Tears For Fears
The Tipping Point
Concord
Listen Below
Intimacy and reflection have always been at the heart of Tears For Fears’ music. Global smashes like “Shout,” “Mad World” and “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” all felt like they were speaking one on one (or should that be two on one) to the listener. A private conversation shared by millions.
That same sense of connection is present throughout their latest release The Tipping Point, which finds them reunited and releasing new music after a whopping 18-year hiatus following their last release Everyone Loves a Happy Ending (2004).
Those ensuing 18 years have seen stints of acrimony, isolation, death of loved ones, regret and repair. And all those notes are embedded in this new offering. From the titular track that is awash in bereavement and the lamenting wishes of the afterlife in “Please Be Happy,” there’s a beautiful melancholy at play that provides comfort and hope, cutting a way through the pain and suffering.
Lush production abounds on tracks like the folksy “No Small Thing” and the swirling “Long, Long, Long Time,” and whether dazzling in the pristine post-pop melodies of “Break The Man” or the pulsing vibrations of “My Demons,” the album unfurls with a measured form of allure.
The highpoints are the unmistakable ambitiousness of the upbeat “End Of Night” that blends classic Tears For Fears themes and sounds with the rich blending of harmonies. The floating “Rivers Of Mercy” soothes and calms against the hurting of modern life, while the lilting optimism of “Stay” is filled with so much promise that it alludes to more of an ellipsis than a full stop on this chapter in their illustrious career.
The Tipping Point is an album that takes a few listens to really discover all the hidden gems it contains. It may be sparse on the straight-up hits that many fans may be hoping for or even hanging onto. But that sparseness doesn’t make it any less worthy of delving into. In totality, The Tipping Point is a warm and welcome return to stir the bittersweet emotions in us all.
Notable Tracks: “Break The Man” | “Long, Long, Long Time” | “Please Be Happy” | “Rivers Of Mercy”
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