otherness were versions of songs from the band's eighth album, Milk & Kisses (1996). The record saw the return of more heavily layered guitars, and Fraser began once again to obscure her lyrics, though not entirely. Two singles were taken from
1215-436: The last six years and I love her songs, and I’m especially proud of featuring on this one." The track is taken from her forthcoming EP scheduled to be released in 2024. It was her mother's record collection that initially inspired the young Macve, from old blues to Bob Dylan . From these early influences, she went on to discover the likes of Leonard Cohen , Johnny Cash and Gillian Welch . When making her second album Not
1260-580: The lyrics and sang the vocals for " Teardrop " by Massive Attack which was released as a single in 1998 and reached number 10 in the UK singles chart. Fraser provided the vocals for "Lament for Gandalf" on The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack . In 2000 she sang with Peter Gabriel on Ovo (The Millennium Show) . In 2005 she worked with Breton musician Yann Tiersen on two songs for his album Les retrouvailles . In 2009 she released
1305-509: The music for three movies — Gregg Araki 's Mysterious Skin (in collaboration with Harold Budd), Dany Saadia 's 3:19 Nada Es Casualidad (a Mexican/Spanish production), and again with Gregg Araki and Harold Budd on the score and the soundtrack of White Bird in a Blizzard . He reunited with Budd to collaborate on two companion albums, Before the Day Breaks and After the Night Falls , and
1350-464: The other being "Tranquil Eye" from Violaine released in October 1996. In 1997 while recording what was to have been their ninth LP, the trio disbanded over irreconcilable differences in part related to the breakup of Guthrie and Fraser. Some songs were partially recorded and possibly completed, but the band has stated that they will likely never be finished or released in any form. In 1999 Bella Union ,
1395-518: The record label founded by Guthrie and Raymonde, released a double-CD Cocteau Twins compilation entitled BBC Sessions . The collection is a complete record of the band's appearances on UK radio programs from 1982 to 1996, with rare and unreleased material included. In 2000 4AD released Stars and Topsoil , a compilation chosen by the band members that had been released during their years with 4AD; all recordings had been digitally remastered by Guthrie. In 2003 4AD released digitally remastered versions of
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1440-613: The same names, known as Volume 1 and Volume 2. Since March 2007 the band has started podcasts of exclusive material. On 6 October 2008 Cocteau Twins were awarded the Q Awards Inspiration Award, which they accepted in a rare collective live appearance. In 2022 Fraser, Guthrie and Raymonde were awarded with the Visionary Award by The Ivors Academy . Fraser and Guthrie attended the award ceremony in London in May 2022. The former members of Cocteau Twins have remained active musically in
1485-460: The single "Moses" on Rough Trade . Cocteau Twins' early recordings were classified in the gothic rock and post-punk genres. The band's influences at the time they formed included The Birthday Party (drummer Phill Calvert encouraged the group to sign to 4AD), Sex Pistols , Kate Bush and Siouxsie and the Banshees (Fraser had Siouxsie tattoos on her arms for several years). The band
1530-426: The stage with her former lover Guthrie, the issue behind the band's 1997 breakup. Raymonde revealed that the band had also booked a 55-date world tour, which would have paid him £1.5 million. In 2005 4AD released a limited edition of 10,000 compilation box set titled Lullabies to Violaine , a 4-disc set that includes every single and EP released from 1982 to 1996. This was shortly followed up by two 2-disc sets of
1575-468: The time had only released a demo version of " White Winter Hymnal ". He immediately expressed interest and had to fight off Sub Pop in order to secure a European distribution contract with the band, which was ultimately agreed to. Fleet Foxes' 2008 self-titled debut became Bella Union's first platinum-selling album in the UK. The label has subsequently released music by Father John Misty , Beach House , Department of Eagles , Karl Blau , Explosions in
1620-558: The years since the band's demise. In addition to forming Bella Union, Guthrie and Raymonde have produced releases from new bands signed to that label. Raymonde released the solo album Blame Someone Else as the first release on Bella Union. He also co-produced the posthumous album by Billy Mackenzie from the Associates , then went on to produce several Domino Records artists like James Yorkston , Archie Bronson Outfit (whom he later managed) and Clearlake . More recently he has produced
1665-399: Was a classical composer. At 18, Macve moved south to Brighton where she began performing at local venues, working in a café whilst singing on open mic nights . Bella Union boss Simon Raymonde was a customer at the café, and having watched her perform, signed her to his label where she went on to record her first solo album Golden Eagle released in March 2017. The bulk of Golden Eagle
1710-425: Was a sales success, peaking at number 14 in the indie albums chart in the UK. Sounds wrote that the style of the band was "mixing strong Siouxsie and the Banshees and Joy Division influences". NME ' s Don Watson compared it to gothic rock bands such as Gene Loves Jezebel and Xmal Deutschland , while Spin magazine's Sue Cummings compared it in 1986 to Siouxsie and the Banshees and Bauhaus . It
1755-667: Was followed by the EP Lullabies in October. In April 1983 the band released a second EP, Peppermint Pig . A European tour supporting Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark followed, but after a gig in Hamburg the band left the tour and parted ways with bassist Will Heggie, leaving Guthrie and Fraser unsure how they would continue. The pair returned to Scotland, settling to re-think their whole approach and write new songs for an album. Cocteau Twins' sound on their first three recordings relied on
1800-502: Was labelled as one of the "top 12 notable acts" by The New York Times . Bob Boilen of NPR Music described Macve as "the best voice I heard at SXSW". For the 2021 album Not The Girl , Macve co-produced tracks with band member Max Kinghorn-Mills. Not The Girl was mixed by Collin Dupuis, who worked on Lana Del Rey ’s Ultraviolence and whom Macve considers a significant musical influence. In an interview with Rolling Stone , Del Rey
1845-507: Was named after the early Simple Minds song "The Cocteau Twins" (later rewritten as " No Cure "). As the band's sound developed, their subsequent music was classified as dream pop , and darkwave . Fraser's vocals included invented or unknown words, sometimes ones she found in foreign language books, adding to the band's dreamy ambience. Cocteau Twins' music has influenced numerous artists in different genres, including Slowdive , Ride , Cigarettes After Sex , Quicksand , Deftones ,
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1890-538: Was not released under the Cocteau Twins name, instead being credited to all four participating musicians alphabetically. 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. While remaining
1935-420: Was quoted as saying Macve would be the ideal person to play her in a biopic. In October 2023 Macve released "Suburban House" featuring Lana Del Rey on her own label Loving Memory Records. Describing her collaboration with Macve, Del Rey was quoted as saying: "Ever since I heard Holly’s music I knew she had one of the most beautiful singing voices in the world. Her flawless, emotional vocals have inspired me over
1980-1053: Was recorded in Newcastle at the home studio of producer Paul Gregory (of Bella Union label-mates Lanterns on the Lake ), with extra recording in Brighton and London. On its release, Macve was described by Record Collector as "an ethereal offspring of Nick Cave blessed with the stark musical backdrop of Johnny Cash's 'American' series of recordings." Macve has worked and toured with artists as John Grant , Villagers , Benjamin Clementine , Bill Ryder-Jones , Fiona Brice , Tony Visconti Mercury Rev and Royal Northern Sinfonia . Working with Northern Sinfonia also sparked Macve's interest in cinematic arrangements. Macve has appeared at numerous music festivals including Glastonbury , End Of The Road , Latitude , and Electric Picnic . Following her appearance at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas in 2017, Macve
2025-527: Was replaced with multi-instrumentalist Simon Raymonde . The group earned critical praise for their ethereal, effects -laden sound and the soprano vocals of Fraser, whose lyrics often eschew any recognisable language. They pioneered the 1980s alternative subgenre of dream pop and helped define what would become shoegaze . In 1982, the band signed with the record label 4AD and released their debut album Garlands . The addition of Raymonde in 1983 solidified their best-known lineup, which soon produced
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