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“By the River” by The Crystal Teardrop –Single Review
“By the River” by The Crystal Teardrop –Single Review
The Crystal Teardrop first appeared in April of this year with their shimmering debut single “Nine Times Nine”. Reminiscent of ’60s West Coast bands like The Byrds and Love having a day out with The Bangles and with its irresistible hook and jangly guitars, it was destined to be played over the summer.
Their second single, “By the River”, was released this month and offers up another slice of 60s West meets the mystical East. Alexandra Rose’s molten vocals mix with a gorgeous sitar added in by Lucian Thomas from Manchester band Farfisa. The combination of dream-like lyrics, (“Watch the water, see it flowing, no beginning and there’s no end”) and humming mandola, combined with absorbing drums, guitars, and organ, create an entrancing record full of harmonic melody.
Andy Blakeley
The whole effect is very Beatles inspired, as indeed the band quote, ‘The Beatles in Rishikesh vibe’. It is like you have walked through the fancy-dress shop door in Mr. Benn straight through to 1967. But The Crystal Teardrop bring their personality to the psychedelic mix and make it their own. They made their live debut this year at the London Le Beat Bespoke Festival and are now playing in different cities as we speak. Next year they plan to release further material.
The Crystal Teardrop are Alexandra Rose (guitar, mandola, vocals), Leon Jones (lead guitar), Stuart Gray (organ), Caitlin Hare (bass, vocals), and Connor Wells (drums).
Related: “Nine Times Nine” by The Crystal Teardrop
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2 thoughts on ““By the River” by The Crystal Teardrop –Single Review”
Easy to suggest your influences but the first time I heard Hey Mr. Tambourine man or Bangles it stuck and the original melodies. The sound is here but the creativity is a çxopy of the sound only
That’s one way to look at it. We think it’s great that bands like The Crystal Teardrop are reviving the awesome sounds of the 60s.