Today, vocalist Elizabeth Fraser and percussionist Damon Reece have shared a new single from their upcoming project, Sun’s Signature. “Underwater” is the sweeping, lush opening song off the duo’s self-titled EP, out physically on June 18th via Partisan Records for Record Store Day, with a digital release following in July (date TBD). “Underwater” is accompanied by a visualizer and follows previous single “Golden Air,” which was Fraser’s first piece of new music in 13 years.
STREAM “UNDERWATER” HERE || WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO HERE
“Golden Air” was met with universal critical acclaim, earning praise from NPR, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, NYLON, Fader, Stereogum, and the New York Times, who complimented: “[Golden Air] works through multiple transformations — tinkly Baroque-pop, minimalist a cappella vocal layers, shimmering psychedelic march — as Fraser sings cosmic musings.”
Fraser and Reece’s early careers in some of the world’s most heralded musical groups are well documented. Elizabeth, the unforgettable voice of Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil’s cover of “Song to the Siren,” is also internationally recognized for her vocal contributions to Massive Attack’s trail-blazing ‘Mezzanine’ LP – most notably their biggest hit, “Teardrop”. Damon, the long-time drummer with Massive Attack, also spent the ’90s as a member of Spiritualized and Echo and the Bunnymen. He has also recorded and performed with Baxter Dury, Goldfrapp, The Flies, and Butch Vig’s 5 Billion in Diamonds + many more.
The songs on ‘Sun’s Signature’ have been ruminating in the background of Fraser and Reece’s lives in some form for 20+ years, ever since Cocteau Twins broke up in 1997. Highly evolved, yet simultaneously primal – the music is an utterly original, compelling, and lush collection of songs that has developed through an Alice in Wonderland journey through life and music.
The idea for Sun’s Signature was born out of an invitation from ANOHNI in 2012 for Fraser and Reece to be the centerpiece of her celebrated curation of the Meltdown Festival at the Royal Festival Hall. It was there where they debuted embryonic forms of these songs, and ultimately that performance galvanized confidence in the project. Since that performance, Fraser has toured on the recent Mezzanine XXI world tour with Massive Attack, and has further lent her voice to an eclectic range of projects including Jonsi’s (Sigur Ros) “Cannibal”, Sam Lee’s “The Moon Shines Bright”, and Oneohtrix Point Never’s “Tales From The Trash Stratum”. Writing and recording together, Elizabeth and Damon have also provided the soundtrack for Graham Duff’s TV miniseries The Nightmare World of H.G. Wells.
Read more about how the project came together here.
‘Sun Signature’ EP tracklist:
1. Underwater
2. Golden Air
3. Bluedusk
4. Apples
5. Make Lovely The Day
