"Wilder" is the second and final completed album released by the neo-psychedelic Liverpool band the Teardrop Explodes. The album marked a significant shift in the band's sound, featuring more experimental approaches to songwriting, largely influenced by the turbulent period in the band's career that followed the success of their debut album *Kilimanjaro*. This included several line-up changes and a fraught, drug-fueled American tour. In 2000, former Teardrop Explodes leader Julian Cope gave his approval for a re-release of *Wilder*, which included a remastered sound, bonus tracks (mainly single B-sides), original artwork, full lyrics, and essays.
The album was recorded during a period of transition for the group. Julian Cope, the band's leader and principal songwriter, began exploring new approaches to his music, incorporating more synthesizer arrangements and loop experiments than on *Kilimanjaro*. These changes were driven in large part by keyboard player David Balfe, who became Cope's principal creative collaborator during the recording. Cope himself moved away from his previous role as the band's bass player, with session bassist James Eller filling that position on many tracks. Cope also took on guitar duties alongside guitarist Troy Tate and experimented with piano and organ.
Musically, *Wilder* diverged from the more straightforward West Coast/beat group sound of *Kilimanjaro*, resulting in a far more eclectic and experimental album. Some tracks featured little or no guitar, while others avoided a traditional drum kit. Cope's vocals were sometimes set against solo synthesizers, contributing to the album's downbeat and troubled atmosphere. One of the few tracks that retained the band's original sound was "Passionate Friend", which was released as a single and remains the only track to feature the band's U.S. touring members Alfie Agius and Jeff Hammer.
Despite these experimental strides and a more diverse range of musical styles, the album was not a commercial success. While "Passionate Friend" charted reasonably well, *Wilder* did not perform as strongly as *Kilimanjaro*. The band released one final EP, "You Disappear From View", which was included in the 2000 reissue of *Wilder*. The EP had been previously released on *Everybody Wants To Shag ... The Teardrop Explodes*, a posthumous collection of demos and tracks recorded after *Wilder*.
