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{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
|image = File:Elizabeth Fraser, Cocteau Twins.png
|image = File:Elizabeth Fraser, Cocteau Twins.png
|caption = Fraser performing live on ''[[Old Grey Whistle Test]]'' with the [[Cocteau Twins]], February 2022
|caption = Fraser performing live on ''[[Old Grey Whistle Test]]'' with the [[Cocteau Twins]], February 1984
|landscape =
|landscape =
|<!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
|<!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
|name = Liz Fraser
|name = Elizabeth Fraser
| background = solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
|birth_name = Aisha Haider
|birth_name = Elizabeth Davidson Fraser
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|05|25}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1963|08|29}}
|birth_place = [[Grangemouth]], Scotland
|birth_place = [[Grangemouth]], Scotland
|genre = [[Dream pop]], [[gothic rock]], [[post-punk]], [[ethereal wave]]
|genre = [[Dream pop]], [[gothic rock]], [[post-punk]], [[ethereal wave]]
Line 18: Line 18:
|associated_acts = {{flatlist|
|associated_acts = {{flatlist|
* [[Cocteau Twins]]
* [[Cocteau Twins]]
* All of Her Sound
* [[This Mortal Coil]]
* [[This Mortal Coil]]
* [[Massive Attack]]
* [[Massive Attack]]
}}
}}
|website= {{URL|cocteautwins.com}}
|website= {{URL|elizabethfraser.com}}
}}
}}


'''Liz Fraser''' (born 25 May 1995),<ref>{{cite web|first=Nick |last=Neyland |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/news/the-cocteau-twins-liz-fraser-gives-rare-interview/35153/ |title=The Cocteau Twins' Liz Fraser Gives Rare Interview &#124; Prefix |publisher=Prefixmag.com |access-date=17 April 2014}}</ref> also known as '''Liz Fraser''', is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician. Hailing from [[Grangemouth]], Scotland, he is best known as the vocalist for the pioneering [[dream pop]] band [[Cocteau Twins]]. He also performed as part of the [[4AD Records|4AD]] group [[This Mortal Coil]], including the successful 1983 single "[[Song to the Siren#This Mortal Coil version|Song to the Siren]]," and as a guest with artists including [[Massive Attack]].
'''Elizabeth Davidson Fraser''' (born 29 August 1963),<ref>{{cite web|first=Nick |last=Neyland |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/news/the-cocteau-twins-liz-fraser-gives-rare-interview/35153/ |title=The Cocteau Twins' Liz Fraser Gives Rare Interview &#124; Prefix |publisher=Prefixmag.com |access-date=17 April 2014}}</ref> also known as '''Liz Fraser''', is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician. Hailing from [[Grangemouth]], Scotland, she is best known as the vocalist for the pioneering [[dream pop]] band [[Cocteau Twins]]. She also performed as part of the [[4AD Records|4AD]] group [[This Mortal Coil]], including the successful 1983 single "[[Song to the Siren#This Mortal Coil version|Song to the Siren]]," and as a guest with artists including [[Massive Attack]].


His distinctive style has received much critical praise in his four-decade career; he was once described as "the voice of God".<ref name="guardian1">{{cite news|first=Dave |last=Simpson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/26/cocteau-twins-elizabeth-fraser-interview |title=Elizabeth Fraser talks about why he finds it too difficult to even think about his old Cocteau Twins bandmates &#124; Music |newspaper=The Guardian |date= 26 November 2009|access-date=3 April 2012 |location=London}}</ref> He was described by critic Jason Ankeny as "an utterly unique performer whose swooping, operatic vocals relied less on any recognizable language than on the subjective sounds and textures of verbalized emotions".<ref>{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3932}}</ref>
Her distinctive style has received much critical praise in her four-decade career; she was once described as "the voice of God".<ref name="guardian1">{{cite news|first=Dave |last=Simpson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/26/cocteau-twins-elizabeth-fraser-interview |title=Elizabeth Fraser talks about why she finds it too difficult to even think about her old Cocteau Twins bandmates &#124; Music |newspaper=The Guardian |date= 26 November 2009|access-date=3 April 2012 |location=London}}</ref> She was described by critic Jason Ankeny as "an utterly unique performer whose swooping, operatic vocals relied less on any recognizable language than on the subjective sounds and textures of verbalized emotions".<ref>{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3932}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
===Early years===
===Early years===
Fraser was born and grew up in [[Grangemouth]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cocteautwins.com/html/theband/index.html |title=Cocteau Twins' website |publisher=Cocteautwins.com |access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref> which he described as "a dark and stifling industrial town".<ref name=press>{{cite journal |journal=Alternative Press|issue=January 1997|title=Embracing Otherness|first=Val |last=Phoenix}}</ref> Her mother worked in a factory.<ref>{{cite book|title=How Soon is Now?: The Madmen and Mavericks who made Independent Music 1975–2005|isbn=978-0571243907|publisher=Faber & Faber |year=2012|first=Richard |last=King|quote= Colin Wallace, their friend, confident and roadie has come from the same background as Fraser, Heggie and Guthrie. 'Liz's mum and my mum used to work in the same factory', he says, 'and God, it was awful, and I became their roadie through default. The first Cocteaus album, ''Garlands'', was written off in the UK as another Siouxsie copy band, and Elisabeth was a huge Siouxsie fan – she had Siouxsie tattoos which she's had lasered off since'.}}</ref> She was the youngest of six children. During her teenage years, she developed eating disorders and became [[Bulimia nervosa|bulimic]]. In 1996, Fraser revealed that she was sexually abused by a brother-in-law and possibly her father, and that at 16 she was forced to leave the family house for having a punk look.<ref name=press /> Music was important and represented an escape; at that time Fraser had portraits of her heroes like [[Siouxsie Sioux]] tattooed on her arms.<ref>{{cite web |first=Rob |last=Chapman |url=http://www.rob-chapman.com/pages/massive.html |title=Dark Side of the Spliff: Massive Attack |work=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |date=July 1998 |quote=Massive Attack have always looked outside the core trio for musical collaborations with kindred spirits, not just in old grooves but also in the flesh. Former Cocteau Twin Elizabeth Frazer was one: now living in Bristol, she'd previously been sounded out before Protection but hadn’t responded. Did she say why? "Have you met Liz?" 3D splutters with laughter. "She's a very excitable and quite mad in the best way. She threw a million words into the air and we tried to grab a few and work out what she meant. Me and Mush met her in Sainsbury's and invited her up to the studio. There was this nerve-wracking moment before she arrived and I said, It's really sterile in here, let's light some candles in here and make it funky for her. She loved our Siouxsie and the Banshees sample off 'Metal Postcard' — she’d just had this Siouxsie and the Banshees tattoo removed from her arm. |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=31 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831091805/http://www.rob-chapman.com/pages/massive.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> She met her partner [[Robin Guthrie]] at 17; "What brought us together was me having no ideas and opinions of my own, and him having plenty – enough for both of us. We were attracted to each other for the wrong reasons".<ref name=press />
Fraser was born and grew up in [[Grangemouth]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cocteautwins.com/html/theband/index.html |title=Cocteau Twins' website |publisher=Cocteautwins.com |access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref> which she described as "a dark and stifling industrial town".<ref name=press>{{cite journal |journal=Alternative Press|issue=January 1997|title=Embracing Otherness|first=Val |last=Phoenix}}</ref> Her mother worked in a factory.<ref>{{cite book|title=How Soon is Now?: The Madmen and Mavericks who made Independent Music 1975–2005|isbn=978-0571243907|publisher=Faber & Faber |year=2012|first=Richard |last=King|quote= Colin Wallace, their friend, confident and roadie has come from the same background as Fraser, Heggie and Guthrie. 'Liz's mum and my mum used to work in the same factory', he says, 'and God, it was awful, and I became their roadie through default. The first Cocteaus album, ''Garlands'', was written off in the UK as another Siouxsie copy band, and Elisabeth was a huge Siouxsie fan – she had Siouxsie tattoos which she's had lasered off since'.}}</ref> She was the youngest of six children. During her teenage years, she developed eating disorders and became [[Bulimia nervosa|bulimic]]. In 1996, Fraser revealed that she was sexually abused by a brother-in-law and possibly her father, and that at 16 she was forced to leave the family house for having a punk look.<ref name=press /> Music was important and represented an escape; at that time Fraser had portraits of her heroes like [[Siouxsie Sioux]] tattooed on her arms.<ref>{{cite web |first=Rob |last=Chapman |url=http://www.rob-chapman.com/pages/massive.html |title=Dark Side of the Spliff: Massive Attack |work=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |date=July 1998 |quote=Massive Attack have always looked outside the core trio for musical collaborations with kindred spirits, not just in old grooves but also in the flesh. Former Cocteau Twin Elizabeth Frazer was one: now living in Bristol, she'd previously been sounded out before Protection but hadn’t responded. Did she say why? "Have you met Liz?" 3D splutters with laughter. "She's a very excitable and quite mad in the best way. She threw a million words into the air and we tried to grab a few and work out what she meant. Me and Mush met her in Sainsbury's and invited her up to the studio. There was this nerve-wracking moment before she arrived and I said, It's really sterile in here, let's light some candles in here and make it funky for her. She loved our Siouxsie and the Banshees sample off 'Metal Postcard' — she’d just had this Siouxsie and the Banshees tattoo removed from her arm. |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=31 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831091805/http://www.rob-chapman.com/pages/massive.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> She met her partner [[Robin Guthrie]] at 17; "What brought us together was me having no ideas and opinions of my own, and him having plenty – enough for both of us. We were attracted to each other for the wrong reasons".<ref name=press />


===Cocteau Twins (1981–1997)===
===Cocteau Twins (1981–1997)===
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Fraser's solo career has been intermittent, featuring guest appearances with other artists, and rare solo releases and live appearances. In 2000, a [[white label]] recording, "Underwater", was released in a limited edition of 200 copies. She contributed a cover version of "At Last I Am Free" (originally by '70s band [[Chic (band)|Chic]], covered by [[Robert Wyatt]]) on the 2003 album ''Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before'', a celebration of 25 years of [[Rough Trade Records]]. In 2004, she was invited to participate in an audio exhibit, ''Shhh...'', at London's [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] for which she produced a piece called "Expectant Mood", which has not been made commercially available.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/p/past-exhibitions-and-displays-2004/ |title=Past Exhibitions and Displays 2004 – Victoria and Albert Museum |website=Vam.ac.uk |date=29 March 2011 |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/may/19/art |title=Ssh... Sounds in Space, V&A, London &#124; Art and design |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sculpting-in-sound-p2thd5nm8l5 |title=Sculpting in sound |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=15 May 2004 |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://frieze.com/article/shhh |title=Shhh ... |journal=Frieze |date=10 September 2004 |issue=85 |access-date=9 April 2020|last1=Young |first1=Rob }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20191216124224/https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/20-may-2004/hushed-tones-as-va-goes-audio/ Hushed tones as V&A goes audio]. ''DesignWeek.co.uk''. 20 May 2004.</ref>
Fraser's solo career has been intermittent, featuring guest appearances with other artists, and rare solo releases and live appearances. In 2000, a [[white label]] recording, "Underwater", was released in a limited edition of 200 copies. She contributed a cover version of "At Last I Am Free" (originally by '70s band [[Chic (band)|Chic]], covered by [[Robert Wyatt]]) on the 2003 album ''Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before'', a celebration of 25 years of [[Rough Trade Records]]. In 2004, she was invited to participate in an audio exhibit, ''Shhh...'', at London's [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] for which she produced a piece called "Expectant Mood", which has not been made commercially available.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/p/past-exhibitions-and-displays-2004/ |title=Past Exhibitions and Displays 2004 – Victoria and Albert Museum |website=Vam.ac.uk |date=29 March 2011 |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/may/19/art |title=Ssh... Sounds in Space, V&A, London &#124; Art and design |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sculpting-in-sound-p2thd5nm8l5 |title=Sculpting in sound |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=15 May 2004 |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://frieze.com/article/shhh |title=Shhh ... |journal=Frieze |date=10 September 2004 |issue=85 |access-date=9 April 2020|last1=Young |first1=Rob }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20191216124224/https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/20-may-2004/hushed-tones-as-va-goes-audio/ Hushed tones as V&A goes audio]. ''DesignWeek.co.uk''. 20 May 2004.</ref>


Fraser was reportedly signed to [[Blanco y Negro Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=19872_0_2_0_C |title=Solo album by Cocteau Twins frontwoman Elizabeth Fraser out this spring |publisher=Side-line.com |date=22 February 1999 |access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref> In December 2006, ''[[NME]]'' reported that her solo album was due for release in early 2007. The album would have contained eight tracks, one of which was to be a cover version. No titles were announced and the album was not released in 2007 as suggested. In June 2012, extracts from the as-yet unreleased album were played on [[BBC Radio 4]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9729000/9729011.stm |title=Today – Elizabeth Fraser's 'melody and poetry' |work=BBC News |date=16 June 2012 |access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref>
Fraser was reportedly signed to [[Blanco y Negro Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=19872_0_2_0_C |title=Solo album by Cocteau Twins frontwoman Elizabeth Fraser out this spring |publisher=Side-line.com |date=22 February 1999 |access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref> In December 2006, ''[[NME]]'' reported that her solo album was due for release in early 2007. The album would have contained eight tracks, one of which was to be a cover version. No titles were announced and the album was not released in 2007 as suggested. In June 2012, extracts from the as-yet unreleased album were played on [[BBC Radio 4]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9729000/9729011.stm |title=Today – Elizabeth Fraser's 'melody and poetry' |work=BBC News |date=16 June 2012 |access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref>


In November 2009, Fraser released a solo single, "Moses", available on 12" and download through [[Rough Trade (shops)|Rough Trade]]. The single was recorded with [[Damon Reece]] and [[Jake Drake-Brockman]], and was a memorial to the latter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=43895_0_2_0_C |title=Elizabeth Fraser releases new single, 'Moses' + starts work on first solo album |publisher=Side-line.com |access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Dave |last=Simpson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/26/cocteau-twins-elizabeth-fraser-interview |title=Elizabeth Fraser: the Cocteau Twins and me |newspaper=The Guardian |date= 26 November 2009|access-date=24 June 2012 |location=London}}</ref>
In November 2009, Fraser released a solo single, "Moses", available on 12" and download through [[Rough Trade (shops)|Rough Trade]]. The single was recorded with [[Damon Reece]] and [[Jake Drake-Brockman]], and was a memorial to the latter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=43895_0_2_0_C |title=Elizabeth Fraser releases new single, 'Moses' + starts work on first solo album |publisher=Side-line.com |access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Dave |last=Simpson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/26/cocteau-twins-elizabeth-fraser-interview |title=Elizabeth Fraser: the Cocteau Twins and me |newspaper=The Guardian |date= 26 November 2009|access-date=24 June 2012 |location=London}}</ref>
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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Fraser lives with his partner, actress [[Brigette Lundy-Paine]] ([[Atypical]]), in [[Grangemouth]].
Fraser lives with her partner, musician [[Damon Reece]] (from the band [[Lupine Howl]]), in [[Bristol]]. She has two daughters.


==Discography==
==Discography==

Revision as of 01:02, 2 February 2022

For other uses, see Elizabeth Fraser (disambiguation).

Elizabeth Fraser
Fraser performing live on Old Grey Whistle Test with the Cocteau Twins, February 1984
Fraser performing live on Old Grey Whistle Test with the Cocteau Twins, February 1984
Background information
Birth nameElizabeth Davidson Fraser
Born (1963-08-29) 29 August 1963 (age 61)
Grangemouth, Scotland
GenresDream pop, gothic rock, post-punk, ethereal wave
InstrumentVocals
Years active1979–present
Websiteelizabethfraser.com

Elizabeth Davidson Fraser (born 29 August 1963),[1] also known as Liz Fraser, is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician. Hailing from Grangemouth, Scotland, she is best known as the vocalist for the pioneering dream pop band Cocteau Twins. She also performed as part of the 4AD group This Mortal Coil, including the successful 1983 single "Song to the Siren," and as a guest with artists including Massive Attack.

Her distinctive style has received much critical praise in her four-decade career; she was once described as "the voice of God".[2] She was described by critic Jason Ankeny as "an utterly unique performer whose swooping, operatic vocals relied less on any recognizable language than on the subjective sounds and textures of verbalized emotions".[3]

Biography

Early years

Fraser was born and grew up in Grangemouth,[4] which she described as "a dark and stifling industrial town".[5] Her mother worked in a factory.[6] She was the youngest of six children. During her teenage years, she developed eating disorders and became bulimic. In 1996, Fraser revealed that she was sexually abused by a brother-in-law and possibly her father, and that at 16 she was forced to leave the family house for having a punk look.[5] Music was important and represented an escape; at that time Fraser had portraits of her heroes like Siouxsie Sioux tattooed on her arms.[7] She met her partner Robin Guthrie at 17; "What brought us together was me having no ideas and opinions of my own, and him having plenty – enough for both of us. We were attracted to each other for the wrong reasons".[5]

Cocteau Twins (1981–1997)

Main article: Cocteau Twins

Fraser then became the vocalist and lyricist in Cocteau Twins in 1981, (a group founded in 1979 by Guthrie and Will Heggie): they spotted her dancing at a club one night, and asked her to join their band.[8] At the time, she was 17 years old, and had never thought of herself as a singer. After an on-off phase, the band recorded some tracks which were sent as demos to John Peel and Ivo Watts-Russell of 4AD which led to their signing by the London-based label and a successful career in music.[9]

Fraser and Guthrie formed a relationship, and in 1989 had a daughter, Lucy Belle. Guthrie liberally used alcohol and drugs throughout the years they were together,[10] and Fraser had a nervous breakdown during the recording of Four-Calendar Café.[5] The couple broke up in 1993, but opted to continue a musical relationship mostly due to contractual obligations until 1998, when Cocteau Twins were finally disbanded.[11][2]

Fraser had an intense personal relationship with singer Jeff Buckley[2] and recorded a duet with him, "All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun", written together[12] but never released commercially. She speaks about their relationship in the BBC documentary, Jeff Buckley: Everybody Here Wants You.[13]

Cocteau Twins were due to perform for the North American Coachella Festival on 30 April 2005, but cancelled on 16 March 2005.[14] Fraser reportedly cancelled because of the emotional distress the putative reunion and pressure to perform caused her.[15][16] Her former Cocteau Twins bandmate Simon Raymonde has since talked publicly about the decision saying that while he respected it, he regretted not walking away with "£1.5 million ($2.5 million) tax-free."[17]

Collaborations and guest appearances

While working as part of Cocteau Twins, Fraser also collaborated with numerous artists. She appeared on 4AD house band This Mortal Coil's first release (along with her Cocteau Twins bandmates) where her contributions included a cover version of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren". She provided one-off vocals for acts such as Felt (Primitive Painters), Dif Juz (Extractions LP), The Wolfgang Press, and Ian McCulloch (Candleland and Mysterio).

Since the breakup of Cocteau Twins in 1997, Fraser has sporadically collaborated with a range of performers, including The Future Sound of London (Lifeforms EP), Elliot Goldenthal, Craig Armstrong (The Space Between Us) and Peter Gabriel (the millennium project OVO). Apart from her Cocteau Twins work she is probably best known for her collaborations with Massive Attack, having recorded three songs for the band's Mezzanine album in 1998 (including the international hit single "Teardrop", on which she replaced the original choice of Madonna[18]), and subsequently toured with the band in 2006, and again in 2018–2019. She has also contributed to the soundtracks of several films including In Dreams, Cruel Intentions, The Winter Guest, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and occasionally appeared as a guest artist on other musicians' projects. In 2005, she appeared on Yann Tiersen's album Les Retrouvailles, singing on two pieces: "Kala" and "Mary".

Billy Howerdel envisioned Fraser as his first option for A Perfect Circle's lead singer, but she was unavailable for the project.[19] Fraser also rejected a collaboration request from Linkin Park.[20]

In October 2018, Fraser's voice was featured alongside Beth Gibbons and several other female voices as part of an audio artwork, Clarion Call, in Ipswich.[21][22][23]

In November 2018, Massive Attack announced tour dates to mark 20 years of their album Mezzanine and confirmed that Fraser would be joining them on the tour.[24][25][26][27][28] Reviewers had mixed views on Massive Attack, but singled out Fraser for praise, with the Financial Times referring to "the crystalline beauty of her voice" and the "achingly, cascadingly sad" cover of Pete Seeger's "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?",[29] while The Daily Telegraph referred to "the ethereal warmth of her trippily echoed vocals at odds with the rest of the concert";[30] The Irish Times reviewer commented that "Elizabeth Fraser shines amid the paranoia and late-night alienation".[31]

Fraser appeared as a guest artist on folk singer Sam Lee's single "The Moon Shines Bright", released in December 2019, and subsequently on Sam Lee's album Old Wow, released in January 2020. She sings a fragment of lyrics from a traditional Scottish folk song "Wild Mountain Thyme".[32][33][34]

In August 2020, Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi shared "Cannibal", with guest vocals from Fraser, taken from his solo album, Shiver.[35][36]

Fraser collaborated with Oneohtrix Point Never on the track "Tales from the Trash Stratum", released on the 2021 expanded Blu-ray edition of his 2020 album Magic Oneohtrix Point Never.[37][38]

Solo career

Fraser's solo career has been intermittent, featuring guest appearances with other artists, and rare solo releases and live appearances. In 2000, a white label recording, "Underwater", was released in a limited edition of 200 copies. She contributed a cover version of "At Last I Am Free" (originally by '70s band Chic, covered by Robert Wyatt) on the 2003 album Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before, a celebration of 25 years of Rough Trade Records. In 2004, she was invited to participate in an audio exhibit, Shhh..., at London's Victoria and Albert Museum for which she produced a piece called "Expectant Mood", which has not been made commercially available.[39][40][41][42][43]

Fraser was reportedly signed to Blanco y Negro Records.[44] In December 2006, NME reported that her solo album was due for release in early 2007. The album would have contained eight tracks, one of which was to be a cover version. No titles were announced and the album was not released in 2007 as suggested. In June 2012, extracts from the as-yet unreleased album were played on BBC Radio 4.[45]

In November 2009, Fraser released a solo single, "Moses", available on 12" and download through Rough Trade. The single was recorded with Damon Reece and Jake Drake-Brockman, and was a memorial to the latter.[46][47]

In August 2012, Fraser performed at Royal Festival Hall for two nights as part of the Meltdown Festival at London's Southbank Centre, curated by Anohni. Prior to the concerts she confirmed that she had assembled an album's worth of material and would showcase these at the event in addition to performing re-interpretations of some Cocteau Twins songs.[48] She also referred to the physical exertion involved in her singing against the wall of sound in many of the Cocteau Twins songs, of which she said it was "like an endurance test. I don't intend to do that again. I've been using my voice more gently."[48] Prior to her appearance at Meltdown, she played a warm-up concert at Bath Pavilion on 4 August.[49]

In addition to Damon Reece on drums and percussion, Fraser's backing band featured three other former or current members of Spiritualized – Sean Cook (guitar), Martin Shellard (guitar), Thighpaulsandra (keyboards) – and two backing vocalists (Jo Goldsmith-Eteson and Lucy Potterton, both from The Swingle Singers).[50][51][52][53]

Reviews of Fraser's appearance at the Royal Festival Hall were mixed.[54][55][56][57] One critic noted that "her new band failed to bring intensity to the Cocteau Twins' songs".[55] Other critics praised the emotive strength of her voice, acknowledged that her "bewitching qualities remained intact", that her new work received "as vociferous a response as any of the old stuff" and that she is "a singer in the here and now, not the celestial voice of universal truths."[54][57]

Sky Arts' 2016 drama series The Nightmare Worlds of H. G. Wells carried a score composed by Fraser and Reece.[58] Also in 2016, she collaborated with The Insects on the soundtrack to the BBC TV series The Living and The Dead. She could be heard singing "She Moves Through the Fair" in episode 1, and "The Lover's Ghost" over the end titles in episode 4.[59][60] The soundtrack has been made available as a digital download.[61]

Fraser made a rare appearance at the Royal Albert Hall on 23 July 2017, in conversation with John Grant. They discussed the Cocteau Twins 1988 album, Blue Bell Knoll, with all proceeds from the show going to gay rights charity Stonewall.[62][63] During the conversation, Fraser responded to a question from the audience about a possible collaboration with John Grant, saying "He doesn't need to persuade me!"[64] Speaking of her insecurity about recording and performing, Fraser said "I get it in the studio, it's a horror, but it's part of the journey ... I don't think I was confident, especially when I stopped singing. That's when the voice kicks in, really nagging you, telling you what a horrible person you are and 'what do you think you're doing'. But then you sing and it shuts up that voice, the other voice is louder … "[64]

On 3 September 2018, Fraser performed an intimate invitation only performance at the "Society of the Golden Slippers" showcase in Soho where she was joined by John Grant on harmonies for "Oh Shenandoah".[65][66]

Artistry

Fraser's lyrics with many of the Cocteau Twins's songs range from straightforward English to semi-comprehensible sentences and abstract mouth music. For some recordings, she has said she used foreign words without knowing what they meant – the words acquired meaning for her only as she sang them.[67] She has a soprano vocal range.[54]

Personal life

Fraser lives with her partner, musician Damon Reece (from the band Lupine Howl), in Bristol. She has two daughters.

Discography

With Cocteau Twins

Further information: Cocteau Twins discography

As main artist

Singles

Guest appearances

Artist Album Track(s) Date Label
Oneohtrix Point Never Magic Oneohtrix Point Never (Blu-ray edition) "Tales from the Trash Stratum" 2021 Warp
Jónsi Shiver "Cannibal" 2020 Krunk
Sam Lee Old Wow "The Moon Shines Bright" 2020 Cooking Vinyl Ltd
The Insects The Living and the Dead Soundtrack "She Moves Through the Fair" 2016 Self Released
Massive Attack Collected "Silent Spring" 2006 Virgin Records
Howard Shore The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Complete Recordings "Caras Galadhon / Lament for Gandalf", "Lothlórien" 2005 Warner Brothers
Yann Tiersen Les Retrouvailles "Kala", "Mary" 2005 EMI
Various artists (compilation) Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before... "At Last I Am Free" (originally by Chic) 2003 Rough Trade
Howard Shore The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers "Isengard Unleashed" 2002 Warner Brothers
Peter Gabriel OVO "Downside Up", "Make Tomorrow" 2000 EMI
Elliot Goldenthal; Elizabeth Fraser In Dreams "Dream Baby" 1999 EMI
Massive Attack Mezzanine "Teardrop", "Black Milk" and "Group Four" 1998 Virgin Records
Michael Kamen The Winter Guest "Take Me With You" 1998 Universal
Craig Armstrong The Space Between Us "This Love" 1998 Melankolic
Simon Raymonde Blame Someone Else "Worship Me" 1997 Bella Union
The Bathers Sunpowder "Danger in Love", "The Dutch Venus", "Angel on Ruskin", "The Night is Young" 1995 Marina
Moose Live A Little, Love A Lot "Play God" 1995 Play It Again Sam Records
The Future Sound of London Lifeforms [Remixes] EP "Lifeforms 1–5 and 7" 1994 Astralwerks
Medicine Sounds of Medicine "Time Baby 3" 1994 Beggars Banquet
Ian McCulloch Mysterio "Heaven's Gate" 1992 Sire Records
Ian McCulloch Candleland "Candleland" 1989 Sire Records
Felt Ignite the Seven Cannons "Primitive Painters" 1985 Cherry Red
Dif Juz Extractions "Love Insane" 1985 4AD
This Mortal Coil It'll End in Tears "Song to the Siren", "Another Day" 1984 4AD
The Wolfgang Press Scarecrow "Respect" 1984 4AD
This Mortal Coil Sixteen Days / Gathering Dust "Song to the Siren", "Sixteen Days / Gathering Dust" 1983 4AD

References

  1. ^ Neyland, Nick. "The Cocteau Twins' Liz Fraser Gives Rare Interview | Prefix". Prefixmag.com. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Simpson, Dave (26 November 2009). "Elizabeth Fraser talks about why she finds it too difficult to even think about her old Cocteau Twins bandmates | Music". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  3. ^ Elizabeth Fraser at AllMusic
  4. ^ "Cocteau Twins' website". Cocteautwins.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d Phoenix, Val. "Embracing Otherness". Alternative Press (January 1997).
  6. ^ King, Richard (2012). How Soon is Now?: The Madmen and Mavericks who made Independent Music 1975–2005. Faber & Faber. ISBN 978-0571243907. Colin Wallace, their friend, confident and roadie has come from the same background as Fraser, Heggie and Guthrie. 'Liz's mum and my mum used to work in the same factory', he says, 'and God, it was awful, and I became their roadie through default. The first Cocteaus album, Garlands, was written off in the UK as another Siouxsie copy band, and Elisabeth was a huge Siouxsie fan – she had Siouxsie tattoos which she's had lasered off since'.
  7. ^ Chapman, Rob (July 1998). "Dark Side of the Spliff: Massive Attack". Mojo. Archived from the original on 31 August 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2020. Massive Attack have always looked outside the core trio for musical collaborations with kindred spirits, not just in old grooves but also in the flesh. Former Cocteau Twin Elizabeth Frazer was one: now living in Bristol, she'd previously been sounded out before Protection but hadn't responded. Did she say why? "Have you met Liz?" 3D splutters with laughter. "She's a very excitable and quite mad in the best way. She threw a million words into the air and we tried to grab a few and work out what she meant. Me and Mush met her in Sainsbury's and invited her up to the studio. There was this nerve-wracking moment before she arrived and I said, It's really sterile in here, let's light some candles in here and make it funky for her. She loved our Siouxsie and the Banshees sample off 'Metal Postcard' — she'd just had this Siouxsie and the Banshees tattoo removed from her arm.
  8. ^ "Elizabeth Fraser's website". Elizabethfraser.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  9. ^ "history|chapter 1: 1982". cocteau twins. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  10. ^ "History | chapter 16: 1993". cocteau twins. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  11. ^ "History". CocteauTwins.com. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  12. ^ Lory, Dave; Irvin, Jim (2018). Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah to the Last Goodbye. Post Hill Press. p. 312. ISBN 9781682615751.
  13. ^ "Jeff Buckley: Everybody Here Wants You". Archived from the original on 11 August 2003. Retrieved 7 April 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) – BBC 4 feature.
  14. ^ "6 Music – Raymonde blames bandmates". BBC. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  15. ^ Simpson, Dave (26 November 2009). "Elizabeth Fraser talks about why she finds it too difficult to even think about her old Cocteau Twins bandmates". The Guardian.
  16. ^ Hunter, Ludovic (7 August 2012). "Meltdown: Elizabeth Fraser, Royal Festival Hall, London". FT.com. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  17. ^ "The rise of the Moon and an extraordinary musical star". Herald Scotland. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  18. ^ "Massive Attack and Teardrop". Q. April 1999.
  19. ^ Hartmann, Graham. "A Perfect Circle - 'Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?'". Loudwire. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  20. ^ Simpson, Dave (26 November 2009). "Elizabeth Fraser talks about why she finds it too difficult to even think about her old Cocteau Twins bandmates". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Ipswich Spill Festival's Clarion Call uses 100 female voices". BBC. 25 October 2018.
  22. ^ "Clarion Call". 14-18now.org.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  23. ^ "400 speaker soundscape launches in Ipswich". The Wire. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  24. ^ Aniftos, Rania (30 October 2018). "Massive Attack Announce 'Mezzanine' Anniversary Tour: See List of Dates". billboard.com.
  25. ^ "to Join Massive Attack". Elizabethfraser.com. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  26. ^ Snapes, Laura (30 October 2018). "Massive Attack to embark on Mezzanine tour with Cocteau Twins' Liz Fraser". The Guardian.
  27. ^ Monroe, Jazz (30 October 2018). "Massive Attack Announce Mezzanine Anniversary Tour With Cocteau Twins' Liz Fraser". pitchfork.com.
  28. ^ Trendell, Andrew (2 November 2018). "Tickets to Massive Attack's 'Mezzanine' 21st anniversary UK and Ireland arena tour on sale now". nme.com.
  29. ^ "Massive Attack — dystopian anxiety and crystalline beauty at the O2 Arena". Financial Times. 25 February 2019.
  30. ^ McCormick, Neil (23 February 2019). "Massive Attack, O2 Arena, review: ambitious but dour and one dimensional". The Telegraph.
  31. ^ Moriarty, Aoife (25 February 2019). "Massive Attack review: Elizabeth Fraser shines amid the paranoia and late-night alienation". The Irish Times.
  32. ^ Watch Elizabeth Fraser Perform Duet "The Moon Shines Bright" with British Folk Singer Sam Lee. post-punk.com. 11 December 2019.
  33. ^ "The Moon Shines Bright – Out Now | Sam Lee". Samleesong.co.uk. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  34. ^ "Sam Lee Duets With". Elizabethfraser.com. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  35. ^ Eede, Christian (14 August 2020). "Jónsi Shares Collaboration With Elizabeth Fraser". The Quietus. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  36. ^ Trendell, Andrew (14 August 2020). "Sigur Rós' Jónsi shares stirring new single 'Cannibal' with Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser". NME. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  37. ^ Hussey, Allison (13 September 2021). "Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser Joins Oneohtrix Point Never for New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  38. ^ Triscari, Caleb (14 September 2021). "Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser features on rework of Oneohtrix Point Never's 'Tales From The Trash Stratum'". NME. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  39. ^ "Past Exhibitions and Displays 2004 – Victoria and Albert Museum". Vam.ac.uk. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  40. ^ "Ssh... Sounds in Space, V&A, London | Art and design". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  41. ^ "Sculpting in sound". The Times. 15 May 2004. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  42. ^ Young, Rob (10 September 2004). "Shhh ..." Frieze (85). Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  43. ^ Hushed tones as V&A goes audio. DesignWeek.co.uk. 20 May 2004.
  44. ^ "Solo album by Cocteau Twins frontwoman Elizabeth Fraser out this spring". Side-line.com. 22 February 1999. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  45. ^ "Today – Elizabeth Fraser's 'melody and poetry'". BBC News. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  46. ^ "Elizabeth Fraser releases new single, 'Moses' + starts work on first solo album". Side-line.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  47. ^ Simpson, Dave (26 November 2009). "Elizabeth Fraser: the Cocteau Twins and me". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  48. ^ a b Simpson, Dave (1 May 2012). "Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser to perform at Meltdown festival | Music". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  49. ^ "Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser to play first show in 14 years | News". Nme.Com. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  50. ^ 'Elizabeth Fraser – Meltdown @ The Royal Festival Hall, London 07/08/12' by Jude Clarke, 'The Line of Best Fit', 9 August 2012.
  51. ^ 'LIVE REPORT: Elizabeth Fraser' by Chris Roberts, 'The Quietus', 9 August 2012.
  52. ^ 'Elizabeth Fraser Live @ Meltdown' by Chris Todd, Clash magazine
  53. ^ "Elizabeth Fraser Live – Wales Arts Review". 8 October 2012.
  54. ^ a b c Mugan, Chris (7 August 2012). "Elizabeth Fraser, Royal Festival Hall, London". The Independent.
  55. ^ a b Paine, Andre. "Meltdown: Elizabeth Fraser, Royal Festival Hall – review". Evening Standard. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  56. ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic. "Meltdown: Elizabeth Fraser, Royal Festival Hall, London". Financial Times. 7 August 2012.
  57. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (7 August 2012). "Elizabeth Fraser – review". The Guardian.
  58. ^ Earls, John (18 January 2016). "Exclusive Listen: Elizabeth Fraser's comeback music". Loaded.co.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  59. ^ "Film Soundtrack & Audio Production, Bristol, United Kingdom". The Insects. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  60. ^ Bowe, Miles (27 June 2016). "Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser contributes song to BBC series". Factmag.com. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  61. ^ "Interview – The Insects, soundtrack composers on The Living and The Dead". Spiral Earth. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  62. ^ "Spend an evening with Elizabeth Fraser and John Grant". Royal Albert Hall. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  63. ^ Clarke, Patrick (17 May 2017). "John Grant and Elizabeth Fraser In Conversation". The Quietus. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  64. ^ a b Clarke, Patrick (26 July 2017). "The Quietus – News – Elizabeth Fraser And John Grant Talk 'Blue Bell Knoll'". The Quietus. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  65. ^ "Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser resurfaces for rare live performance in London". slicingupeyeballs.com. 3 September 2018.
  66. ^ "Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser Makes a Rare Live Performance in London". post-punk.com. 3 September 2018.
  67. ^ Fraser, Elizabeth (2 August 2011). Elizabeth Fraser talks about her lyrics. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
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