This is the band that Prince was a huge fan of, because they could do things he could not do.
Well, Liz Fraser's voice was absolutely unique.
This song was actually my first introduction to the Cocteau Twins, as the song was released on their 1988 album, Blue Bell Knoll. That was the year my musical awakening really took off. I did not know that this would be their biggest hit song in the US - and still have a huge following 35 years later.
Let's talk about these lyrics. You know, there are lyrics - this isn't just Elizabeth Fraser doing bird calls. Seriously, she harmonizes with herself on this song. She turns the word "love" into at least a three syllable word. She can hit the very high and very low notes. It's amazing.
The song is actually very guitar- and bass-driven, although there are electronic keyboards and drum loops as well. Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde somehow manage to get an ethereal sound that defined a record label - 4AD - out of those instruments.
When performed live in 1994 on the Jools Holland program, two things are apparent.
1) The song is clearly guitar- and bass-driven and not as electronic as it sounds - and sounds cool with real drums.
2) The song is immensely difficult to perform vocally, as Fraser struggles at first. Stay with it. She gets a LOT better.
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