The Crystal Teardrop | Contemporary garage psych
“Running Out Of Time” / “Apres Jeudi” (Rogue Records RR-021) May 2024
The Crystal Teardrop “Running Out Of Time” | This is the second time on ‘The Monocled Alchemist’ for Stoke based band the Crystal Teardrop.
I wrote about their disc “By The River” on Popclaw, last month. That was certainly an in-demand record and got a small re-pressing of 60 copies. You may already be too late to secure your copy but there’s no harm in checking with Rise Above Records.
This single on the collectable French label Rogue Records, was supposed to be the Crystal Teardrop’s second 45 but delays in releasing “By The River” on Popclaw meant that the latter was the first one out of the blocks.
The Crystal Teardrop “Running Out Of Time”
“Running Out Of Time” is a fine garage rocker with an urgent beat, I’m loving the drum sound on this number. Drummer Connor Wells excels with his forceful rhythms and percussion. The background organ frills and pulse-beat bass guitar add garage punk tension. A deadly combination.
Alexandra Rose is a solid lead vocalist, and doesn’t get caught up in the trap that she needs to shout and growl her way through such a brisk and rousing song. The guitar sound is razor sharp with fuzz and electric energy in all the right places.
The flip is another rocker. This time round though “Apres Jeudi” sounds a whole lot more contemporary, the drums for instance, are perfunctory, the lead guitar goes all Steve Marriott and the swirling organ sound is mixed louder. I can imagine Ian McLagan digging this number because of those trippy keyboard textures.
“Running Out Of Time”
The evolution of their sound
Q: What are the most significant influences on the group and how do you channel them to create the unique sound of the Crystal Teardrop?
Alexandra: Our most significant influence is not any one group or individual artist in particular but a musically innovative and creative moment in time.
We love the increasingly experimental music that evolved from beat, folk and garage into freakbeat and psychedelia in late 1966-67.
Stuart and I collect and DJ records and we are really into the rare garage and psych singles from that time – anything from Nuggets and Pebbles, obscure compilation albums, that kind of thing. We also, of course, love the big names like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Byrds, and Love.
Paisley Underground scene
Another key influence is the Paisley Underground scene that occurred during the early 1980s. We are all huge fans of The Bangles, Rain Parade, and The Pandoras.
These bands, of course, paid homage to the 1960s in their own music, yet their sound was distinctly their own. I feel as though we could be part of a new paisley wave! (extract from Second Scene, music magazine)
All in all, another superb record by the Crystal Teardrop and one which bodes well for their promised album later this year or next. Special note also for Rogue Records who continue to release singles by obscure garage / psych combos from around the world, all housed in their magnificent sixties-inspired picture sleeves.
Leave a Reply