Tears For Fears - The Tipping Point

  by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 12 / 4 / 2022

---

Tears For Fears could have played the nostalgia card on 'The Tipping Point', their first album in eighteen years. As stalwarts of the 1980s pop scene, it would have been so easy for them to just “re-imagine” some of their old songs like 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' or 'Shout”'and then follow-up with a legacy tour. But Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith who were always the nucleus of the group have never wanted to see themselves defined by a particular era or decade. They have shunned the heritage circuit – and the quality of tracks on 'The Tipping Point' vindicates this decision. The new release shows why so many more recent cutting-edge acts (like The Weeknd or Drake and Lorde) have covered or sampled Tears For Fears' music. Orzabel and Smith, both now sixty and from Bath, Somerset originally, have not had an easy time of late. Previous attempts at modernising their sound and involving younger musicians didn't work out and Roland has had to contend with losing his wife Caroline who died in 2017 after a long illness. The title track and the heart-wrenching 'Please Be Happy' were written by Roland as he watched his wife's condition worsen. It would be hard not to be moved by the raw emotion flowing from his deep anguish. But 'The Tipping Point' is far from a gloomy record. There are ambitious arrangements and catchy choruses from guitarist Roland and bassist Curt and both of them sing and play keyboards to great effect. Whilst Tears For Fears songs in the 1980s were usually either sombre electronic numbers like 'Mad World' or big, powerful songs like 'The Seeds Of Love', the new album's opener 'No Small Thing' is neither.....with lines like “Take a trip to America/Let the wind blow right through your hair..” it is joyous and harks right back to 1970s-style folk-rock. The title track addresses the fragility of life against a rhythmic backdrop that will remind fans of the synth-driven shuffle of 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World'. It is a classic Tears For Fears mix of emotional heft and pop accessibility. 'Rivers of Mercy' with its police siren and the sound of an exploding tear gas cannister, is a very polite protest song whilst 'Master Plan' is a melodic dig at a former manager and 'Break The Man' addresses sexual inequality. Wolverhampton vocalist Carina Round guests on 'Long, Long, Long Time' and her beautiful harmonies add fresh layers to the duo's vocals. Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith say they have spent seven years getting 'The Tipping Point' just right. It was worth it....the new album is really very good.

Track Listing:-

1 No Small Thing
2 The Tipping Point
3 Long, Long, Long Time
4 Break The Man
5 My Demons
6 Rivers Of Mercy
7 Please Be Happy
8 Master Plan
9 End Of Night
10 Stay

Band Links:-

https://tearsforfears.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TearsForFears
https://twitter.com/tearsforfears

Label Links:-

http://www.umusic.co.uk/
http://www.universalmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/UniversalMusicGroup
https://twitter.com/umg

Play in YouTube:-

Have a Listen:-

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg