Melodic and moody, these 1984-era New Yorkers sought to blend their roots in Ramones-style punk-pop, with the chiming open-chord drones of early R.E.M. (obvious in the chugging gem "Tales from the Cave") and the rainy-day English post-punk of the Cure and Bunnymen. "Fall and Hide" featured an atmospheric groove building to a memorably anthemic chorus, "Bed of Sand" reflected the band's interest in "Nuggets"-style psych-pop, while the rush of ringing chords in "Silence" underpinned the lyrics' powerful tale of paranoia. The Cave's absurd, experimental side came briefly to the fore on their weird tape-loop monstrosity "What About the Bat?"