Echo And The Bunnymen: Crocodiles 1980 + Ocean Rain 1984

 

Echo & the Bunnymen's dark, swirling fusion of gloomy post-punk and Doors-inspired psychedelia is

driven by the majestic voice and outsized persona of singer Ian McCulloch and the frequently brilliant guitar work of Will Sergeant. The band started off as an angular post-punk group on their first album, 1980's Crocodiles, but by the time of 1984's Ocean Rain they had become cinematically Baroque.
                

After stripping their sound down to basics for 1987's self-titled album, which produced the deathless hit "Lips Like Sugar," the band ran into problems and experienced tragedy (like the death of drummer Pete

de Freitas), but eventually McCulloch and Sergeant cemented a musical bond that cracked but never shattered over the course of a lengthy careers -- leading them to release introspective gems like 1999's What Are You Going to Do with Your Life?, 2014's Meteorites, and 2018's The Stars, the Oceans & the Moon) that illuminated their mysterious, dramatic spark.
                           

ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN - CROCODILES 1980

                

Inspired by psychedelia, sure. Bit of Jim Morrison in the vocals? OK, it's there. But for all the references and connections that can be drawn (and they can), one listen to Echo's brilliant, often harrowing debut album and it's clear when a unique, special band presents itself.

Beginning with the dramatic, building climb of "Going Up," Crocodiles at once showcases four individual players sure of their own gifts and their ability to bring it all together to make things more than the sum of their parts. Will Sergeant in particular is a revelation -- resplendently delicate and full of inventive, unexpected melodies. More than many before or since, he plays the electric guitar as just that, electric not acoustic, dedicated to finding out what can be done with it while never using it as an excuse to bend frets.
            

His highlights are legion, whether it's the hooky opening chime of "Rescue" or the exchanges of sound

and silence in "Happy Death Men." Meanwhile, the Pattinson/De Freitas rhythm section stakes its own claim for greatness, the former's bass driving yet almost seductive, the latter's percussion constantly shifting rhythms and styles while never leaving the central beat of the song to die.
             

"Pride" is one standout moment of many, Pattinson's high notes and De Freitas' interjections on what

sound like chimes or blocks are inspired touches. Then there's McCulloch himself, and while the imagery can be cryptic, the delivery soars, even while his semi-wail conjures up, as on the nervy, edgy picture of addiction "Villiers Terrace," "People rolling round on the carpet/Mixing up the medicine." Brisk, wasting not a note, and burning with barely controlled energy, Crocodiles remains a deserved classic.
                 

Echo & The Bunnymen – Crocodiles
Label: Sire – 2564-61161-2, Rhino Records – 2564-61161-2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered Jan 27, 2004
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, New Wave

                

TRAXS

01. Going Up    4:02
02. Stars Are Stars    2:48
03. Pride    2:41
04. Monkeys    2:49
05. Crocodiles    2:41
06. Rescue    4:29
07. Villiers Terrace    2:47
08. Pictures On My Wall    2:55
09. All That Jazz    2:48
10. Happy Death Men    5:00

BONUS TRAXS        

    
11. Do It Clean    2:49
12. Read It In Books    2:34
13. Simple Stuff   2:38
Engineer – John Brierly/Producer – The Bunnymen
14. Villiers Terrace (Early Version)    3:08
15. Pride (Early Version)    2:54
16. Simple Stuff (Early Version)    2:37

SHINE SO HARD EP        

    
17. Crocodiles (Live)   5:09
Producer – Bill Drummond, Hugh Jones
18. Zimbo (Live)   3:36
Producer – Bill Drummond, Hugh Jones
19. All That Jazz (Live)   2:53
Producer – Bill Drummond, Hugh Jones
20. Over The Wall (Live)   5:28
Producer – Bill Drummond, Hugh Jones

LINE - UP

Vocals, Guitar – Ian McCulloch
Bass – Les Pattinson
Drums – Pete De Freitas
Keyboards – David Balfe
Lead Guitar – Will Sergeant

Flac Size: 470 MB

ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN - OCEAN RAIN 1984

               

Channeling the lessons of the experimental Porcupine into more conventional and simple structural parameters, Ocean Rain emerges as Echo & the Bunnymen's most beautiful and memorable effort.

Ornamenting Ian McCulloch's most consistently strong collection of songs to date with subdued guitar textures, sweeping string arrangements, and hauntingly evocative production, the album is dramatic and majestic; "The Killing Moon," Ocean Rain's emotional centerpiece, remains the group's unrivalled pinnacle.
             

Echo & The Bunnymen – Ocean Rain
Label: Sire – 2564-61165-2, Rhino Records (2) – 2564-61165-2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2003
Country: US
Released: 1984    
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Alternative Rock

TRAXS

             

01. Silver    3:20
02. Nocturnal Me    4:57
03. Crystal Days    2:24
04. The Yo-Yo Man    3:10
05. Thorn Of Crowns    4:55
06. The Killing Moon   5:47
Producer – The Bunnymen/Recorded By – David Lord
07. Seven Seas    3:20
08. My Kingdom    4:05
09. Ocean Rain    5:24

BONUS TRAXS        

    
10. Angels And Devils   4:24
Engineer – David Frazer
Harpsichord – Will Sergeant
Producer – Alan Perman, The Bunnymen

THE LIFE AT BRIAN'S SESSIONS        

    
11. All You Need Is Love (The Life At Brian's Sessions)   6:45
Written-By – John Lennon/Paul McCartney
12. The Killing Moon (The Life At Brian's Sessions)    3:27
13. Stars Are Stars (The Life At Brian's Sessions)    3:05
14. Villiers Terrace (The Life At Brian's Sessions)    6:00
15. Silver (The Life At Brian's Sessions)    3:25            
16. My Kingdom (Live - A Crystal Day - 12 May 1984)    3:58
17. Ocean Rain (Live - A Crystal Day - 12 May 1984)    5:18

LINE - UP

Bass – Les Pattinson
Clarinet – Luvan Kiem (tracks: 11 to 15)
Drums – Pete De Freitas
Guitar – Will Sergeant
Harpsichord – Alan Perman (tracks: 11 to 15)
Sitar – Will Sergeant (tracks: 11 to 15)
Vocals, Words By – Ian McCulloch

NOTES

Tracks 10 to 17 are bonus tracks.
Track 10 recorded at The Automatt, San Francisco, CA (18/3/84).
Tracks 11 to 15 recorded at Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool for the television program Play At Home - Life At Brian's (7/83).

Flac Size: 615 MB

Echo And The Bunnymen on Urban Aspirines HERE