One of the most innovative post-punkbands of the 1980s, Cocteau Twinsbuilt a sound based on woozy atmospherics and singer Elizabeth Fraser's utterly unmatchable vocals, most of which featured lyrics of made-up words, words plucked at random from the dictionary, and her native gaelic, which varied strongly in pitch in minimal times, drawing comparison with acclaimed singer Maria Callas. Forming in 1980, their first release was Garlandsin 1982 on 4AD Records, which was received well. Founding member Will Heggie left the group in 1983, prior to the release of their second full-length, Head Over Heels, which was also received well. In 1983, the two remaining members, Fraser and Robin Guthrie, were part of the first album recorded by This Mortal Coil, a supergroup put together by , head of 4AD Records. The pair had a hit with a cover of Tim Buckley's .
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