History Music / CocteauTwins

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: ''Garlands'' is PostPunk, as opposed to the band's reputation as DreamPop heroes, to the point where critics unfavorably compared them to Music/SiouxsieAndTheBanshees in contemporary reviews.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: ''Garlands'' is PostPunk, as opposed to the band's reputation as DreamPop heroes, to the point where critics unfavorably compared them to Music/SiouxsieAndTheBanshees.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The ''Lullabies to Violaine'' collection is the successor to their earlier CD single box set.

The band was formed in 1979 by Guthrie, bassist Will Heggie, and Fraser. They took their name from the song "Cocteau Twins" by Johnny and the Self-Abusers (who you might know under their new name, Music/SimpleMinds), which is reported to have been about two men in Glasgow, Scotland, who had a reputation for being pretentious film snobs with a fondness for the works of Creator/JeanCocteau. They quickly obtained a record deal with Creator/FourADRecords, and their first album, ''Garlands,'' was a largely PostPunk album heavily indebted to their acknowledged influences: Music/JoyDivision, Music/TheBirthdayParty, and Music/KateBush. It was an instant success.

* NewSoundAlbum: ''Treasure'' brought some jazz and world beat influences in, making their sound even airier and a lot less Goth-y. ''Victorialand'', made without bassist Simon Raymonde, is almost an ambient album, with medieval music influences. ''Blue Bell Knoll'' boasted the fuller sound, and much more polished production, that characterized their last four albums.

* GothRock: A TropeMaker (along with DeadCanDance) for the Goth Rock subgenre, Ethereal Wave.

The band broke up in 1997 while recording a new album, due to irreconcilable differences. All three members have gone on their own ways, with Raymonde and Guthrie focusing on producing for other artists, and recording solo albums. Fraser has had the most public exposure since, due to her vocal contributions to Music/MassiveAttack's song "Teardrop", and "Lament for Gandalf" off Music/HowardShore's soundtrack for ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', but has otherwise stayed in a sort of semi retirement, only rarely releasing new material.

The band was formed in 1979 by Guthrie, bassist Will Heggie, and Fraser. They took their name from the song "Cocteau Twins" by Johnny and the Self-Abusers (who you might know under their new name, Music/SimpleMinds), which is reported to have been about two men in Glasgow, Scotland, who had a reputation for being pretentious film snobs with a fondness for the works of Creator/JeanCocteau. They quickly obtained a record deal with Creator/FourADRecords., and teir first album, ''Garlands,'' was a largely PostPunk album heavily indebted to their acknowledged influences: Music/JoyDivision, Music/TheBirthdayParty, and Music/KateBush. It was an instant success.

The band was formed in 1979 by Guthrie, bassist Will Heggie, and Fraser. They took their name from the song "Cocteau Twins" by Johnny and the Self-Abusers (who you might know under their new name, Music/SimpleMinds), and quickly obtained a record deal with Creator/FourADRecords. Their first album, ''Garlands,'' was a largely PostPunk album heavily indebted to their acknowledged influences: Music/JoyDivision, Music/TheBirthdayParty, and Music/KateBush. It was an instant success.

* ''Cocteau Twins Singles Collection'', aka the ''Dials / Crushed / The High Monkey-Monk / Oomingmak'' EP (1991) - the only non-album EP/single to not be included in the ''Lullabies to Violaine'' compilation.

* ''Lullabies to Violaine'' (2005) - box set with all the band's singles and [=EPs=] plus some extra tracks with the ''Tishbite'' and 'Violaine'' sections, except for the aforementioned ''Dials'' EP.

* ''Evangeline'' (1993)

* ''Lullabies to Violaine'' (2005) - box set with all the band's singles and [=EPs=].

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
** ''Garlands'' is PostPunk, as opposed to the band's reputation as DreamPop heroes, to the point where critics unfavorably compared them to Music/SiouxsieAndTheBanshees.

* DreamPop: The TroperMaker.

* DreamPop

Heggie left the band in 1983, after a tour supporting their second EP, ''Peppermint Pig.'' Undaunted, Guthrie and Fraser recorded a new album, ''Head Over Heels,'' entirely on their own with producer John Fryer. It was with this album, that the band arrived at its SignatureStyle: Guthrie's [[EchoingAcoustics heavily echoed and processed]] guitars, combined with Fraser's powerful singing and IndecipherableLyrics, creating an overall atmospheric sound.

* IndecipherableLyrics / SomethingSomethingLeonardBernstein: Leading to {{Mondegreen}}s.

** ''Peppermint Pig,'' their second EP, sounds more pop influenced, almost like they were Music/ThePolice wannabes.

* IndecipherableLyrics/SomethingSomethingLeonardBernstein: Leading to {{Mondegreen}}s.

* IndecipherableLyrics: Leading to {{Mondegreen}}s.

The band also began gaining attention across the Atlantic due to constant airplay on CollegeRadio, after signing a contract with Creator/CapitolRecords in 1988 for US distribution. By this point, the relationship between the band, and 4AD president Ivo Watts-Russell had soured, and he dropped them from the label, after the release of the more accesible ''Heaven or Las Vegas,'' their most commercially successful album. Tensions also appeared in the band, due to Guthrie's drug and alcohol abuse, and the end of Fraser and Guthrie's romantic relationship.

The band also began gaining attention over the Atlantic due to constant airplay on CollegeRadio, after signing a contract with Creator/CapitolRecords in 1988 for US distribution. By this point, the relationship between the band, and 4AD president Ivo Watts-Russell had soured, and he dropped them from the label, after the release of the more accesible ''Heaven or Las Vegas,'' their most commercially successful album. Tensions also appeared in the band, due to Guthrie's drug and alcohol abuse, and the end of Fraser and Guthrie's romantic relationship.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: ''Garlands'' is PostPunk, as opposed to the band's reputation as DreamPop heroes.
** And ''Peppermint Pig,'' their second EP, sounds more pop influenced, almost like they were Music/ThePolice wannabes.