Dear friends, fans, and followers,
With everything going on in the world and online—most of it plainly awful—it has felt a bit out-of-touch to write about anything else, so apologies if you’ve been wondering why there’s been silence from this corner of the internet lately. It’s not for lack of things to share! The former Cocteaus have been busy, indeed.
New Fraser Dropped
Today we saw something truly unheard of: a kind of media blitz from Elizabeth Fraser. Perhaps ‘blitz’ is too strong a word for a few Instagram1 posts and a radio show promoting her forthcoming EP, Sun’s Signature, which she has co-created with her long-time partner Damon Reece (Spiritualized, Echo & the Bunnymen, Lupine Howl).
Sun’s Signature EP, a project between @damonreeceofficial and me that has been years - decades - in the making, is out physically on 18 June via @partisanrecords for Record Store Day 2022.
The EP, to be released on vinyl with the indie label Partisan Records, will see a limited release of 3,700 copies this month on Record Store Day. A digital release is slated for July. (Fraser’s Insta posts say the RSD release is in June, but RSD’s own website says otherwise. We’ve heard rumors that physical copies are being delayed due to supply chain and production problems, so it’s possible one can purchase the record on 23rd April but won’t actually receive it until June?)
Sun’s Signature is comprised of five tracks:
Underwater
Golden Air
Bluedusk
Apples
Make Lovely the Day
Fans may recognise a couple of those—”Underwater” was previously released 175 years ago (actually in 2000, but what’s the difference?) as a white label 12-inch and eventually leaked online. “Golden Air” was performed during Fraser’s live shows as part of the 2012 Meltdown Festival in the UK. “Golden Air” is also the track streaming as of today.
Aside from Fraser’s inimitable voice, one would be straining credulity to compare this to Cocteau Twins. It most definitely is not. But it is thoroughly lovely. I won’t prejudice you with comparisons; you’ll have to listen for yourself. The influences of folk music and prog rock are there, along with a host of other interesting bits. It is fascinating to hear what Fraser’s cooked up when she has had all the freedom and time in the world to do it her way. Elizabeth has been noodling around with these songs for the better part of 20 years, after all, with the sole exception being Moses (2009). No doubt some of you have raised children and sent them off to school in the time since “Underwater” was released (then again, so have Damon and Liz). One thing’s for sure: it sounds as though it has been well worth the wait.
Robin Guthrie Interview + ‘New’ Song
On the heels of his busy end of 2021, Robin Guthrie has kept it up well into the new year (which is no longer very new, and in fact already feels quite old). To mark his 60th birthday in January, Guthrie released another four-track EP, Springtime, available via his Bandcamp page. Also released in 2022 through Bandcamp are two new solo tracks—”orphans,” as he calls them—”Just Blue,” released in February, and “Kingdom,” which dropped in March.
Robin, who always has the attention of the gear nerds, gave another insightful interview with Guitar World on 22nd December, filled with the kinds of quotes only Robin could say, like, “I’m not playing a guitar—I’m playing the sound, I’m playing the pedals, I’m playing the reverb.”
”Well, I’m somebody who didn't really know how to make music but started out at a time when there were interesting new things happening. Even the drum machine was a very unusual thing to be using [with a band] when we started out.“
Simon Raymonde on “What Goes Around” Podcast
In-between houses at the start of 2022, Simon Raymonde joined hosts Deb & Eamon for a chat about his father, Ivor, his own music, his work with Bella Union—what’s up with the vinyl shortage?—and, of course, his years as a Cocteau Twin.
On that vinyl shortage, you might have missed a feature in ClashMusic where Simon had much to say on the subject.
“I feel the pain. As an artist myself and as a label owner, I feel it from all sides.
“What new band, full of tension and anxiety at the world around them, wants to wait a year before their fresh exciting debut record comes out?
“But many of us have seen this coming for years. Sadly not enough to make much of a difference.”
Read the full piece at ClashMusic.
Incidentally, this newsletter is reaching you all just days after Simon’s 60th birthday. Many happy returns, Simon!
Simon’s Cocteau Tweets
Except goths don’t wear pale blue fleece jumpers.
Speaking of the Heaven or Las Vegas era, remember that time baby Lucy Belle woke Robin up by shoving a toilet brush into his mouth?
Wherever you are in the world, and whatever you’re experiencing these days, have faith. Don’t give up. Take care of yourself and others. Even the smallest effort can have a huge impact. While you’re at it, put some music on. As I’ve always said, there’s no gloom that a song like ‘Aikea-Guinea’ can’t clear up.
Wishing you peace and love from the ground up,
Michael
Just want to say what a tonic your writing here is. Just that. Wry, and respectful, and enthusiastic and witty. Thank you.
Great newsletter! There's a lot in here I had no idea about, and was heartened to hear :)
Thanks so much for putting this together and sharing it with us.