# Where to start with the Cocteau Twins? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864 "2014-11-17T17:05:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/21 "2014-11-19T19:54:17Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I love Cranes, but Alison’s voice might be an obstacle for some. It’s a breathy, little girl voice (that’s quite the rage to use, and hate, now) that contrasts with the jangly, percussive music. I got to see them live and meet her about 20 years ago. They’re great in concert, and she’s very shy. Yeah, when they started, she was about the only one doing it; then it became fashionable and now it’s cliched. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/22 "2014-11-19T19:59:17Z")
True, but I still like them. This will serve as a good example. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GI7T2T-Cz2E/hqdefault.jpg "Cranes - Everywhere - ..Pè. -") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI7T2T-Cz2E) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/23 "2014-11-19T20:08:25Z")
AC Marias are in the same general ballpark. [One of our girls has gone missing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28Iu7HdFg6I) - great video too. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/24 "2014-11-19T21:02:29Z")
That’s another album I bought when it first came out. There are lots of good songs on it. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/25 "2014-11-20T00:34:27Z")
My go to song to cheer me up: Turn up loud and dance around the house to Fotzepolitic. Don’t even try to figure out what she’s singing, just make up your own nonsensical phrases. “See in saw bones be back to you Will you?..” ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/26 "2014-11-20T08:04:10Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > True, but I still like them. This will serve as a good example. > [http://youtu.be/GI7T2T-Cz2E](http://youtu.be/GI7T2T-Cz2E) Agree completely; [Adrift](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKZZ8NPSEUk) is just a terrific song. And this thread has made me dust off a lot of bands like Curve and Slowdive for a play. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/27 "2014-11-20T09:17:43Z")
And just because one can’t have enough of the delightful Ms. Fraser, there is her vocal work on Massive Attack’s “[Teardrop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAVUPu7URbc)”. This, together with various Pink Floyd and Air tracks found use as effective lullabies for our little ones. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/28 "2014-11-20T17:38:36Z")
Did you play the fun “Pitch the Baby”? [Cocteau Twins - Pitch The Baby - YouTube](http://youtu.be/oaNstV12cl8) ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/29 "2014-11-20T19:09:46Z")
Thanks everyone for this thread it’s full of great recommendations. > [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > all good suggestions, I’ll only add that their version of “[song to the siren](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mUmdR69nbM)” is utterly wonderful. This is one of those songs I’ve heard from time to time over the years and always wondered who it was. It’s awesome to finally know who sings this wonderful track. > [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > And just because one can’t have enough of the delightful Ms. Fraser, there is her vocal work on Massive Attack’s “[Teardrop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAVUPu7URbc)”. > This, together with various Pink Floyd and Air tracks found use as effective lullabies for our little ones. Another song I’ve loved for years, again without ever figuring out who actually sang on it. As for soothing Baby music, I’ve had a lot of success with Wilco’s _AM_ album as my go-to “rocking the baby to sleep” sounds. The little guy’s usually snoring by the end of “Pick up the Change” no matter how upset he started out as. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/30 "2014-11-20T19:17:46Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > Another song I’ve loved for years, again without ever figuring out who actually sang on it. As for soothing Baby music, I’ve had a lot of success with Wilco’s _AM_ album as my go-to “rocking the baby to sleep” sounds. The little guy’s usually snoring by the end of “Pick up the Change” no matter how upset he started out as. Try him on [Lemon Jelly.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8yx4k4tzqE) Smooth happy beats, kid-friendly lyrics, and the video is awesome. It’s a bit of an earworm, though. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/31 "2014-11-20T20:17:48Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Smooth happy beats, kid-friendly lyrics, and the video is awesome. That video is basically All The Drugs At Once :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864/32 "2014-11-20T20:42:52Z")
I’ve always been struck by the contrast between the otherworldy beauty of Liz’s voice and Robin’s music, and the fact that they both grew up in Grangemouth - a grim Scottish town utterly dominated by a gigantic oil refinery and chemical works. Anyway, thanks to SaharaTea for the thread. I’ve been bingeing on the Cocteaus all day, and they still sound as fresh as when I first heard them 30 years ago. A timeless band (well, except maybe for some of the drum machine sounds…) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-start-with-the-cocteau-twins/704864.md?page=1)