On Sat, 31 Jan 1998 00:36:48 -0500, Cedric Caspesyan wrote: >There is a rumour, sustained by Raymonde, that the next Cocteau album >will be their last. Actually, Raymonde's latest word is that the album has been abandoned. = The CT are no more.=20 >But...they would go on and do other projects for Bella Union, changing >their name for Hope Bulbous or something... Raymonde's already released a solo album on Bella Union ("Blame Someone Else"). Robin Guthrie has a forthcoming project with Russell Mills = (anyone know anything about him?). Liz Fraser sings a tune on the "Winter Guest" soundtrack. &c. Guthrie & Raymonde may collaborate again, though I don't know who would = sing (possibly Raymonde -- who sings on his own album -- but if you know any = hot, undiscovered singing talent... send them a tape!). Bella Union's website: http://www.bellaunion.com/ Paul Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 01:00:30 -0500 From: Cedric Caspesyan Subject: Love Easy Tears Gee, I hate to bring the bad news but : > > As posted on the Twins site: > > Simon Raymonde rants > at this moment it would be foolish to deny that there is some > uncertainty as to the > future of this group. The record we were making has been > abandoned, so there are no > immediate plans for any releases. While it is unlikely that these > difficulties will be > resolved, there is some hope that this record, a record, from this > period will surface at > some point. The label 'bella union' is flourishing, and there is > no end to the differing > projects that the three of us will be involved in, resulting in > hopefully many more > records than before. Perhaps there is a feeling that this is a > rather premature end to the > group, but i would rather leave it to others to commentate, > commiserate, analyse, and > dissect the whys and wherefores. I have no intention of going into > the personal nature > of these conflicts, but would like to say that all three of us > would be nowhere without > the dedication and commitment that you all show. Of course many of > you will feel > unsatisfied by much of what i have said, but this is not rocket > science. this group is a > very emotive force, and you must take into consideration how > strongly we all feel about > this. there will be more cocteau twins records etc to come out > over the next few > years.4AD are planning a compilation;Mercury probably aren't, but > well you never > know! Robin and I both have some very exciting things on the go; > we are also talking > about doing a record together very soon; but for the moment i > shall finish by saying that > perhaps one day things will settle down, enabling us to move > forward, but at this > precise moment, you should understand that I am not in a position > to give any more > information. thanks everyone.simonx > > -- Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 16:17:58 -0500 From: Michael Borum Subject: Re: Cocteau Twins - have they broken up? They've not exactly "broken up." The most direct statement from the band so far has been to say they are shelving any Cocteau Twins work in progress and diverting their attentions to other things: Simon to his own solo music, Robin to producing, and Liz to working with other artists (Massive Attack, Craig Armstrong, etc.), as well as Robin and Simon continuing the work of managing their studio business (September Sound is not exclusively for the Twins' use; it's a full-featured, state-o-the-art multi-studio recording complex,) as well as manage their indie label Bella Union. They've all got full plates, to say the least, and there's no contractual reason for them to write and record one more Cocteau Twins song unless they all agree to do that. To say they've "broken up" would be premature, which is one of the reasons why you haven't heard any of the band members actually say that. My impression is that they don't really know where the "Cocteau Twins" are headed, but I wouldn't write them off entirely. There is most of a new album already on tape (sans vocals) and they may revisit that later on. I think that reports or rumors of Liz being at fault for any of this are probably exaggerated. She's living in Bristol doing her own thing, and maybe she isn't into singing or writing Cocteau Twins stuff at the moment. Again, there's nobody holding a contract over their heads to do anything, so why should they if any one of them doesn't really want to right now? I think fans should view it, for now, as three artists taking some sabbatical away from their day jobs to grow -- independently -- as people and musicians. I think we'd all agree that if and when they do pick up and continue with Cocteau Twins music, the results will have been worth it. And if they do call it quits as a proper band, I doubt many can justifiably say that they cut their careers short or that the Cocteau Twins didn't contribute something utterly, irrefutably brilliant to the human musical conscience in their 16 years. I'd much rather this than be 4 or 5 years down the road listening to Cocteau Twins releasing mediocrity as some of their peers have done (Siouxsie, the Cure, etc.) Well, there it is. Mike iceblink@tiac.net Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 12:14:29 +0100 From: David Thorpe Subject: News from ex-Cocteau Twins, ECM and New Albion Stratton Davis forwarded the following email to me from Simon Raymonde. Apologies if you've already received this: Cocteau Twins wrote: >we have no plans to make any more records together as ct, though >undoubtedly the record companies (4AD, Mercury) will have plans for 'best >of....' in time. >we have 3/4 of a record finished but it will not see the light of day for >some time yet i fear. >robin & I have a small independent label where will continue to find >eclectic and interesting bands to release as well as be a platform for >our own music. liz is planning on a pop career i think. hope that clears >up your queries, simonx Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 09:31:58 -0400 From: Michael Borum Subject: Re: Liz as pop goddess Tracy Thorn and Kate Bush (two singer/songwriters whom Liz admire) sing "pop" music and I think most people consider them to be quite talented and in possession of their integrity, so why worry about Liz? Liz's tastes run a bit more to the interesting and eclectic than the likes of Kylie Minogue or Madonna. I think Simon means "pop" in the sense that she will be involved in projects that are more accessible to the public than an obscure band like the Cocteaus have been. Maybe not. I think we'll see her doing a lot more collaborative work with other artists in any event. I'd personally love to see Liz do an album of classic blues & jazz songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, Nina Simone, Billie Holliday and the like. She has a very natural talent for R&B/soul melodies (a la "Touch Upon Touch"). Of course, I'd love to hear Robin's guitar and Simon's bass backing her up, but oh well... Mike iceblink@tiac.net