Even when she's not singing , I could listen to that voice all day. She's one sweet lady

Liz certainly has one of the most charming speaking voices I've ever heard.

She's just magical. She is. I would love to sit down and have tea and cookies with her and just talk to her. She is not of this world.

Elizabeth Fraser is an angel and I want her to sing me to heaven.

LET HER FUCKING SPEAK

Her voice is unbelievably sublime, in my opinion her music is simply about having an emotional impact on the listener and its beautifully done.

i love her little confidence, "they sound good once i sing them." she is absolutely magnificent and intriguing.

She is a very shy and not very confident person and as a radio programme the interviewer has to keep things flowing so I can understand how it seems he is interrupting but he can sense when she is faltering and so tries to keep the momentum going. He did a good job and got a lot out of her which we have not heard before. Fascinating interview.

This is ridiculous but I've been listening to Liz since 82 but this is the first time I've heard her in a normal speaking voice. My god what a sweet angel and her laugh at 2:49 melted me to the floor

The album "Heaven or Las Vegas" is absolutely fabulous, the best Cocteau Twins album in my opinion. I'm a mad, mad CT fan.

1:52 "(recites unintelligible lyrics) which I have NO idea what it means" oh my god, she is so charming.

Wow, what a revelation to hear this after years of wondering what kind of place such musical magic and brilliance this work came from. The greatest alien rock and roll band that ever lived, and my favourite otherworldly band of the 80s along with the Cure, DCD, and Siouxsie and the Banshees (I have to say, my late discovery of Cranes now has them on this list). Her speaking voice is sooo enchanting and charming. I just did not expect this❤️

I believe she was channeling sacred languages maybe without knowing it. I wonder how it really influenced us, the consciousness. It surely opened up something within me, a feeling which grew stronger throughout the years, almost like being able to see the actual world behind the music.

Great interview. I remember Robin Guthrie being interviewed on radio around the time when the collections were released. The interviewer asked about Elizabeth improvising in the studio and he said absolutely not, all the melodies and lyrics were well well prepared and she came in with her notebooks ready to sing.

I don't think she ever completely stopped with the sound over meaning style of writing (although after Heaven Or Las Vegas, many lyrics are often a lot more straightforward). I wouldn't have it any other way. The bulk of her (the Cocteau Twins) songs are forever shrouded in mystery with seductive titles & sumptuous words scattered throughout that act as catalysts for the imagination. Everyone who listens comes away with unique interpretations and feelings of their very own. And their brilliant musicianship never failed to create the most exquisite frames for the songs. It reminds me of the Victorian era of great British fairy tale painting. Many of the finest pieces sit within the most extraordinarily crafted frames. I'm so glad someone uploaded this old interview. Thank you (-:

This wouldn't make sense to me if anybody else were saying it. But, like everybody who loves her, I understand perfectly.

i sense her childhood has a deep impact on her personality and music.

Her voice gives me an otherworldly feeling even when she's not singing, it just makes me smile.

After all these years it's so good to hear her process, and with such incredible vulnerability, which is what the world desperately needs more of.

OH MY GOD i could listening her voice all day!!

Liz is so adorable and so fragile and yet so powerful! I love the way she talks too. Her accent is soo cute!

People are criticising the interviewer. I understand why, but I suggest there was no chance of Elizabeth accepting centre stage, and delivering a monologue. She freely gave him the infornation we wanted about her lyrics. It worked for me.

I love this. Now I can prove to my doubting friends that the words published on some sites is false. Perfect

I heard once that Elizabeth Fraser was abused as a child, at about the age of 8, & that her mind forced itself to consciously forget the memories, burying them deep into her subconscious. Years later after the Cocteau Twins had started their career, the emotional pain of having been abused was still there, and closer to the conscious part of her mind than the memories were, and that this trauma displayed itself in a passive-aggressive sort of way, in her lyrics. So, that when she sang she heard the words, she heard herself singing the lyrics just fine; but, no one else could necessarily understand them. At some point, one of her band-mates, I believe it was Simon Raymond, was asked in an interview about, while the singing is still beautiful, the lyrics not making sense. This caused a rift in the band that some believe did lead to their break up; but, it did cause her to seek professional psychological help, to help her to work through any trauma that was causing her to singing in a way that was not exactly decipherable.

Omg- as a drummer and a teenager in the 80’s, I always thought i had lost my mind when I listened to the C T’s and I could never make out the lyrics- lol. Glad to know after all these years.... it wasn’t me! Still one of my favorite vocalists of all time.

A life changing band, Liz is one of a kind.

her voice tho!

Damn i love her laugh... so much.

Brilliant!! Her voice....I love her voice!! Her laugh too!! Now I can go on holiday, and THANKS for this beautiful moment with Liz, see you soon....................

He never lets her finish a sentence!!!

Cocteau's music speaks for itself, doesn't have to be explained, their music is timeless and awesome in its existence, they were a creative force , ethereal, emotive beautiful and surreal, ye this guy ir=s a little annoying . .

I agree with all of the other commenters. Let her talk. If you pause before asking another question, most likely the interviewee will most likely say more and reveal things that they might not have if immediately asked another question

I have a bug for words, their sounds and creating new words😍😍😍 such iconic voice

I've always liked the way the lyrics are in the cocteau Twins music they sound like words that you should be able to understand but nothing is quite perceptible so after a while if you're listening to it without deliberately thinking of what the words mean your brain sort of fills in the words it thinks it should be there and makes its own words so it's a bit like an abstract painting. You the listener are part of the creation

Don't she sound so young. Words from another world. So original aswell 😇

They made music that will always remain as the most beautiful and most mysterious music that I've ever heard of, i believe that will not change.

Note to interviewers: Ask a question and then shut up and listen to the answer. Don't fill in the pauses with your answers because you're uncomfortable with reflection and thought.

god, LET HER SPEAK, man

I can't still understand how she can remember her own songs but it is great. She is great, a great voice in great music. And to hear her speak is charming as well.

Una de las voces mas angelicales de la historia de la musica. No solo por los rangos y las texturas alcanzadas sino tambien por la singularidad de las mismas. Liz eres unica, magica e irrepetible.🌠

She is... a Beautiful and Unique Human... but she's not of this planet (also her lyrics & voice) Cocteau Twins it's an other planet music

To continue from my previous message: Speaking on behalf of all the fans who have been, very-slowly, gaining insights into the "hidden poetry" of the Cocteau Twins songbook: Flying in the face of everything we've learned about Elizabeth Fraser, I continue to really wish she would consent to the publication of...not a "lyric book" of the sort we're accustomed to, but rather a reproduction of some of her fabled notebooks, containing the raw material [found words in assorted languages, neologisms still-being-refined, couplets, actual verses] from which those songs were assembled. No, not all the raw material, just a substantial portion. Because - apart from invalidating, once and for all, some of the crazier "transcriptions" and "interpretations" being passed off as "lyrics" (and I'm not just talking about "lyrics websites"...am I, Mr Knowles!) - I'm confident that the publication of such a book would confirm Elizabeth Fraser as something more than just an inspirational singer: as the extraordinary creative phenomenon some of us always believed her to be. As a mad-genius sculptor-with-language (antecedents: "Finnegan's Wake", Hugo Ball, Raoul Hausmann, JRR Tolkien and whatever). But one who is also capable, when she lets her guard down and expresses her inner self, directly, of just "cutting your heart out"...with words, even when she's not singing them. (It may have been borne of a crisis, but I no longer believe Four Calendar Cafe was wholly unprecedented). Of course we need to put this in context. Physical and psychological pain are not the same - e.g: the kind of self-exposure that threatens your physical body is one thing, but the kind of self-exposure that threatens your very Self, your very sense of identity, is quite another... and I understand that, as of now, the publishing her lyrics is unthinkable, publishing her raw material would be just too terrifying for her... But there's a reason for her to "brave the pain and do it anyway", and it's this: I really think she still has yet to discover just How Much - and, importantly, In How Many Ways - she is loved.

I recently found the great music offered by this band, and like many fell in love with her. I agree with Youri Carma that lyrics in general are pretty dull, especially in pop love songs, it becomes so much drivel one feels like editing them out. I love her for what the music, with her voice as the foundation does to me. It is certainly synasthesia, her songs are filled with mystery and joy. Music is so much more than just words and sounds.

Man, what a great find this was! Thanx for posting it! It's so nice to hear Liz' sweet speaking voice. I just wish we'd hear something soon from her telling us about the imminent release of her solo album!

I really miss listening to her x

AMAZING this song on LIZ voice. Whales Tails. Is a dream your voice. Thank You LIZ - I love!!

A bug for words - love it!!

its like listening to nessun dorma - you dont understand a word of it but you somehow get the emotion and meaning from the way she sings. gives you the odd clue from a couple of discernable words and leaves the rest up to your own emotional imagination. great band.

1:48 My attempt at transcribing what she sings for "Whales Tails"! "Chin keu makilata luxeulumi yeux vule vule koku lupsiluni naeg"

I had a dream that I got these scrapbooks and they were all the Cocteau Twins lyrics written by hand with illustrations. I wish she would publish these for real! I must have heard this interview before.

Stop interrupting her!

her voice is like an angel omg

Thanks again for posting this. She's absolutely divine! :)

What a beautiful voice !! Even when she is talking she sounds like an angel...

Her voice is absolutely sweet and Heavenly!

DUDE HER ACCENT IS INSANE. DAMN I WANT A GIRL WITH THIS VOICE

she's amazing I love her

Its like Tim Buckley said in one of his songs: "I talk in tongues..." unbelievable to what spherers this can take and surley just a few, not the many. "Its only mine to sing a song...." (ebd.) - Buckley had it and the CT had it.

Her ingenious method is not a far cry from the cut-up technique but w/ a sonic component

She has such a wonderful and magic mind…… I love her

Thank you so much for sharing this video!!! I'm a huge fan since the 80's

She has beautiful voice

Wow the goddess speaks and imparts her wisdom! Thanks for posting

Utterly. utterly amazing and really lovely💞

Fascinating artist-Beautiful soul!

Thank you so much for posting this!

Very insightful. Thank you for posting!

In their heyday, just the sound of Liz's voice was enough for me. I took issue with Morrissey's complaint haha that Cocteau Twins went about things the wrong way (hah, talk about irony...!)...I alwayz delighted that they did pretty much everything differently.

wow her voice deepened as she got older. she's so magical

I love this!!!

I understand what she's saying. When I was younger my brain worked in a similar way - getting hooked on sounds, the way they flow and stick. I would wake up with words, non words and beats in my brain that I couldn't shake. I would write them all down and they would turn in to poetry or whatever. I suppose if I had a good voice and muso friends they would have been lyrics.

How many times must I have to listen to these songs to be able to sing along without knowing Word #1 of the songs (and not wanting to know) AND the harmonies too-- even the one that turns out to be butterfly species in Latin -- anticipating the next chord change, purely enthralled? Wonderful

thank you so much for this.

one word.........................................'HEAVENLY'

YES DIRK,BECAUSE ALL ART HAS TO MAKE SENSE.ALL PAINTINGS ALL MOVIES,ALL DANCING,ALL PHOTOS,ALL SONGS.

Thanks for sharing this!

Been a fan since "Loves easy Tears" dropped on MTV's 120 minutes show. The look the sound really blew my mind. As a huge car audio nut i can assure you their music sounds amazing at earblasting volumes!

To Dale Rothenberger - it's been said, possibly on this website, that while Liz* has retained all her notebooks of raw material (without which the 2012 concert would have been very different), she will never publish them. Which is completely understandable, but when you stop and think about it, it's a bit of a tragedy. SIMON SAID THIS: "Liz sang plenty of decipherable lyrics - like poetry it is. She has the most unusual phrasing of any singer , and this is what can cause this theory that she’s singing gibberish. More often than not, she’s …..um ….not. Yes there were times when Liz did not want to be understood, quoted, analysed, studied etc and her way of dealing with that was to use words as play, as new language, to create with sound, to start from scratch, new slate etc…funnily enough it had the reverse effect and more people than ever wanted to know what she was singing! That was only a brief period, and it irks me somewhat that CT will mostly be remembered as a band with a singer who just made noises..." (* still calling her Liz out of habit, yes, I do know that she definitely prefers the full name nowadays)

What a lovely speaking voice!

BEAUTIFUL VOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing singer and writer.

thanks for posting this

What an interesting take on writing ! Could you picture how time consuming that'd be ? She definitely gets back what she puts into it, that's for sure.

You are so right. I came across Bluebeard over a year ago after promising myself for ages that I'd research the CT. I listened to it a dozen times trying to make out some of the words in the 'verses'! I learned decades ago that I was pretty poor at making out and/or understanding lyrics so it is usually the combination of words and music that attracts me to a song. My most profound lyrics that I love and do understand are from Cut Here by The Cure - written about Billy M from The Associates. Sad

I loved the pudding comment, too! It's neat how she seems to be suggesting, at least for some of the earlier albums, to focus on the emotions created by the music and the singing, as opposed to the concrete "meaning" of the lyrics alone.

incredible voice

liz and simon armitage in conversation. two brilliant humans 👍

i found this band by using sound hound app on a 404 page and the first song i heard from them was Throughout the dark months of april and may i love it so so so so so so much totally my new favorite band....

If there is an angel who sings in heaven then her name MUST be Liz.

Her own light language ♥️ Also that interviewer needs to actually listen

In the 90s I just thought there was something wrong with my hearing and/or my brain until I heard 'Bluebeard'. Didn't help me with any of their other songs!

It just gives us an insight to the genius that is Liz and quite possibly the best band of the indie scene, ever!!! Could someone please tell me when this interview aired? Thanks for posting this important interview.

Thank you.

She’s speaking Elvish! 🥰

1972 Adriano Celentano: Prisencolinensinainciusol. Really catchy. If the classroom performance is watched, I always find his performance mesmerising.

Thank you so much for posting this treasure. Too bad the interviewer keeps interupting Liz (!!) but there are some great insights in hearing her speaking voice and comments on lyrics. Thanks.

It's a great blessing that she did away with English lyrics and made up her own words (through a collection of many languages); because, this allowed her voice to be used as a complete instrument in it's own right. Her voice is so beautiful that in CTs early music, for me, it was good that I didn't need to know what she meant or what she was singing about. Actually, her emotions were carried out in her voice; that I could understand sometimes what she was singing about (through her energy).

What a voice.

How modest does she sound? Easily flattered, insecure, sincere and 'Gifted' Glad she took up singing ¦¬0

Fantastic!