Eilzabeth Fraser, the reclusive former frontwoman of the Cocteau Twins, recently broke her silence about the fabled dreampop act’s aborted 2005 reunion in what’s being billed as her first interview since the band split in 1998.
The lengthy piece, posted Thursday on The Guardian’s Web site, is designed to promote another first: “Moses,” Fraser’s first-ever solo single, released this month as a 12-inch and digital download in tribute to her close friend and musical collaborator, late Echo & The Bunnymen keyboard player Jake Drake-Brockman. (Hear “Moses” below.)
Since the Cocteau Twins’ breakup, Fraser has done little musically aside from contributing vocals to tracks by the likes of Massive Attack, Peter Gabriel and Future Sound of London. In 2005, however, the Cocteau Twins — Fraser, her former lover Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde — announced they would headline Coachella and tour the world.
Weeks later, though, Fraser announced she wouldn’t participate, telling the Guardian, in last week’s interview, that she couldn’t bring herself to work with Guthrie, the father of one of her children. “They were my life,” Fraser said of her former bandmates. “And when you’re in something that deeply, you have to remove yourself completely.”
Raymonde expressed his disappointment in the scotched reunion while speaking at the U.K.’s In the City music conference in October:
“It’s a shame. There was a 55-date tour booked (that included) headlining Coachella, going on after Coldplay, which would have been amusing. The money would have been incredible for sure. We probably would have killed each other by the end of it — or at least they would (Fraser and Guthrie). But I think that’s why bands do it (reform) these days. I would have walked away with £1.5 million ($2.5 million) tax-free.”
Fraser, however, insists the attempt to reunite wasn’t about the cash, but, rather, a bid by the group’s former manager to bring the trio back together “so that everyone could be friends.” She told the Guardian:
“I don’t remember it being that much money and in any case that’s not the reason (for reforming). But people get so fucking carried away. Even though something’s staring you in the face, people just cannot see it. I knew it wouldn’t happen and it didn’t take long to want out.”
More recently, Fraser has created new music with current partner Damon Reece, a drummer who has worked with Massive Attack, Spiritualized and the Bunnymen. The two recorded “Moses” with Drake-Brockman some time ago, but Fraser only decided to release the single as a tribute after the musician’s death in a September motorcycle accident.
According to the Guardian, Fraser and Reece have made “what might become an album,” although Fraser insists the music isn’t ready to be heard by the public: “I’m very perfectionist,” she said. “I’m getting stronger as a person, but sometimes I just need to get over myself!”
Read Elizabeth Fraser’s full interview with the Guardian here.
Hear Elizabeth Fraser’s “Moses” after the jump…
Tracklist: Elizabeth Fraser, “Moses” 12-inch single
1. “Moses”
2. “Moses” (Thighpaulsandra remix)
3. “Moses” (Spaceland remix)
AUDIO: Elizabeth Fraser, “Moses”
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