nme singles
17 august 2002
The latest series of excursions in musical wonderment from the multi-talented Tim Closs involves the shambling approach, the lyrical
panache and the gift of melody of an electro Damon Gough. A Badly Rendered Boy, if you will. Four tracks of loneliness and aimlessness,
from the sparse ('My Strange Love') to the sweepingly orchestral ('You'll Know A Good Thing When It's Gone); if robots ever fell in love
(which the bastards never do) it would sound like this.
www.atomicduster.com
august 2002
nick james
A year since the release of their debut album "Half Life", Tears In X-Ray Eyes release 4 new tracks in the form of the "My Strange Love"
ep. The brainchild of singer/songwrite/producer/multi-instrumentalist Tim Closs takes lyrical influence from the more poetic artists of
yesteryear, such as Morrissey, and the lovelorn musical style has been hailed by papers such as the NME in a remarkably short space of
time.
T: It's a refreshing thought when you realise that there is a resurgence of artists at the moment who consider lyrics to be one of the
most fundamental parts of good songwriting. Having to put up with the bile that is hyped chartwards such as Liberty X, Westshite, Blue,
Nelly et al, it makes listening to artists such as Tears In X-Ray Eyes an even more exhilarating experience.
N: Tim's ethic is one of a singer/songwriter who refuses to be drawn into any idea of a "new movement" of artists of this nature. Not
treading water, as he sees many of his contemporaries doing, his DIY approach to the production of his music shines through on this very
original of musical offerings.
T: Bugger. I thought we were going to get through an entire issue without using the word "contemporaries" for a change. Anyway, the
single gets better and better with each play. 9/10
jewish chronicle
6 september 2002
don carnell
Every once in a while a band comes along who convince that rock’s tired old template still has a bit of life left in it.
The wonderfully named, North London-based Tears In X-Ray Eyes are such an outfit. Their 'My Strange Love' (Test Tube) takes the best
bits of electro-pop, some unashamed soul-searching, and the finest clutch of bitter-sweet romance-drenched lyrics since Lou Reed bared
his heart on 'Pale Blue Eyes' and wraps the lot in a Phil Spector-like sheen to create something genuinely affecting. You must buy
this record.
www.losingtoday.com
march 2003
mark
Lovers of sensitively erudite pop will surely succumb to this refreshingly ache-ridden brand of awe struck tuneage.
Essentially the work of Tim Closs, from his London bedroom he weaves tiny melodic treasures that weep in sympathetic procession to the
faraway longing of the lyrical tales unwrapped within. Teasingly dramatic and at times masterfully epic on a wide screen plateau as
evidenced by the final track ‘You’ll know a good thing (when it’s gone). Oft compared as the electronic equivalent of Badly Drawn Boy,
on the lead track ‘My strange love’ there’s a softened sensitivity that belies a trace of Paddy McAloon, lovelorn vocals romance
tenderly with the soft as marshmallows dream like melodic undercurrents. Personally my favourite is ‘Who’s gonna hurt you now?’ tear
jerking stuff that literally pulls your heart to pieces.
tasty fanzine
issue 17 august 2002
sam metcalf
My admiration for Tim Closs and his close associates knows no bounds, and if it were possible, this beautiful ep is an improvement on last
years' album. "My Strange Love" ep contains four more spine-tingling hymns - the best of which, "Who's Gonna Hurt You Now?" sounds like
Brett Anderson fronting Spiritualized. My word this is very, very, very good.