THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP – Love You More (2026, LP/CD, Rise Above Records) 

RELEASE INFO:

Label: Rise Above Records

Format: LP, Album, Limited Edition, Clear Vinyl, Diehard, 100 copies (Mailorder Only)

Format: LP, Album, Limited Edition, Turquoise Vinyl, 400 copies 

Format: CD, Album

Release Date: 2 Oct 2026

THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP have clearly decided that one trip into the psychedelic past was nowhere near enough. Formed in Stoke-on-Trent in 2023, this five-piece quickly established their own little time machine, built from jangling guitars, fuzz, Hammond organ, electric sitar, folk-rock harmonies, and that unmistakable late-60s psychedelic spirit. Their debut, “The Crystal Teardrop… Is Forming” [REVIEW], released in May 2025 through Popclaw/Rise Above Records, introduced a band deeply connected to the sounds and aesthetics of the era, while bringing enough fresh energy to keep the whole thing alive in the present.

Now, barely a year later, Alexandra Rose (guitar, mandola, vocals), Leon Jones (lead guitar, electric sitar), Stuart Gray (organ), Ed Quigley (bass, vocals) and Huw Woodward (drums) return with “Love You More”, once again through Rise Above’s Popclaw imprint. Their musical compass still points firmly towards the psychedelic 1960s — The Beatles, The Byrds, Love, Jefferson Airplane, The Great Society, The Leaves and the Peanut Butter Conspiracy — with a little Paisley Underground shimmer and even some contemporary echoes from bands such as The Lemon Twigs and Temples. Yet this time the five musicians sound even more like a unit, something that can hardly be surprising after extensive touring across the UK and Europe, including sharing the stage with Love featuring Johnny Echols.

There is also a wonderfully old-fashioned philosophy behind the recording itself: “Love You More” was recorded live in the studio, with as little overdubbing as possible, using vintage instruments and techniques alongside tanpura and swarmandal, allowing their fascination with raga rock and Eastern instrumentation to seep further into the arrangements. The result is another colourful meeting point between garage, folk-rock, psychedelic pop and the West Coast tradition — but with harder edges and darker lyrical corners beneath the sunshine.

“Love You More” contains 12 tracks, clock-ticking from 2:14 to 7:02. “Love You More” opens the album with that remarkable sound The Crystal Teardrop have already re-imagined on their previous LP, and for those new to the band, we are talking about a magical, totally 60s-inspired, sunny West Coast, late-60s L.A.-flavoured jangly psychedelic-pop sound! The band is tight from the very first notes, creating a groove-a-delic, psych-a-flirting anthem, while Alexandra’s vocals dominate the whole scenery. “Tomorrow Starts Today” moves into a slightly different direction, building an amazing Psych Folk-Rock atmosphere with a touch of Garage, while the ghost of The Byrds seems to be flying all over the track. “Times Are Gone” keeps the California connection alive through a mid-tempo arrangement and that characteristic Rickenbacker sound — my own way of describing that beautiful West Coast guitar jangle — while the distinctive flute appearing towards the end adds a dreamy, almost nostalgic flavour. “Outside Looking In” continues through the same sunny scenery and familiar vibes, perhaps with an even more summery feeling, giving the musicians plenty of space to show their tight playing and natural chemistry. Then comes “It’s Too Late” (released as a limited edition 7-inch vinyl Single, 10 Apr 2026/Popclaw Records, backed by The Eyes’ “I’m Rowed Out”), and suddenly the temperature rises: this is powerful Garage-Rock, a proper live-on-stage burner that could easily find a place on a wild “Girls in the Garage” compilation. “Circumstances” begins with what sounds like a sitar-laced introduction and immediately transports us somewhere around Laurel Canyon, circa 1967, creating a dreamy and wonderfully cool soundscape with a strange 80s aura hanging in the background. Imagine The Leaves with Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles stepping up to the microphone, and you are somewhere close to the feeling; as the track progresses, hazy backwards electric guitar sounds slowly drag the whole thing deeper into Psychedelia. 

“If I’m Right” returns to another cool, mid-tempo electrical jangly-psych-pop groove, carrying a lovely romantic melody and that nostalgic atmosphere which seems to be one of The Crystal Teardrop’s strongest weapons. “Room Without A View” cleverly blends sunny 60s Popsike with a touch of the cool 80s Paisley Underground, while the wonderfully warm organ solo towards the end adds another beautiful colour to the arrangement. “What It Adds Up To” comes in heavier, without ever abandoning the unmistakable Crystal Teardrop trademark sound, and this is another potential stage-burner; somehow I can easily imagine this one having been a hit back then in the hands of The Pleasure Seekers! “The Thoughts You’re Thinking” keeps things uplifting, combining Folk and Rock through an unmistakably 60s-inspired approach, with excellent musicianship and some really cool orchestration holding everything together. Then we reach “The Eleventh Hour”, and here we have another absolute highlight of the album! The Garage attitude is astonishing, the energy is immediate and infectious, and once again I can hear this one screaming for inclusion on a “Girls in the Garage” compilation — FANTASTIC! Finally, “Touch The Sun” takes us on the longest and most adventurous journey of the whole LP. Just as they did with the closing track of their previous album, The Crystal Teardrop once again leave the familiar song-oriented scenery behind and dive headfirst into Psychedelia, but this time the journey is not instrumental. Sitar-laced, organic and enchanted, it unfolds as a pure LSD-flirting neo-psychedelic trip, with mind-bending electric guitar sounds constantly twisting the scenery. Somewhere in the middle, the band suddenly dives into a rhythmic Anatolian lysergic Psych soundscape, opening the track even further and pushing it into genuinely mind-expanding territory. This is the kind of music where you can really lose your head for a while — and I can only imagine what this monster could do when played live, with the volume turned up and the lights down, freeing the mind and making the body feel ready to levitate. 

With “Love You More”, The Crystal Teardrop have taken the beautiful psychedelic-pop formula of their debut and allowed it to breathe a little wider. The sunny West Coast jangle, 60s harmonies and vintage atmosphere are still very much at the heart of their sound, but this time there is more Garage attitude, more Paisley Underground colour. “Love You More” is a beautiful second trip, with plenty of sunshine, fuzz, jangling guitars and a few seriously lysergic surprises along the way. The first crystal has formed; now it is beginning to refract a lot more light… Dig! TimeLord Michalis

Tracklist

Links

Listen through THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP Bandcamp

Get it via RISE ABOVE RECORDS Web

Visit THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP Facebook