When Cocteau Twins followed the Ramones onstage and why 1979 was the Golden Age - by Simon Raymonde

[@Dnky27]

Awesome. Especially as a seminal moment of my life was accidentally tuning into to John Peel instead of the late night Radio Scotland request show and hearing Pearly Dew Drops Drops. I became a Peel and Cocteau Twins obsessive at 13 or 14 and discovered a world of music beyond the Top 40. I was so into the Cocteau Twins that I went to see Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds on the Tender Prey tour as a fresh faced teenager and was way more excited that the Cocteau Twins were there!!! Thanks Simon. You, Robin and Liz changed my life!

[@Accidentinparadiable]

Superb ❤

[@ministerofdarkness]

Love! Love! Love! Simon's bass playing on the Cocteau Twins. Fantastic interview. Cheers 🍺🍺

[@David-Ellis]

Simon's book is the next on my shelf to read. Can't wait. The records of the Cocteau Twins hold a very special place in my heart. I wish Elizabeth Fraser was still making albums [apart from the very occasional EP] - the woman has the voice of an angel. At the time I was happy they didn't go on ToTP - imagine them, late April 1984 ending up on the same bill as Shakin Stevens, Billy Joel & Lionel Richie? No I can't either. Great interview - Many thanks 😊 D

[@davidspearman7177]

Fascinating, thanks for putting it up

[@davidspearman7177]

For Simon to say that even he wasn’t sure what Liz was singing about most of the time, is quite revealing isn’t it? They were all uncompromisingly private and shy but thank God they put themselves out there for us mere mortals to enjoy I’ve always been drawn to groups/artists who are definitely not mainstream (not to say I don’t love a bit of Fleetwood Mac or Bowie )…. 10,000 maniacs, Lilac Time, Dead Can Dance, Beach House to name a few I sing along to CT with what I think is being uttered, and it makes me smile to see other people’s interpretations “you gotta go where you wanna go, do what you wanna do”🙂

[@Wearenotreallyhere]

The Cocteau Twins were one of the few bands who I saw play the Hacienda who actually sounded good in there! December 1983, cavernous echo, freezing cold inside and out, suited their sound! Liz was mesmerising, awkwardly twiddling her thumbs. Together with the Smiths the Cocteau Twins got me through a really difficult period of the 80s.

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

I only saw the Cocteau Twins live once, at Brixton Academy in about 1990. Terrific gig but the sound was a bit bass-heavy. Hearing Elizabeth Fraser's dreamy vocals for real was a treat, including her singing tacks with sensible lyrics (some from Heaven or Las Vegas) rather than just the Yes-style nonsense ones -- which were also delightful.

[@JJONNYREPP]

When Cocteau Twins followed the Ramones onstage and why 1979 was the Golden Age - by Simon Raymonde 2122pm 30.9.24 does she have back up sensible lyrics for those consumer conscious moments...when she knows the punters want to hear profound normal lyrics and verbiage? i dontmind the alleged garbled nonsense. it's music for kids who cant discern what's being uttered so make up their own lyric. buzzcocks were quite akin to that when Devoto sang as he rabbited on, one couldn't keep up............... i never saw it, the cocteau twins, play. wish i had, actually.... it's ethereal oddness. vinny reilly had such moments, also - to fit with his layered and operatic sensibilities...anyhow; i'm gonna listen to these two waffle on as i do some job search...

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

@@JJONNYREPP Yes, 'ethereal oddness' describes the Cocteau's output. I got into Dead Can Dance a while back and they often made similar soundscapes. When I was a teen in the late 70s/early 80s I saw a few new wave bands in their prime including early XtC, The Clash and Buzzcocks -- tons of energy but you're right, apart from the chorus it was hard to catch the lyrics. It was meant for the youth, but I still listen to Cocteau Twins and other wacky stuff from decades back now. That great live scene is nearly gone now, sadly. Job seeking's pretty miserable nowadays too -- good luck with that.

[@JJONNYREPP]

@@PaIaeoCIive1684 Comments on ‘When Cocteau Twins followed the Ramones onstage and why 1979 was the Golden Age - by Simon Raymonde’ 30.9.24 2145pm profundity korner suggests: jobs!? pah!!! sod that....who wants a job....? dead can dance some dude i once knocked about with got me into dead can dance in the 90's... i thank him for that. my dead can dance records went awol... so other must have felt similar... cocteau twins whacky? i think Cardiacs is probably whacky. the residents is whacky... Cocteau twins whacky? i wouldnt say that. i'd say seemingly serious about it's job... though maybe they played it dead straight else it just aint funny..? dunno.... like all great mysteries those guys were probably alluding to wayyy over our heads joviality that is lost on us.........or just me? if i ever did a ghost hunting session i'd get my mate, go find that deserted hotel or stately home and play some cocteau twins... see if it engendered a bit of otherworldly interaction...

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

@@JJONNYREPP Hi again -- 254 views but only us two want to comment? Surely lots of people appreciate the Cocteau Twins? Never got the Cardiacs TBF even though my mate from Kingston was at school with one of them. Re: jobs. Back in the day I sometimes got a job in the morning and, if it was shite, could easily find a new one to start the next morning -- sometimes with no reference checks and definitely with no box-ticking requirements. Life was simpler, music was better and people were happier. At least we've still got the great music to enjoy. Got to go, cheers.

[@JJONNYREPP]

@@PaIaeoCIive1684 ​ @PaIaeoCIive1648 Comments on ‘When Cocteau Twins followed the Ramones onstage and why 1979 was the Golden Age - by Simon Raymonde’ 30.9.24 2208pm mother said the same last week, regards jobs, as i took her to the store.... we had to dodge spook and co as they hunted her down - but that's a different story. indeed... only we two wanna comment about CT... strange, isn't' it...? if it was the stones you 'd have some sap make a reply same with zep... there are a few dead certs to comment upon wherein you can be sure of a retort - whether bot or no, i can't say.... the wise suffering old polio sage once said: what a waste. and it surely has been.... ever feel like yerv been cheated...? a myriad stuff and nonsense comes to the fore re: music. the best off the cuff comment mid set was mark e smith's: what is this shit! as he ran off into carry grant's wedding hail new puritan rant... anyway... dont feel bad i am a magnet for retards, prowlers, twisters and freaks... garbage bin checkers... life affirmers and fraudsters. must be the whiff of me... that sets them apace. good luck!!!!! life's cheap and people even cheaper...

[@JJONNYREPP]

When Cocteau Twins followed the Ramones onstage and why 1979 was the Golden Age - by Simon Raymonde 1927pm 30.9.24 is that morrissey's fav personage raymonde?

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

Different 'Raymonde'. Morrissey covered 'No-one Can Hold A Candle To You' by by the fellow Manchester group Raymonde, whose lead singer James Maker was a childhood friend of Moz and devoted a chapter of his biography to him. This is Simon Raymonde of the lovely Cocteau Twins.

[@JJONNYREPP]

@@PaIaeoCIive1684 When Cocteau Twins followed the Ramones onstage and why 1979 was the Golden Age - by Simon Raymonde 2128pm 30.9.24 ahh the pleasing james maker who was, allegedly, the first to wear high heels out and about... allegedly. and as for not knowing who is who in the wonderful and frightening world of showbiz...i dont do reading of credits. i didnt know a simon raymonde featured in the cocteau twins. ivo and liz and that other dude... would be about my only recollection of band mate monikers. i recall an interview in, the NME wherein they spoke of being normal...i wasn't to argue with them... they're scottish. p.s anyhow, as for garbled moments...david yow also utilizes the cover of muffled tones to hide what might be terrible lyricism... not that i mind. it could all be sound poetry for all i care... refer to happy mondays wrote for luck. as for moz... well.... there you go. i am out of the loop where his highness of Mancunian mercurialness is concerned... i read him i went off him after he split. though i do enjoy the cover version album he created. and the pretenders cover he sang is also worthy do fodder. one can almost discern johnny marr on that track... 2018. 10 quid for a 7inch. bastard daylight robbery, sir...

[@Pete-Fisher]

The Ramones, the Ruts, Penetration, XTC yes, proper bands. Mid to late 70s dub - top notch. The Cocteaus with a drum machine and their ilk? No, not for me. 1964-71 was the golden era of pop in my opinion...