Swung By Seraphim is a blog run by me, Jason Pitzl-Waters (AKA DJ ZoZo) a DJ living and working in
Urbana, Illinois (home of the University of Illinois). I do a "Goth and Darkwave" weekly radio program,
spin at various live events and write a music column for a slightly hip Pagan magazine.
I'm doing this blog to
break from the popular consensus that any music that dares draw "Goth" fans is somehow less worthy or brilliant. In fact, I dare posit that some of these bands may end up being lauded by the critics who now
scorn them or lump them in with superficial shock-rockers.
If you are an artist or label and wish to contact SbS please e-mail
me. All Mp3s hosted on this site are taken down after 10 days.
The Cocteau Twins
Band Bio:
Devoted fans and newcomers alike are sometimes filled with questions about this often-mysterious, sometimes media-shy trio, who were influential in not only defining the post-punk sound of the 1980's (and 4AD in the process) but also influenced generations of musicians in the 1990's and beyond. To-date, they have been cited as notable influences by such diverse artists as Prince, Madonna, Annie Lennox and Perfect Circle, not to mention bands such as Slowdive, Lush, My Bloody Valentine, Chapterhouse and Curve (just to name a few), who all worked in musical territory pioneered by Cocteau Twins. - The Cocteau Twins Website
Reviews:
"The Cocteau Twins were the original dream pop masters; the shoegazers that emerged from a punk-dominated era that was none too subtle and certainly not boring. But the Cocteau's straddled a fine line between bliss and boredom." - PopMatters
"The Cocteau Twins? Dark, damp waves of warm nostalgia wash over cushions of gently layered synthesizers. It's familiar somehow, but over-produced into something usually described as otherworldly or ethereal. The Cocteau Twins are the perfect example of twomb-rock. Twins are together in the womb. And the Cocteau Twins were also womb to the development of a new generation of independent rock, including groups such as Dead Can Dance and Pale Saints." - Pitchfork Media
"[The Cocteau Twins] capture an isolated moment in time. Perhaps several moments. Perhaps several parts of the same moment. Feelings ebb and flow, hinted emotions form pictures which bleed into further images; only to sparkle and fade. Listen in the bathroom, it’s the only way to stay sane." - Stylus Magazine
My Two Cents:
This is a history lesson. When Goth was a newly born thing and still sounded a lot like punk, the Cocteaus came along and pointed to a direction dark music could go. They helped define the whole "4AD Sound" as we know it and in turn shaped much of what we now call "Darkwave". So often imitated you can't even list them all, The Cocteaus still stand out as true pioneers.
Further Reading:
Their website really has it all. Sound, extensive bio, and links.