The Raincoats

The Raincoats formed in London in 1977, Ana da Silva, Gina Birch, Palmolive, and Vicki Aspinall developing a sound that was immediately radical and experimental — drawing on post-punk, folk, free jazz, and the feminist punk tradition in ways that defied easy categorisation. Their music was deliberately rough-edged and anti-virtuosic, prioritising emotional directness and political engagement over technical polish.

Their self-titled debut (1979) was one of the most important and influential British albums of the late 1970s — a record of extraordinary emotional power and sonic radicalism that earned them a devoted following and the admiration of Kurt Cobain, who wrote the liner notes for the 1993 reissue and cited them as one of his favourite bands. 'Odyshape' (1981) was equally radical and experimental.

The Raincoats dissolved in 1984 before reforming in 1993 following Cobain's championing of their work. They have continued to record and perform, remaining one of the most important and influential acts in the history of British post-punk. Their combination of radical experimentation, feminist politics, and emotional directness has influenced virtually every subsequent female-fronted post-punk and indie act. ⚠ Flag: most recent activity — verify current status.