Tear Garden - Definition and Overview

The Tear Garden is a psychedelic pop group, formed by Edward Ka-Spel of Legendary Pink Dots and cEvin Key of Skinny Puppy in 1985 after Key served Ka-Spel on tour in Canada as a sound engineer. The Tear Garden was released that same year, with Dave Ogilvie producing.

The group reconvened in 1987 to release Tired Eyes Slowly Burning to a limited degree of success. Their output since has been sporadic, 1992 saw full-length album Last Man to Fly. Another EP, Sheila Liked The Rodeo, much of which was live studio improvisation was accompanied by a video of the title track in 1993. At this point Skinny Puppy began recording the ill-fated The Process, a project which lasted until the end of 1995 and finished with vocalist Nivek Ogre leaving the band and keyboardist Dwayne Goettel dying of a heroin overdose.

With his primary commitment over, Key and The Tear Garden released To Be an Angel Blind, The Crippled Soul Divide in 1996, followed by Crystal Mass in 2000. Crystal Mass marked a departure for the group, with more focus seemingly directed toward sound and production than the traditional staple, the lyrics. In 2002 a limited edition compilation of previously unreleased songs, Eye Spy With My Little Eye came out on Key's Subconscious Communications label. A best of, For Those Who Walk With The Gods is also available.

Despite being together since 1985, The Tear Garden are still yet to perform live, a detail that has limited their commercial potential. In late 2003 Key hinted in an online chat that new The Tear Garden is being worked on. At this stage it appears this won't see the light of day until 2005 at the earliest.

Discography

• The Tear Garden (1985)
• Tired Eyes Slowly Burning (1987)
• Last Man to Fly (1992)
• Sheila Liked The Rodeo (1993)
• A Bouquet of Black Orchids (1993)
• To Be an Angel Blind, The Crippled Soul Divide (1996)
• Crystal Mass (2000)
• For Those Who Walk With The Gods (2001)
• Eye Spy With My Little Eye (2002)

External links

• Official The Tear Garden Website (http://www.mantramedia.net/theteargarden/)
• Subconscious Communications (http://www.subconsciousstudios.com)