One of a series of pieces where I force myself to stick to 500 words about a musician or band [not including this bit] and choose 10 songs to summarise that music.
The Arch-Drude is one of my musical heroes.1 The plethora of Cope releases2 means it’s an impossible task to pick ten. I’m ignoring his pre-solo stuff, his ambient work, his side projects and even his most recent releases, and it’s still been hard to narrow things down to a best ten.
I discovered Cope through the Teardrop Explodes, like many people my age I thought some of their early singles were just the best indie pop around. Cope’s first solo album carries on his knack for melody and his indie styling, as heard in the delightful energy of An Elegant Chaos. His “acid casualty” persona continued on his amazing second album, Fried, which includes the dramatic Reynard the Fox, melding a catchy chorus with an insane description of self-mutilation - it’s not your usual pop track.
Cope moved to Island records and lived the life of a pop star. He was not too keen3 on My Nation Underground but I’ve always loved its faux-gospel groove. It was at this time we saw another glimpse of the single-minded Cope, as he released a couple of stripped down albums on a minor label4. Droolian included the hypnotic 60s styled pop of Jellypop Perky Jean, a song that is now a real fan favourite. He also entered his golden period, releasing a collection of fantastic and socially important albums in the early 90s.5
The soaring, sonic Safesurfer is about the dangers of safe sex, centred around the incredible guitar work of Michael "Moon-Eye" Watts , whilst Upwards at 45 Degrees is an angry folk mystical chant that builds to a psychedelic rock out by the end.6 Cope’s next album Autogeddon, about the horrors of cars, includes the wonderful medley Paranormal in the West Country, starting with a garage folk track, segueing into a 2-4 stomp and then finishing with a space rock instrumental. Beautiful stuff.
I remember the joy of watching Cope on TV as his single Try, Try, Try hit big in 1995. It’s pop perfection, with a catchy chorus and soaring verses. The subsequent album, 20 Mothers, is a pleasure.
He showed he could still create beautiful glam rock with the next album, Interpreter, and its second track I’ve Got My TV & My Pills is pure Cope: melodically beautiful, sprinkled with garage rock dust, and with a wry grin plastered over its face as he sings “Instead, I'm messed up on drugs…”. The song pops with energy, and is gloriously silly.
Gloriously silly is what Cope enjoys as he pushes further into self-released experimental folk music and writing. All the Blowing-Themselves-Up Motherfuckers (Will Realise the Minute They Die That They Were Suckers) summarises his continued interest in politics, religion, spirituality and comedy. It’s a simple folk track designed to attack terrorism and whilst it’s a blunt instrument, he wields it well.
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No one has educated me about music better than Julian Cope - his books about German and Japanese Rock are essential, and his music is too. Long may his mystic Godlike Genius continue!
Ten songs
An Elegant Chaos
Reynard the Fox
My Nation Underground
Jellypop Perky Jean
Safesurfer
Upwards at 45 Degrees
Paranormal in the West Country (Medley)
Try, Try, Try
I’ve Got My TV and My Pills
All the Blowing-Themselves-Up Motherfuckers (Will Realise the Minute They DIe That They Were Suckers)
In 1981 Cope compiled a collection of Scott Walker songs on the album Fire Escape in the Sky: The Godlike Genius of Scott Walker. Cope is a Godlike Genius for me.
Where to begin with the side projects? I recommend his heavy metal L.A.M.F and Brain Doner, his ambient Rite albums and the experimental Queen Elizabeth band featuring Cope and Thighpaulsandra
He writes on his website: “Cope is nearly immediately disappointed and this remains his least favourite of his LPs”
Much to Island’s annoyance, but they relented in the end and released them
Peggy Suicide, Jehovakill, Autogeddon, 20 Mothers and Interpreter are all essential
I would love to get the album, Jehovakill, on vinyl but in these financially tricky times I can’t justify splashing £70+ on a record…can I?
Thank you for reminding me to listen to Julian Cope. I was into Teardrop Explodes and then his early solo work, but lost touch. Your piece has inspired me to change that.
I have a few of his albums, but for me, 'Peggy Suicide' is the one I consistently return to. It's an absolutely brilliant album from start to finish.