Tear of a doll
Encyclopedia
Tear of a Doll, previously called "Tears of a Doll" (also known as T.O.D.) is a musical group from Paris
, France
which started as a hardcore punk
band and later blended the speed and energy of that style with more complex structures inherited from the experiments of 1970s progressive rock
, 1990s noise
rock or math rock
and even non-western traditional music. Tear of a Doll also features female vocals sung in various languages (mainly English, but also Japanese, German, French and Hungarian).
, France
, in October 1982, as a sequel to Heimat-los
(an influential Hardcore punk
from the 80s): It was founded by three members of that band. Originally they spelled their name with an "S".
Their name was chosen as opposite of the typical Hardcore punk band names, and also in reference to a style of Hardcore that had originated in Washington, D.C. and that would be later called "emo".
) and their second guitarist (Nydeu, ex. Kromozom 4) and got a new drummer (the third one), they took the opportunity to radically change their sound. From then on they created a new repertoire showing obvious influences of Victims Family and NoMeansNo
but with a very personal touch. Astrid Orion (female vocalist) joined the band around that time.
The most representative recording of Tear of a Doll is a full-length untitled album recorded in 1996 on which wild hardcore punk songs are interspersed with more experimental songs that some would label avant-garde rock.
Since the end of 1996 guitarist and founding member François L'Homer has spent more time in Myanmar
than in France. During this time the band has been almost inactive, only playing at Trans-Musicales (1997), a festival in Rennes
, France
and occasionally releasing a few songs on compilations.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
which started as a hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band and later blended the speed and energy of that style with more complex structures inherited from the experiments of 1970s progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, 1990s noise
Noise
In common use, the word noise means any unwanted sound. In both analog and digital electronics, noise is random unwanted perturbation to a wanted signal; it is called noise as a generalisation of the acoustic noise heard when listening to a weak radio transmission with significant electrical noise...
rock or math rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
and even non-western traditional music. Tear of a Doll also features female vocals sung in various languages (mainly English, but also Japanese, German, French and Hungarian).
Early history 1988-1992
Tears of a Doll started in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in October 1982, as a sequel to Heimat-los
Heimat-Los
Heimat-Los was an influential hardcore punk band from France .-Origin:Heimet-los was formed on October 29, 1983. The band was formed through a magazine ad. The name comes from the German word Heimat, meaning 'fatherland', combined with the suffix '-los', meaning 'without'.Their first E.P. was...
(an influential Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
from the 80s): It was founded by three members of that band. Originally they spelled their name with an "S".
Their name was chosen as opposite of the typical Hardcore punk band names, and also in reference to a style of Hardcore that had originated in Washington, D.C. and that would be later called "emo".
Later history 1992-...
After they lost their original singer (Norbert from Heimat-losHeimat-Los
Heimat-Los was an influential hardcore punk band from France .-Origin:Heimet-los was formed on October 29, 1983. The band was formed through a magazine ad. The name comes from the German word Heimat, meaning 'fatherland', combined with the suffix '-los', meaning 'without'.Their first E.P. was...
) and their second guitarist (Nydeu, ex. Kromozom 4) and got a new drummer (the third one), they took the opportunity to radically change their sound. From then on they created a new repertoire showing obvious influences of Victims Family and NoMeansNo
Nomeansno
NoMeansNo is a Canadian progressive punk rock music group originally from Victoria, British Columbia and now located in Vancouver.The band has never had, nor have they seemed to pursue, strong mainstream success, but they do have a devoted underground following in North America and Europe...
but with a very personal touch. Astrid Orion (female vocalist) joined the band around that time.
The most representative recording of Tear of a Doll is a full-length untitled album recorded in 1996 on which wild hardcore punk songs are interspersed with more experimental songs that some would label avant-garde rock.
Since the end of 1996 guitarist and founding member François L'Homer has spent more time in Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
than in France. During this time the band has been almost inactive, only playing at Trans-Musicales (1997), a festival in Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and occasionally releasing a few songs on compilations.
With Norbert on vocals (up to 1992)
- Ca y est t'es réveillé? cassette (2nd demo tape), 1990
- Various artists "Euro punk domain" LP, Black Hand (Czech Republic), 1991
- Various artists "Don't forget the punks of BangkokBangkokBangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
" 12"EP (USA) 1991 - Tears of a Doll" (untilted) EP, Alternativnoise (France), 1992
- Various artists "Art primitif", On a faim (France)
With Astrid Orion on vocals (from 1992 on)
- La fille aux allumettes cassette, 1993
- Une araignée dans le plafond cassette, 1994
- Tear of a Doll" (untilted) CD, Pandemonium & Dodoll (France), 1996
- Various artists "La colère" Angrrr (France), 1997
- Various artists Bars en trans 97", 1997
- Various artists 5 years of Pandemonium", Pandemonium (France),1998
- Various artists Allez les filles!", Rock Hardi
- "Erase-yer-head #9" split EP with Melt Banana, God is My Co-PilotGod Is My Co-Pilot (band)God Is My Co-Pilot is a queercore band from New York City that's been recording and playing music since 1991. The two main members of God is My Co-Pilot are vocalist Sharon Topper and guitarist Craig Flanagin...
& Camp Blackfoot, Pandemonium, 1999 - Various artists International Punk Boxset" (10 CD in a metal box), Canada, 2002
- Various artists Une autre vision des choses" (Re)Aktion (France)
- Various artists Hangover heartattack (a tribute to Poison IdeaPoison IdeaPoison Idea was an American hardcore punk band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1980. The band originally dissolved in 1993, but has been playing intermittently since 1998.-Formation, 1980's and 90's:...
)", Farewell, Network of Friends (Germany) & Ataque Sonoro (Portugal), 2003