Published on Jun 16, 2004
“When most of these songs were written, I’d spend the morning in
my lawyer’s office, trying to sort out stuff with Curt
[then-recently departed Tears For Fears co-founder Curt Smith]. And
then I’d go start writing with Al [producer Alan Griffiths]” is how
co-founder and lead vocalist Roland Orzabal describes the way he
went about creating
Elemental. Well, this had to have some influence on the
album, and it has. Ever so occasionally, Roland’s state of mind
surfaces in the songs in ambiguous forms, leaving the songs open to
one’s own interpretations of what they mean.
Elemental finds the band (or Roland) in a more agitated
state of mind that in most of the other ‘Tears For Fears’ (TFF)
records. “Cold, been excommunicated cos I am cold; my temperature’s
been rated and I am cold; bring to me my big old sweater, nothing
more will make me better” choruses Roland on the frigid “Cold.”
Roland’s discomfort comes up again in the single “Break It Down
Again,” but this time, in a more positive, more hopeful manner, as
he sings of the ‘the beauty of decay’ (his loss), the fact that
things fall apart, but one can find something new, something
positive from it — as he puts it in his own words, “There’s an
optimism in that breaking down, that breaking up like a phoenix
rising from the ashes.”
Roland’s bluntness is revived in its most seething form, in the
most powerful song in
Elemental, “Fish Out Of Water,” which probably Roland
must’ve written immediately after his split-up fight with Curt. The
band has never been so clear, at the same time so charging while
speaking out its state of mind.
Roland’s state of mind, and the change in his outlook has
brought out a new feel, a new sound in the band. TFF is no longer
about beautiful singles and clean-cut amiability. The disturbance
in Roland’s mind has resulted in an experimental and unconventional
sound in the band. This is a rock album of variegated soundscapes,
which are as abstruse as are interesting. It begins with the rather
spaced-out title song, followed by “Cold” and “Break It Down
Again,” back-to-back radio-wonders.
The songs that follow are what make this album a really
experimental one. “Mr. Pessimist” is probably the most messed up
and complicated TFF number ever. It is also one that shows off the
band’s unique musical craftsmanship. “Dog’s A Best Friend’s Dog”
and “Fish Out Of Water” (along with “Tears Roll Down”) are probably
the band’s only true ‘rock’ songs.
The album then takes a mindless trip into space (sometimes
earthly, sometimes galactic), which seems incomprehensible as well
as charming. The vague structure of “Gas Giants” or the
simplistically vague nature of “Power” or the vague sweetness of
“Brian Wilson Said,” find TFF at an experimental peak of such
caliber, that I wonder whether the band can ever repeat the same
again.
Just when one feels that all is forgiven and forgotten with
“Goodnight Song,” disguised in all its heavenliness and
well-mannered warmth, Roland sings “…and the sounds we are
making are so uninspired…goodnight song played so wrong
blame the crowd, they scream so loud so long,” probably reflecting
the older TFF that was in turmoil, that existed before the split,
or possibly just mocking meaningless “popular” music. Let us just
leave it to the crowd to decide.
Elemental is a different TFF record. More than the fact of
it being the first one without Curt, it sees TFF take a different
direction, take a different perspective on matters that hurt it
most. There is a feeling of being let down and being betrayed, but
the album retorts with sarcasm and positivism; it sees the
constructiveness that comes hidden with destruction. It is all
about change for the better, and this metamorphosis is
inspiring.