Perhaps quicker than his band-mates in Cocteau Twins, Simon Raymonde found his path following the break-up of that trio. By 1997 he was running a label (Bella Union) and releasing a solo record. That both of his colleagues from the past showed up on the album, Blame Someone Else, wasn't surprising, but that they appeared on separate tracks was telling.
So in 1997, it was hard to listen to Blame Someone Else without comparing it to the Cocteau Twins output. Here in 2022, as it's reissued as part of Solo Works 96 - 98, it's a bit easier to appreciate this release on its own terms. Paired with the "It's A Family Thing" / "In My Place" single, the output of Simon Raymonde from that earlier era stands on its own remarkably well. With Robin Guthrie's guitar plucking its way through "Muscle and Want" and Liz Fraser's voice pairing up divinely with Simon's own on "Worship Me", a listener is sort of rewarded with vibes reminiscent of that beloved trio. And yet, as surprisingly effective covers of "It's Raining Today" (Scott Walker) and "Days" (Television) reveal, Simon Raymonde's skills were varied. And when heard now, the juxtaposition of his supple vocals with the lush ornamentation of the Walker tune, and the spry playfulness of the Television is a delightful thing.
With other numbers, like the Sylvian-ish "Love Undone", or the percussive "Supernatural", Raymonde seems intent on staking out new territory for himself. His voice is subtle in its force, and the electronic textures of some of the tracks sit nicely next to the more straightforward pieces of others. The gorgeous "Summer's Blue" and the affecting "Let Love In" should please fans of The Blue Nile, for example, as much as they do fans of the Cocteaus, even as a listener is pleasantly faced with Raymonde's more straightforward, and less baroque musical settings this time around.
On many levels, Solo Works 96 - 98 is a classic now about to be rediscovered. Frankly, I think even this Cocteau Twins fan of 35+ years had forgotten just how rewarding this material is. It's a pity that Simon Raymonde didn't record more albums on his own, but then again he's been busy. And I'd certainly not want the output of his imprint to have been diminished. Still, maybe a brief vacation from Bella Union HQ would allow Mr. Raymonde a chance to record a follow-up? Until then, get lost in this.
Solo Works 96 - 98 is out tomorrow via Bella Union.
[Photo: Simon Raymonde Bandcamp]