“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.