At times of stress or distress, I always turn to Cocteau Twins. For the last week or so I’ve listened to virtually nothing else. On Twitter I said that they was keeping me on an even keel. ‘But they make me soar,’ said somebody. Me too, but more than that, I know the songs so … More Song for Saturday: ‘Fotzepolitic’ by Cocteau Twins
This image is of ‘The Magic Crystal’ or ‘The Crystal Gazer’, by Gertrude Käsebier, 1904. It’s from the the Royal Photography Society collection at the National Media Museum in Bradford I know it, of course, from the cover of ‘Pearly Dewdrops’ Drops’/ ‘Spangle Maker’ EP by Cocteau Twins.
I may have mentioned, but surely no more than once or twice, that I’m a mite obsessed by Cocteau Twins. I’ve been listening to and loving them since I first heard ‘Pearly Dewdrops’ Drops’ when I was 15. That song is the purple 7″ single you can see on top of the pile in the … More 30 years of buying Cocteau Twins music in one picture
This review was first published by Wales Arts Review. I’d strongly recommend a visit there, it’s packed with interesting reviews and essays. I thought I’d put it here for posterity and accompany it with some photos too. You should know from the outset that I can’t be objective about anything to do with Elizabeth Fraser. … More Elizabeth Fraser review
This popped up in the inbox today. A very nice touch and it contains more than a hint that the recent gigs have persuaded her to return to live performing. On twitter, one of her backing singers said she thought more were planned for next spring. Elizabeth Fraser A Message From Elizabeth With each passing … More A message from Elizabeth Fraser
My review of the two Elizabeth Fraser concerts is now on Wales Arts Review here. While you’re there, set aside at least half an hour for all the other goodies available for your reading pleasure.
Nothing I’ve ever posted on twitter has ever been more retweeted than this! I thought it deserved a more permanent home. It’s the set list from Elizabeth Fraser’s first ever solo gig at Bath Pavilion on 4th August 2012. However it’s exactly the same running order as for her two performances at Antony Hegarty’s Meltdown … More Elizabeth Fraser set list
It seems very timely to dig this out, given that I’ve just seen Elizabeth Fraser perform live for the first time in nearly two decades. More than two decades ago I saw her for the first time and bought this. The gig was at Bristol Studio. It was October 1990 and this was the Heaven … More Relics 2: Cocteau Twins Poster
Here’s the playlist for my Easter Monday show on Nation Radio which some (well at least two) have asked for. I’ve also compiled a Spotify playlist which you can get here. Cocteau Twins – Iceblink Luck Pixies – Velouria Blue Oyster Cult – Don’t Fear the Reaper Jeff Buckley – Last Goodbye The Joy Formidable – … More My Nation Radio playlist
I’ve been listening to this song a lot over the last week. It’s ‘Blood and Fire’ by Niney the Observer and although it’s a good song in its own right, there’s an added interest for me because PJ Harvey sampled it in one of the best songs on her latest album, Let England Shake. Well that … More An unlikely music chain.
