"20 Mothers" is the twelfth solo album by Julian Cope, released in August 1995 by Echo. The album’s subtitle is "Better to Light a Candle Than to Curse the Darkness."
Critics generally received the album positively, and it reached number 20 on the UK Albums Chart. 20 Mothers revisits many of Cope's familiar lyrical themes while also delving into more personal and reflective material about his family. Cope described the album as comprising "love songs and devotional songs," with a diverse range of styles including "pagan rock 'n' roll," "sci-fi pop," and "bubblegum trance music."
The main collaborators on the album include keyboard player and string arranger Thighpaulsandra, drummer Rooster Cosby, and guitarist Michael "Moon-Eye" Watts, who replaced multi-instrumentalist Donald Ross Skinner. Skinner contributed omnichord on a few tracks but was not as involved in the album’s production. The album also features contributions from bassist James Eller and producer Ed Stasium. The single "Try, Try, Try," which preceded the album, reached number 24 on the UK Singles Chart.
