Wilder - Teardrop Explodes (The)

Formed by Julian Cope on the break up of The Crucial Three, the Teardrop Explodes initially signed to Zoo records. On this label they put out two singles ("Sleeping Gas" and "Bouncing Babies") Both of these appear on the first LP (Kilimanjaro) but are radically different versions.

This was their second and last LP. Critically well received but failed to set the charts alight, after relative success of "Passionate ...
...this compare to Kilmanjaro? Well, after numerous personnel changes, it sounds as if the band have grown up a bit. The music is wider in scope than the first album, but Cope's lyrics still remain a little obscure.

The CD contains eleven tracks, the first up being "Bent Out of Shape". Starting with a fade in drum track, augmented by a bass line and finally Cope's voice, "Oh my love I've been bent out of shape". The ... more

Formed by Julian Cope on the break up of The Crucial Three, the Teardrop Explodes initially signed to Zoo records. On this label they put out two singles ("Sleeping Gas" and "Bouncing Babies") Both of these appear on the first LP (Kilimanjaro) but are radically different versions.

This was their second and last LP. Critically well received but failed to set the charts alight, after relative success of "Passionate Friend" as a single.

So how does this compare to Kilmanjaro? Well, after numerous personnel changes, it sounds as if the band have grown up a bit. The music is wider in scope than the first album, but Cope's lyrics still remain a little obscure.

The CD contains eleven tracks, the first up being "Bent Out of Shape". Starting with a fade in drum track, augmented by a bass line and finally Cope's voice, "Oh my love I've been bent out of shape". The song continues in this vein until after a couple of verses, then a horn section explodes into the middle eight.. Brilliant. It lifts the song above mere pop and is a fine opener.

"Colours Fly Away" starts with an urgent horn section and insistent drumming reminiscent of The Jam's "The Gift" before Cope comes in with "More by luck than judgment here am I" Upbeat and lively in its approach, but the subject matter eludes me.

The third track, "Seven Views of Jerusalem" fades in very quietly with bass and a drum track. It remains very low key throughout the first and second verses. Multi tracked vocals for the chorus. Little bit annoying in that Cope repeats "Seven view of Jerusalem" over and over towards the end.

"Pure Joy" is next up. A very short track. It starts with a stabbing guitar line for about four bars which is then joined by a snare drum which follows the guitar line exactly. The bass joins in at the point that Cope starts singing. Seems to be about childhood but you never can be too sure ! Ends as suddenly as it began.

A slow fuzz guitar line starts "Falling Down Around Me" and is built up with keyboards, drums and bass. Quite a slow plodding song until the band reach the middle eight, when a horn section adds real fire to the proceedings! Towards the end Cope starts his "Ba da da " trade mark singalong bit.

An acapella "ba da da ba da da da" starts off "The Culture Bunker" until a guitar thrusts its way into the song. With horn section stabs punctuating the lines as the tune unfolds.Cope name checks his old band, "Waiting for the Crucial Three, wondering what went wrong". A longing for the old days? Who knows? A fine song all the same. With a brilliant trumpet figure in the middle eight.

"Passionate Friend" was released as a single reaching 25 in the UK charts. It explodes (no pun intended) into your ears. Right from the start, this grabs you demanding that you listen. Passionate indeed! With a great "La la la la do do do do" fade out.

"Tiny Children", couldn't provide a greater contrast. A very quiet unassuming ditty played on a flutey keyboard. It continues as such until it reaches the middle eight when the drums kick in at a thunderous volume and then a slow fade.

"Just Like Leila Khaled Said" follows. Beginning with a jangly guitar line and a thumping drum and bass accompaniment, this is a love song. Leila Khaled was a Palestinian terrorist but this is nothing to do with that. Julian Cope said of her " One of the most beautiful woman in the whole world"

"....and Then the Fighting Takes over." is the penultimate track. It's another very quiet song, starting with a strummed acoustic guitar with an electronic keyboard and a "walking" bass line. A horn section comes in for the middle eight filling out the melody.

"The Great Dominions" starts with a strange rumbling noise, panning from left to right and continues throughout the whole song. Julian starts singing accompanying the keyboards and occasional guitar chords. The song builds slowly adding more guitars and keyboards until it reaches its climax :-"Mummy I've been fighting again". From there on it slowly recedes again, leaving the keyboards and an occasional crashing guitar chord until there's nothing left but the odd noise that started the whole thing off.

And that's about it. This is not as immediate as "Kilimanjaro". If you like early-eighties pop/new wave then this is for you. If you don't then forget it.
Available quite cheaply nowadays,as they say,at all good record shops.

 

...less