Julian Cope - World Shut Your Mouth

Originally issued in 1984, World Shut Your Mouth saw the mercurial leader of The Teardrop Explodes establish himself as a fully-fledged solo artist - Never re-pressed in its original format, this re-issue faithfully replicates the original 1984 Mercury Records UK release and is pressed onto high quality 180g vinyl.

When The Teardrop Explodes finally ground to a halt in late 1982, all eyes were on what leader Julian Cope would do next. After retreating to the village of Drayton Bassett in Staffordshire for an extended period, Cope began writing World Shut Your Mouth, his first solo album.

Released in March 1984, it is the closest to his old band of all his solo work (Metranil Vavin and Pussyface were both originally intended for the Teardrops), World Shut Your Mouth featured Gary Dwyer on drums, and giving the album its most distinctive sound, Kate St. John on oboe. Beautifully pastoral, it is full of highlights such as Strasbourg, Kolly Kibber's Birthday and the wistful, reflective Head Hang Low. The strange, string-led, schizophrenic, Sunshine Playroom was the album's first single, followed up by 'radio hit' Greatness And Perfection.

World Shut Your Mouth is a deeply satisfying album, worthy of reappraisal.