Cocoon are an English-language folk-pop duo from France whose full-length album debut in 2007 garnered critical acclaim and commercial success internationally. Formed in 2006 in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne, France, the band is primarily comprised of Mark Daumail (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele, banjo; born December 6, 1984) and Morgane Imbeaud (harmony vocals, keyboards; April 14, 1987). Their influences include classic folk-rock bands such as Pentangle and Fairport Convention as well as contemporary folk-pop acts such as Devendra Banhart and Sufjan Stevens. Cocoon made their recording debut in 2006 with an independently released EP, I Hate Birds, which was picked up for release on the well-regarded French indie label Sober & Gentle. The duo subsequently began working on its full-length debut album, My Friends All Died in a Plane Crash (2007), which was preceded by the release of an EP, From Panda Mountains (2007), featuring three new versions of songs previously released on I Hate Birds ("On My Way," "Tell Me," "I Don't Give a Shit"), one of which would become the lead single from My Friends All Died in a Plane Crash ("On My Way"). Not only was My Friends All Died in a Plane Crash critically acclaimed upon its release, it was also commercially successful, breaking into the Top 40 of the French albums chart and the Top 100 of the Belgian and Swiss albums charts. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
