The Teardrop Explodes
The sun never sets on Britain's rock bands. A year ago U.K. bands were busily resuscitating the festive Jamaican beat of "ska." Now, like musical paramedics, they seem to be rushing to breathe life into a new patient. The rock press has labeled this one psychedelic revival, but it is really a pollination of post-punk British rock with the mind-blowing sounds beloved by our own dear departed Woodstock Nation. The Teardrop Explodes weigh in with references to make every briefcase-toting ex-hippie nostalgic. The dense guitar textures and aggressive rhythms are modern British. The Doors are a key touch point too. But with two trumpeters blasting in unison and some fairly clunky melodies, there's also a touch of Blood, Sweat & Tears. And the choruses bob with bubbly synthesizer notes like that singing percolator on the coffee commercial. "When I dream, I dream about you," sings lead singer and bassist Julian Cope, a bit nasally. "When I scream, I scream about you/I go up-up-up-up-up-up upaduppa up-up-up-up-up-up upaduppa wa-a-a-all." It's hilarious, really. The Explodes are the bullet with the bubble-gum center.
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