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Mixing punk's stripped-down aesthetic with a love of both the Velvets and a whole host of psychedelic icons from the Doors to Love, the band had already made waves on Bill Drummond's Zoo label with 'Pictures On My Wall'. But at this point they were a three-piece with only a drum machine to back up their neo-psych vision. Enter Pete De Freitas, a one man powerhouse, perfectly matched to Les Pattinson's indefatigable bass runs and suddenly they were ready for world domination.
Three weeks at Rockfield studios in Wales saw the group define their sound further, with Will Sergeant's guitar joining the new wave hall of fame (alongside say, John McGeoch) in its ability to be both far-out and avoid any rock clichés at any cost. From the chiming intro of 'Rescue' to the the squall of 'Happy Death Men' it redefined what could be done with electricity.
On top of all this was McCulloch's sombre, plaintive voice; a cosmic lounge style that owed plenty to Jim Morrison but also was perfect at delivering his lyrics filled with achingly romantic surrealism. 'Villiers Terrace' uses such oblique poetry to give a perfect description of the hometown scene at the time. 'There's people rolling round on the carpet, mixing up the medicine', indeed.
All this was aided by nascent scene-maker Drummond and Teardrops associate, Dave Balfe's co-production as 'the Chameleons'. Spacey enough to match the chemical intake (though McCulloch always claimed they preferred a simple bevvy), it still retained the garage aesthetic that never allowed the band to lapse into self-indulgence. Crocodiles still sounds as fresh as the day it hit the shelves. The band's sound would become larger, grander and lusher, but everything you need to love about them is right here! --Chris Jones
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
From the opening bars of 'Going Up' you actually feel that you are - right up - until the extended outro on 'Happy Death Men'. That's how the vinyl finished anyhow, but then you have the bonus tracks. The inclusion of the 'Let it Shine' EP Live stuff is a dream. I'd never heard 'Simple Stuff'! This is a great reworking of the original album.
Spikey, raw and punkified in places yet pyscadelic and acidic in others "Crocodiles" effortlessly meshes pounding rhythms, choppy guitar and the youthful but authoritative vocals of Ian Mculloch.
Highlight "Stars are Stars" is the epitome of a cold starry night perfectly capturing its sense of claustrophabia and despair and marks Mcullochs first of many lyrical masterpieces'.
Although Guitarist Will Sergent would only reach artistic maturity and achieve genius on the bands follow up "Heaven up Here", his minimalism is very poignant and his echoey tones on "Monkees" make for another stand out track.
"Villers Terrace", "Pictures on my Wall" and "Do it Clean" (available on re-issues) are counter anthemnic, post punk perfection and early Bunnymen favourites. Macca's Bowie meets Iggy vocals and the musical mastery of the Bunnymen eleavate "Crocodiles" way above there peers U2 and the Teardrop Explodes' debut offerings. The Bunnymen would better this record twice, firsly with the swirling, brooding forever autumn briliance of "Heaven up Here" and then with the ice cold "Porcupine" but its still stands the test of time.
Lovely Stuff.
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