Symon Raymonde.

mizmor · #1 05-10-2008, 06:49 PM

I'm a pretty big fan of the Cocteau Twins and I was wondering if anyone had any information on his gear, techniques..etc...I'd like to learn a few CT songs. I can play "Iceblink Luck" a bit...

Whoops....I meant Simon. I don't know why I put a y.

erik_ghoulet · #2 05-12-2008, 09:12 PM

I'm a pretty big fan myself, here are a few things I've dug up recently via search engines :

I think he used a Precision on most of the recordings. Switched to a custom 5-string made by Lincoln Fong, at least live (that's what he was playing when I saw them in '94). Probably picked most of early on, played lots of 3 note chords w/ open strings. Later played dubbier single note lines (perhaps influenced by one Gary Bromley of fellow 4ADers Dif Juz- a fine bassist and a great band, as Simon would agree.) I think he did some 8-string work w/ This Mortal Coil; perhaps a Hagstrom?
As far as amps or fx, don't know (Boss fx?) In interviews he comes across as very non-gearhead, even non-bassist. Probably used whatever he or Robin Guthrie had laying around. In fact, he and Robin would switch instruments pretty often.
Speaking of, Robin played bass on Head Over Heels, and very nicely at that. Simon joined in time for Treasure. And if you want to check out one of the most underrated bassists ever (IMHO) be sure to pick up Cocteau Twins' first album Garlands (the import w/ the bonus tracks preferably) and witness the great Will Heggie. His sensibility is similar to Simon and a lot of the other great post-punk bassists of the time (Simon Gallup, Steve Severin, Peter Hook etc) but his lines are more intricate and adventurous than any of his contemporaries (again, IMHO). His gear: Rick 4001, Ibanez UE-400 played through a Carlsbro 300 Stingray.

mizmor · #3 05-12-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erik_ghoulet

I'm a pretty big fan myself, here are a few things I've dug up recently via search engines :

I think he used a Precision on most of the recordings. Switched to a custom 5-string made by Lincoln Fong, at least live (that's what he was playing when I saw them in '94). Probably picked most of early on, played lots of 3 note chords w/ open strings. Later played dubbier single note lines (perhaps influenced by one Gary Bromley of fellow 4ADers Dif Juz- a fine bassist and a great band, as Simon would agree.) I think he did some 8-string work w/ This Mortal Coil; perhaps a Hagstrom?
As far as amps or fx, don't know (Boss fx?) In interviews he comes across as very non-gearhead, even non-bassist. Probably used whatever he or Robin Guthrie had laying around. In fact, he and Robin would switch instruments pretty often.
Speaking of, Robin played bass on Head Over Heels, and very nicely at that. Simon joined in time for Treasure. And if you want to check out one of the most underrated bassists ever (IMHO) be sure to pick up Cocteau Twins' first album Garlands (the import w/ the bonus tracks preferably) and witness the great Will Heggie. His sensibility is similar to Simon and a lot of the other great post-punk bassists of the time (Simon Gallup, Steve Severin, Peter Hook etc) but his lines are more intricate and adventurous than any of his contemporaries (again, IMHO). His gear: Rick 4001, Ibanez UE-400 played through a Carlsbro 300 Stingray.

Thank you! I currently own HOH, M&K and 4CC and I LOVE CT! I used to have Garlands as well as almost every CT release except for that long out of print box set of singles, but I did have the double CD set of EP's. I can play "Iceblink Luck" a bit on bass. Simon is awesome!

Mikeus · #4 05-12-2008, 11:16 PM

f***yeah!!! Cocteau Twins, an amazing band that never got their dues. ive only got into them in recent times, they blow me away

Muddslide · #5 05-12-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erik_ghoulet

And if you want to check out one of the most underrated bassists ever (IMHO) be sure to pick up Cocteau Twins' first album Garlands (the import w/ the bonus tracks preferably) and witness the great Will Heggie. His sensibility is similar to Simon and a lot of the other great post-punk bassists of the time (Simon Gallup, Steve Severin, Peter Hook etc) but his lines are more intricate and adventurous than any of his contemporaries (again, IMHO). His gear: Rick 4001, Ibanez UE-400 played through a Carlsbro 300 Stingray.

Yeah, I like most CT stuff, at least up through Blue Bell Knoll. They kind of lost me after that. But Garlands might be my favorite album by them, and it's due in no small part to Heggie. Plus, I like their more raw sound most of the time.

Anyone here dig Mick Karn?

erik_ghoulet · #6 05-14-2008, 06:06 PM

Mick Karn...absolutely. I have all of Japan's official albums, many comps, a bootleg or two, some solo Karn, Dali's Car, solo Sylvian, even a little Jansen/Barbieri thrown in for good measure.
I'm just glad there's someone out there that knows who Heggie IS. I have one CD by his post-CT band Lowlife also. Great bass (of course), ok music, sub-par vocals. *sigh*

Muddslide · #7 05-14-2008, 10:32 PM

I wonder if we're around the same age. I'll be 40 in September.

I really like CT and Japan, etc. but I also really liked some of the more boisterous music from that era (Birthday Party comes to mind.)

When I first started playing bass, I was picking out basslines off of Joy Division, Hunters and Collectors, Echo & the Bunnymen, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Gang of Four and Shriekback albums. Well, a lot of stuff like that anyway.

I've always had very wide-ranging tastes in music. It used to annoy the guys I was in punk bands with that I also got along with the metal stoner crowd and loved Sabbath, Motorhead, Slayer, early Alice Cooper, etc. And the metal guys thought I was ghey for digging Sisters of Mercy and Bauhaus.

And it pissed all of them off that I also liked Sun Ra, Morton Subotnick, Funkadelic and Buck Owens.

erik_ghoulet · #8 05-16-2008, 10:57 AM

I think you've got me- I'll be 35 in a couple weeks. I was too young see a most of those bands the first time around. Then the wave of reunions started, so I did get to see some of them (Bauhaus was cool but felt a bit like watching "Archive" in my basement when I was 15.) I 'm also into Birthday Party, Motorhead, Sisters, Coil etc. and like you I'm all over the map; I just picked up Free's "Fire and Water" for Andy Fraser's great EB3 playing. I used to have a '71 EB0 and I've been missing it lately. And there's the jazz, Miles, Ornette, Abercrombie...and I play in a surf band.