Sunny delight

Sun’s Signature – Sun’s Signature

Since the Cocteau Twins’ split almost a quarter of a century ago, frontwoman Liz Fraser’s distinctive vocal has been heard only sporadically. Unlike guitarist Robin Guthrie’s recently prolific forays into cinematic instrumentation, his former songwriting partner’s dulcet tones have been confined to the odd guest appearance and a Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

However, Fraser has re-emerged, now going by her Sunday name Elizabeth and with it a perhaps more mature sound. She’s teamed up with Damon Reece, percussionist with Massive Attack–the band whose ‘Mezzanine’ album (and top 10 single ‘Teardrop’) featured Fraser’s best-known post-Cocteaus work.

For fans of her former work the biggest development may be the lack of “Cocteau-ese”. The strings of unconnected words sung almost as an instrument and which characterised her former band are now replaced by ‘proper’ words – about her daughter on the oboe-driven ‘Bluedusk’, describing nature on the sparse, folky ‘Golden Air’.

Perhaps aptly, thanks to the clear and slightly mystical lyrics, there are hints of Kate Bush – another singer currently enjoying a renaissance – while ‘Apples’, the album’s centrepiece, is the longest and proggiest of the five tunes, employing more unusual instruments like dulcimer and celeste. Although oddly, this track doesn’t feature former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett,who does however provide achingly atmospheric guitar work on ‘Golden Air’, as well as on ‘Underwater’, its thudding beats and bass closest to the slow indie dance of Reece’s other band.

Hackett also appears on ‘Make Lovely The Day’, delivering Spanish guitar on a song which is almost hymn al in both lyrics and ethereal beauty and which, at justunder the half hour mark, brings this remarkable collection to a close.

However, fans, both old and new, will be hopeful that Fraser is back to stay.