By the time World Shut Your Mouth, Cope's solo debut, was released in 1984 the Teardrop Explodes had only just disbanded. Cope by this time had a considerable reputation as being a drug fiend and borderline lunatic, but he knew how to use these qualities to his advantage, both musically and in terms of PR. Cope knowingly launches himself into an ethereal world, at times wistful, at times angst ridden inspired psych influenced space pop.