10. Cocteau TwinsThe Pink Opaque
Cocteau Twins are one of my favourite bands. Their music is full of emotion or sensuality or romance – I don’t know who wouldn’t get that when they play them. I listen to them non-stop. If someone says “I don’t know what to do about the voice,” I’m “yeah, I don’t know what to say to you, maybe we shouldn’t be friends”. I could have picked any of the albums but this one is a compilation. I chose it because recently I was just digging into it and ‘Hitherto’ and ‘The Spangle Maker’ were especially stunning to me. I don’t prefer any era – it’s just some of the best music. I was obsessed with Cocteau Twins when I was younger. I never thought I’d make it to Britain or travel to Britain or see Britain. I don’t come from a wealthy background where travel was possible and a lot of my friends were in a similar situation. I wonder if to an untrained southern Californian ear the Cocteau Twins sound like this foggy other place that is Britain, these mediaeval British spirits. There’s something about it that is very haunting and really pulls on those romantic strings – wow, what is the UK? Also, Elizabeth Fraser sounds like she’s either in love or heartbroken. It’s all over every Cocteau Twins record so if you’re a goth teen in America, you can listen to Cocteau Twins when you’re either heartbroken or in love.
