Cocteau Twins legend Robin Guthrie presents new 'Astoria' EP, second of two EPs in 2024

November 9, 2024

Following up his luminous 'Atlas' EP, released this summer, legendary Scottish songsmith Robin Guthrie is back to kiss off 2024 with his new 'Astoria' EP, released via his Soleil Après Minuit imprint. Delivering another four powerful and captivating instrumentals recorded earlier this year, 'Astoria' takes further inspiration from his post-pandemic travels and produced in his studio in Bretagne.

A rich crucible of sound packed into four tracks, Guthrie takes the listener on a peaceful and contemplative journey of dreamy and atmospheric instrumentals. Like a Part 1 and Part 2 of his 2024 output, 'Astoria' and 'Atlas' represent Guthrie's first output since 2021, a prolific year that marked the end of a nine-year hiatus with the release of his 'Pearldiving' album and three EP's - 'Mockingbird Love', 'Riviera' and ' Springtime'.

“My EP 'Astoria' picks up where my release 'Atlas' had set off towards - a conclusion of a journey, like an arrival at a far-off destination. I enjoy the continuity, and the EP format allows me to express these ideas in an episodic form," says Robin Guthrie.

Nearly 45 years since founding legendary dreampop / ethereal wave band Cocteau Twins, Robin Guthrie has certainly been its most prolific member, offering a steady and stellar stream of material over the years with a production style and signature guitar sounds that have shaped multiple genres and generations.

Guthrie's approach to music is akin to that of a painter or a photographer. The adept use of light and shade, melody and counter melody, the carefully and precisely arranged instrumentation, musical textures and colorings gives his music a depth and level of detail which marks a master craftsman.

In his time, Guthrie's output includes film soundtracks and collaborated with many outstanding people, the latest impactful release happening with 2021's 'Another Flower' with Harold Budd, released just a few days before Budd's untimely passing. They had also jointly composed the film scores for Gregg Araki's ‘Mysterious Skin’and ‘White Bird in a Blizzard’. Other notable collaborators include John Foxx, Mark Gardener, Telefon Tel-Aviv, Eraldo Bernocchi and Jay Jay Johanson.

He has produced and remixed countless artists, including Lush, The Veldt, A.R.Kane, Dif Juz, Chapterhouse, Felt, Mahogany and Violet Indiana, which he'd formed with Siobhan de Maré in 1999. More recently, Guthrie worked with Heligoland, Jack Colwell, Resplandor, Fawns of Love, Ummagma, Hatchie and Tam aryn.

The 'Astoria' EP is out now, available on CD and also digitally from fine platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where Guthrie's rich back catalogue can also be found. Released via Soleil Après Minuit, the EP is distributed in North America via The Orchard and in Europe by Cargo.

Cocteau Twins vanguard Robin Guthrie unveils 'Atlas', a new EP of luminous soundscapes

July 22, 2024

Celebrated Scottish songsmith Robin Guthrie returns with the 'Atlas' EP, released via his Soleil Après Minuit imprint. This four-track offering immerses the listener in a series of newly-recorded instrumentals, gracing the listener with his ever present signature sound and atmosphere.

Nearly 45 years since founding legendary dreampop / ethereal wave band Cocteau Twins, Robin Guthrie has certainly been its most prolific member, offering a steady and stellar stream of material over the years with a production style and signature guitar sounds that have shaped multiple genres and generations.

This is Guthrie's first significant release since 2021's 'Pearldiving', marking the end of a nine-year hiatus and signaling his long-awaited return. In what was an intensive year for Guthrie releases, he also put out three EP's: 'Mockingbird Love', 'Riviera' and 'Springtime'.

"I got travelling again after the pandemic and that’s always a source of inspiration for me. I absorb a lot and get most creative when I have travelled." says Robin Guthrie.

"As for the title 'Atlas', I found an old radio and was struck with how many of the places on the dial no longer existed. I was attracted to the romantic notion that these places were very far away, not only in distance but now in time as well. The world seems a smaller and more familiar place nowadays".

Guthrie's approach to music seems akin to that of a painter or a photographer. The adept use of light and shade, melody and counter melody, the carefully and precisely arranged instrumentation, musical textures and colorings gives his music a depth and level of detail which marks a master craftsman.

In his time, Guthrie's output includes film soundtracks and collaborated with many outstanding people, the latest impactful release happening with 2021's 'Another Flower' with Harold Budd, released just a few days before Budd's untimely passing. They had also jointly composed the film scores for Gregg Araki's ‘Mysterious Skin’and ‘White Bird in a Blizzard’. Other notable collaborators include John Foxx, Mark Gardener, Telefon Tel-Aviv, Eraldo Bernocchi and Jay Jay Johanson.

He has produced and remixed countless artists, including Lush, The Veldt, A.R.Kane, Dif Juz, Chapterhouse, Felt, Mahogany and Violet Indiana, which he'd formed with Siobhan de Maré in 1999. More recently, Guthrie worked with Heligoland, Jack Colwell, Resplandor, Fawns of Love, Ummagma, Hatchie and Tamaryn.

'Atlas' EP https://robinguthrie.bandcamp.com/album/atlas-ep
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/1wiUvS4yhplQriQOCj8oxB
YouTube playlist https://tinyurl.com/Robin-Guthrie-Atlas-YouTube
'Pearldiving' album https://robinguthrie.bandcamp.com/album/pearldiving
'Springtime' EP https://robinguthrie.bandcamp.com/album/springtime
'Riviera' EP https://robinguthrie.bandcamp.com/album/riviera
'Mockingbird Love' EP https://robinguthrie.bandcamp.com/album/mockingbird-love

Guthrie shares, "It’s been a relief to finish the Cocteau Twins re-issues that I have been working on lately, as focusing on the past can somewhat crush the present. It is, therefore, with great pleasure that I’m releasing some new music. 'Atlas', in many ways, is the intro to my next EP, which will be out later this year ... It's a slow gentle re-introduction to my world. The next one picks up where this one finishes off."

'Atlas' is now available on CD, as well as digitally on all major platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where Guthrie's rich back catalogue can also be found. Released via Soleil Après Minuit, it is distributed in North America via The Orchard and in Europe by Cargo. Guthrie is expected to release another EP later this year.

CREDITS
Written and performed by Robin Guthrie
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Robin Guthrie at his studio in Brittany
Album cover by Robin Guthrie, photographed in Angoulême
Released by Soleil Après Minuit
Catalogue Code: SM2401CD
EAN: 0767461008883
Robin Guthrie photos by Violette Guthrie and Jeanne Aimon
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with Robin Guthrie
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram | Spotify | LinkedIn | Email

2+ decades since first recorded, THE VELDT and ROBIN GUTHRIE finally see the release of The Veldt's 'Illuminated 1989' album

December 18, 2023

"This album is not only a historical sonic document, but it's a shimmering, charming, sensual and cinematic body of remarkable psychedelic rock that resembles nothing currently in the music sphere" ~ The
Spill Magazine

At long last, groundbreaking shoegazers The Veldt have released their 'Illuminated 1989' album on vinyl via Portland-based Little Cloud Records and North Carolina’s 5BC Records. This is the original 1989 full-length record produced by Cocteau Twins' Robin Guthrie, who also remastered this album especially for vinyl. While originally intended to be the band's first album, their label Capitol Records shelved the recording and sent them back into the studio with producer Lincoln Fong (Moose, Piroshka), resulting in their first album released with the title 'Marigolds'.

They earlier previewed the singles 'Angel Heart', 'The Everlasting Gobstopper', and 'Aurora Borealis' (featuring Elizabeth Fraser cameo on backing vocals and a B-side remix by The Veldt). The Veldt has also just wrapped up their U.S. tour with TREMOURS, culminating in a performance at Seattle's KEXP.

One of the most notable first-wave shoegaze bands, formed in North Carolina in the 1980s, The Veldt revolves around identical twins Daniel Chavis (vocals, guitar) and Danny Chavis (guitar). Their unique sound was influenced by Cocteau Twins as readily as Marvin Gaye and free-jazz warriors Sun Ra and Pharaoh Sanders. Referencing European post-punk while embracing modern hip-hop, these trailblazers work with transient dreamscapes as fluidly as solid song structures.

Pitchfork included The Veldt's album 'Afrodisiac', produced by the legendary Ray Shulman (The Sundays, Bjork, The Sugarcubes) and released via Mercury Records, in the top 50 shoegaze albums ever released, while Stereogum included ‘Until You’re Forever’ in the top 31 shoegaze tracks. Their sound also inspired future generations of alternative artists, including TV On the Radio.

'Illuminated 1989' album https://theveldtmusic.bandcamp.com/album/illuminated-1989
Vinyl order https://littlecloudrecords.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-veldt-illuminated-1989-pre-order
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/5Tf9MrkDsfKi5leleBZt7n

The Veldt's journey is fascinating. Performing since they were children, the Chavis brothers’ musical roots lead back to the church and southern juke-joints, and listening to music that included gospel, Motown and Pink Floyd. The Veldt formed in the late 80’s in Raleigh amongst the legendary North Carolina music scene of the time, initially signing with Mammoth Records - leading to a chain of major-label relationships that took the group across Europe and the U.S. playing shows with the likes of Throwing Muses, Pixies, Cocteau Twins and Jesus & Mary Chain.

After moving from Raleigh to New York, they briefly performed as Apollo Heights before returning to their original name The Veldt. Joined by Japanese bassist-programmer Hayato Nakao, they together forging music that is a heady and sensual blend of shoegaze and progressive soul, dreamy soundscapes and infectious grooves. Some of the band's recent notable releases include 'The Shocking Fuzz Of Your Electric Fur' EP (2017) and the album 'Entropy is the Mainline to God' (2022).

Over the years, The Veldt has collaborated with TV On The Radio, Mos Def, Lady Miss Kier (Deee-Lite), A.R.Kane and toured or played with Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Pixies, Throwing Muses, Echo & The Bunnymen, Cocteau Twins, Manic Street Preachers, Phantogram, Modern English, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Oasis, Chuck D, Living Colour and Schooly D.

The 'Illuminated 1989' album is out now on limited edition translucent pink or clear vinyl with a gatefold sleeve. It is also available from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
‘Illuminated 1989’ released via Little Cloud Records and 5BC Records
Danny Chavis - guitar
Daniel Chavis - vocals, guitar, lyrics
Marvin Levi - drums
Joseph Hue Boyle - bass
Elizabeth Fraser - additional vocals
Robin Guthrie - programming, additional guitars
Lincoln Fong - programming
Written by Danny and Daniel Chavis
Recorded and produced at September Sound by Robin Guthrie
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Cocteau Twins legend ROBIN GUTHRIE marks 60th birthday by releasing 'Springtime' EP

January 4, 2022

Following the late 2021 releases of the 'Mockingbird Love' EP, the full-length album 'Pearldiving' and the 'Riviera' EP, the new year brings yet another new release by legendary Scottish music sculptor Robin Guthrie.

On January 4th, exactly sixty years after his birth, Guthrie is releasing his 'Springtime' EP via his Soleil Après Minuit imprint with distribution in North America via Darla and in Europe by Cargo. These four new titles were recorded in the summer of 2021, soon after completing 'Pearldiving', his first album in nine years.

'Springtime' is a standalone collection featuring Guthrie’s ever present signature sound and atmosphere. His approach to music is perhaps more akin to that of a painter or a photographer. The adept use of light and shade, melody and counter melody, the carefully and precisely arranged instrumentation, musical textures and colorings gives his music a depth and level of detail which marks a master craftsman.

Guthrie comments, “After 'Pearldiving', I thought about taking a break as my release schedule has been a bit excessive of late, but I took some time in the studio and got very quickly focused on this as my first release for the new year. Spring is an important time for me. Often it’s time to prepare for what’s to come. It can represent new growth. It can also be a good excuse to use a great photo of some springs that I had taken”.

40 years on from founding Cocteau Twins, Robin Guthrie has certainly been its most prolific member, offering a steady and stellar stream of material over the years. His film scores include Gregg Araki's ‘Mysterious Skin’ and ‘White Bird in a Blizzard’, co-written with long-time collaborator Harold Budd. His many other collaborators include John Foxx, Mark Gardener, Telefon Tel-Aviv, Eraldo Bernocchi and Jay Jay Johanson.

Last year, Guthrie released 'Another Flower' with Harold Budd just a few days before Budd's untimely passing. His recent credits as a producer and remixer include Heligoland, Jack Colwell, Resplandor, Ummagma, Fawns of Love, Hatchie and Tamaryn.

'Springtime' is available on CD, as well as digitally on all major platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where it can already be obtained directly from Guthrie himself.

CREDITS
Written and performed by Robin Guthrie
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Robin Guthrie at his studio in Brittany
Album cover by Robin Guthrie
Released by Soleil Après Minuit : SM2104/SM2104CD
EAN: 0602024696254

Scottish dream-music icon ROBIN GUTHRIE presents new 'Riviera' EP, ending 2021 with 3 new releases

December 4, 2021

Following the October release of his 'Mockingbird Love' EP and the November release of his full-length album 'Pearldiving' (his first album in nine years) comes another unique release by legendary Scottish music sculptor Robin Guthrie - the 4-track 'Riviera' EP, a collection completed earlier this year..

The 'Riviera' EP is available on limited-edition CD and as a digital download via Soleil Après Minuit with distribution in North America via Darla and in Europe by Cargo.

'Riviera' stands on its own as a release, apart from the album, featuring Guthrie’s ever present signature sound and atmosphere, displaying a refinement and maturity only found in the work of an artist working largely unfettered from the constraints of the music industry.

His approach to music is perhaps more akin to that of a painter or a photographer. The adept use of light and shade, melody and counter melody, the carefully and precisely arranged instrumentation, musical textures and colorings gives his music a depth and level of detail which marks a master craftsman.

“I made this collection earlier this year while taking a break from recording 'Pearldiving'. I found a common thread among several unfinished tunes, that curiously, they had all been written on the southern shore of some landmass or other in the northern hemisphere. I was pleasantly surprised when they all fell into place together and retained this atmosphere in my head,” says Guthrie.

Earlier, he shared, “After 'Another Flower', released just a few days before the untimely passing of my friend and co-conspirator Harold Budd, I felt the need to break my studio down and build it up again afresh to clear my head."

40 years on from founding Cocteau Twins, Robin Guthrie has certainly been its most prolific member, offering a steady and stellar stream of material over the years. His film scores include Gregg Araki's ‘Mysterious Skin’ and ‘White Bird in a Blizzard’, co-written with longtime collaborator Harold Budd. His many other collaborators include John Foxx, Mark Gardener, Telefon Tel-Aviv, Eraldo Bernocchi and Jay Jay Johanson.

Guthrie’s more recent credits as a producer and remixer include Resplandor, Ummagma, Fawns of Love, Hatchie, Jack Colwell, Tamaryn and Heligoland, whose new Guthrie-produced single 'Don't Fall In Love With Me' has also just released.

As of December 10th, 'Riviera' will be available on CD, as well as digitally on all major platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where it can already be obtained directly from Guthrie himself.

CREDITS
Written and performed by Robin Guthrie
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Robin Guthrie at his studio in Brittany
Album cover by Robin Guthrie
Released by Soleil Après Minuit : SM2102/SM2102CD
EAN: 0602024696261

Keep up with Robin Guthrie
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | Apple Music

Robin Guthrie to release new 'Pearldiving' album On November 12. Preview 'Les Amourettes'

November 5, 2021

Following the October release of his 'Mockingbird Love' EP comes the much-anticipated ‘next’ full-length album from legendary Scottish music-sculptor Robin Guthrie, titled 'Pearldiving'. On this journey of 10 new tracks, Guthrie returns to his signature instrumental genre, evoking an atmosphere and sound so instantly recognizable, and yet so very personal. From the slow-burning opening notes of ‘Ivy’ to the last swelling distortion of ‘The Amber Room’, 'Pearldiving' is an album of delicacies, delights, darkness and light.

'Pearldiving' will be released on CD, as well as digitally, on November 12th via Soleil Après Minuit with distribution in North America via Darla and Europe covered by Cargo. Ahead of this, 'Les Amourettes' can be previewed via Bandcamp.

Robin Guthrie’s music has always been an intensely personal and unique expression. His gift for the translation and evocation of emotions and experiences lends his music an appeal that transcends their origins in his own life, but also speaks to all of us on our own journeys.

'Pearldiving' typifies the lush, layered guitar arrangements that are Robin Guthrie’s trademark, whilst also displaying a level of refinement that can only be found in the work of an artist at the top of his craft.

Guthrie’s approach to his music is perhaps more akin to that of a painter or a photographer. The adept use of light and shade, melody and counter melody, the carefully and precisely arranged instrumentation, musical textures and colorings gives his music a depth and level of detail that are the hallmarks of a master craftsman. It’s often said that the signature of a highly accomplished artist is the ability to make the complex and otherworldly seem natural and effortless. This could not be truer of 'Pearldiving', undeniably Guthrie’s most refined instrumental release to date.

“After 'Another Flower', released just a few days before the untimely passing of my friend and co-conspirator Harold Budd, I felt the need to break my studio down and build it up again afresh to clear my head," says Robin Guthrie.

"The dawn of many of my previous releases was travel. I loved being somewhere new to work but, for a while now, the pandemic hasn’t permitted that. So earlier this year I "stayed at home" and created 'Pearldiving'. This is my first instrumental album since 'Fortune' and I guess I had some feelings to process."

40 years on from founding Cocteau Twins, Robin Guthrie has certainly been its most prolific member, offering a steady and stellar stream of material over the years. His film scores include Gregg Araki's ‘Mysterious Skin’ and ‘White Bird in a Blizzard’, co-written with longtime collaborator Harold Budd. His many other collaborators include John Foxx, Mark Gardener, Telefon Tel-Aviv, Eraldo Bernocchi and Jay Jay Johanson.

His unique, innovative, and influential approach to guitar and composition—layering sound upon sound and melody upon melody in an approach that is often deceptively minimalist—along with his deft production skills in the recording studio, has earned him the respect of musicians and fans throughout the world, making him a much sought-after artist, producer, engineer,and collaborator. Guthrie’s more recent credits as a producer and remixer include Heligoland, Resplandor, Ummagma, Fawns of Love, Hatchie, Jack Colwell and Tamaryn.

As of November 12th, 'Pearldiving' will be released on CD and available digitally on all major platforms via Soleil Après Minuit, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where it can be ordered directly from the artist himself.

CREDITS
Written and performed by Robin Guthrie
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Robin Guthrie at his studio in Brittany
Album cover by Robin Guthrie
Released by Soleil Après Minuit : SM2103/SM2103CD
Photos of Robin Guthrie taken by Violette Guthrie

Keep up with Robin Guthrie
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | Apple Music

Trailblazing music icon Robin Guthrie to release new 'Mockingbird Love' EP

October 12, 2021

Robin Guthrie will release 'Mockingbird Love', an EP, on October 15th via Soleil Après Minuit. Ahead of the release, the track 'My Courtesan' is available to stream and as an instant grat download for anyone ordering directly from the artist via Bandcamp https://robinguthrie.bandcamp.com. Distribution in North America is via Darla and in Europe via Cargo.

'Mockingbird Love' is the first new music from Guthrie since the 'Another Flower' album with the late Harold Budd, released just days before Budd's passing in December 2020.

“Of late I've been very focused on my instrumental music, which is increasingly an intense endeavour, all the more so as I don’t really share it with anyone. So here I am, finally, with some words about my next releases. ‘Mockingbird Love’, a four track EP, is the first small collection of music that I have felt comfortable to release for a while. This is my October,” says Robin Guthrie.

“‘Mockingbird Love’ is concise, to the point, with a big sound and baritone guitars. But it’s just an appetizer as my November release and subsequent December releases will show. I have everything in production now and, hmmm, what could go wrong?”

The first in a series of releases that Guthrie will be releasing this year, Brooklyn Vegan notes that "it's a typically gorgeous instrumental, drenched in Guthrie's signature shimmery layers".

39 years on from Cocteau Twins' debut release 'Garlands', Robin Guthrie has certainly been the most prolific member, offering a steady and stellar stream of material over the years. Having formed Violet Indiana with Siobhan de Maré (formerly of Mono) following Cocteau Twins' dissolution, he has since strongly focused on creating instrumental music, while also releasing collaborative albums with Harold Budd, John Foxx (Ultravox) and Mark Gardener (Ride).

Apart from the film scores for Gregg Araki's ‘Mysterious Skin’ and ‘White Bird In a Blizzard’, which were co-written with Harold Budd, Guthrie has also scored the film '3:19’, Kaboom and the TV series ‘Now Apocalypse’…

More recently, Robin produced and mixed the new Heligoland album 'This Quiet Fire', as well as creating remixes for artists such as Hatchie, Fawns of Love, Resplandor, Ummagma, Ulrich Schnauss and Tamaryn at his studio in France.

'Mockingbird Love' will be released on CD as well as digitally on all major platforms.

CREDITS
Written and performed by Robin Guthrie
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Robin Guthrie
Released by Soleil Après Minuit
Catalogue number SM2105CD
Album cover by Robin Guthrie

Keep up with Robin Guthrie
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify | Apple Music |