SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP – LOVE YOU MORE

THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP
LOVE YOU MORE
POPCLAW RECORDS/RISE ABOVE RECORDS

If you miss the days of peace, love, and rock ‘n’ roll when music wasn’t just something you listened to, it was something you could disappear into, The Crystal Teardrop may be a band worth discovering. These five groovy members from the UK Midlands, fronted by vocalist Alexandra Rose, have built their sound around late-1960s music, blending catchy pop melodies with psychedelic rock, folk-rock, and a touch of garage rock edge.

Their second album, Love You More, feels like opening a musical time capsule — but one with a fresh coat of paint. Strident guitars, warm organ, electric sitar, and steady bass and drums create a rich backdrop for Rose’s clear, controlled, expressive vocals.

Rose’s nostalgic voice gives the band its dreamy character. Her delivery is gentle and controlled, rather than big or showy, which works beautifully with the band’s psychedelic sound. However, adding a second voice, particularly a stronger male singer who could harmonise with Rose, might add another dimension to a song or album. The contrast between Rose’s lighter voice and a deeper, more powerful one could bring some welcome contrast while still complementing the band’s distinctive sound.

The band clearly loves the sounds of The Beatles, The Byrds, and other memory-box artists, but the songs never feel like simple copies of the past.

The title track opens with a bright, familiar sound that may remind listeners of The Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville,” particularly in how the guitars and rhythm immediately catch your attention. But rather than staying in that upbeat, pop-rock territory, “Love You More” takes a softer turn, settling into a gentle mixture of romance and sadness. “Tomorrow Starts Today” brings the energy back up with plucking strings and a steady beat that keeps the song moving forward. “Times Are Gone” and “Outside Looking In” have an easy, sunny quality that makes them especially inviting, while “It’s Too Late” turns up the volume with a tough, gritty garage-rock sound. You can imagine the Go-Go girls dancing around to this one!

There is also plenty of diversity. “Circumstances” has a dreamy, floating, beautiful quality; you can almost envision Ravi Shankar sitting next to Rose playing the sitar,

while “If I’m Right” settles into a warm, catchy groove. “The Eleventh Hour” adds a sharper edge, and the album closes with “Touch The Sun,” a seven-min psychedelic journey that settles into a warm, easygoing tune that makes you feel the way your grandparents did at Woodstock, if you know what I mean.

One of the album’s greatest strengths is how naturally the musicians play together.

Love You More was recorded live in the studio with very little overdubbing, which means much of what you hear happened with the musicians playing together rather than recording their parts separately and piecing everything together later. You can hear that connection in how the instruments respond to one another, with the guitars, drums, bass, and keyboards moving together rather than competing for attention. It also has a spontaneity that can be missing from heavily produced recordings. Instead of sounding so polished that it loses its personality, the album feels like you are sitting in the room while the band plays. That gives the songs a warmth and energy that makes them feel more personal and alive.

Love You More is an enjoyable trip back to the late ’60s without feeling stuck there — tuneful, colourful, occasionally gritty and full of genuine musical character. So, put on your headphones, fall back into a beanbag chair with a toke in one hand, and a strong drink in the other, and let the vibe take you away to feel-good-town!

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