#FortnightFridayMusic
Feb 20 2026
This week we’re going #Underground

Julian Cope, "My Nation Underground” (1988)

After the breakup of his band The Teardrop Explodes in 1982, Julian Cope embarked on a prolific solo career, making sharp, intelligent, but catchy pop music. Here we have his fourth full-length solo release, the one that finally caught my attention, having lost track of him while following his still-active kindred Liverpudlians, Echo & The Bunnymen.

The track on My Nation Underground that got radio play was “Charlotte Anne” with a slow, almost martial beat, and featuring what might be a penny whistle - not the usual stuff of a radio hit. The album’s opening track, a cover of “5 O’Clock World,” a song made famous by The Vogues in the 60s, didn’t go far commercially as a single despite being given a crisp modern sound.

The title track featured here wields horn section blasts, densely layered vocals, pounding drums, appearances by harmonica and strings, yet still maintains a feeling of space in its expansiveness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVS_RPl4kug

#JulianCope #TheTeardropExplodes #TeardropExplodes #EchoAndTheBunnymen #Liverpool #TheVogues

Happy birthday to David Balfe, ex Teardrop Explodes keyboard player and Strawberry Switchblade manager. 

As well as doing all the admin, Balfey produced tracks from debut single Trees and Flowers to final single I Can Feel, he played keyboards on tracks like Beautiful End and Michael Who Walks by Night, and co-wrote Black Taxi too. 

(Photo captions in next post 🧵 )

#strawberryswitchblade #teardropexplodes #80s #80sMusic #80sbands #1980s #1980smusic #1980sbands

#AlternateFridayMusic
October 13 2023
The prompt is Underground

Julian Cope, "My Nation Underground" 1988

In the burgeoning #PostPunk music scene in late #70s #Liverpool, nascent songsmiths #JulianCope and #IanMcCulloch penned “Books” (aka “Read It in Books”), then went on to found #TeardropExplodes and #EchoAndTheBunnymen respectively, each group recording and releasing their version of that song.

The Bunnymen would prove to have better legs, producing 5 albums of original material with their initial lineup. After two albums, Teardrop disbanded and Cope began his restless ongoing solo career.

My Nation Underground, Cope’s fourth solo album, has a distinctly #80s sheen, in a satisfying, bracing way. The track "Charlotte Ann" crackled out of the speakers from the widening radio palette of the time like a march, and the title track "My Nation Underground," a funky call to arms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVS_RPl4kug

WARNING: SEX TAPE

Julian Cope in COPEULATION scandal

#JulianCope #TeardropExplodes

Gigs at Eric's Liverpool 43 years ago this month #OTD 8 Dec 1979 Joy Division played two shows, inc. a 5pm matinee. Booking guru Roger Eagle knew what he was doing! #RogerEagle #PostPunk #PostPunkHistory #JoyDivision #FactoryRecords

Also in December 1979 #ThePopGroup #EchoAndTheBunnymen #Delta5 #SteelPulse #SimpleMinds #TeardropExplodes #OMD #Modettes #petewylie #WahHeat