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Nei meravigliosi Anni ’70 esce un disco vivo ed originale che titola “Catch Bull At Four” , frutto del lavoro e della rinnovata riflessione di un artista geniale e generoso come Cat Stevens.
Cat Stevens mi ha sempre attratto per il gusto della ricerca che ha saputo trasporre in musica e parole. Altre ricerche per altri grandi, ma mai nessuno come lui, nessuno con la capacità di rimettere in gioco la vita tutta, di seguire veramente l’arida via della propria spiritualità, ponendosi certi interrogativi nel tentativo incessante di migliorarsi come uomo prima che come artista. Animo irrequieto, Stevens, si stancò in fretta della fama da Pop Star e dei brani troppo disimpegnati che lo portarono alla ribalta, trasformandosi nel tempo in Autore capace di utilizzare con sapienza la propria arte per riflettere e raccontare il personale cammino spirituale, facendo della propria musica la ricerca incessante di una casa, di un luogo dell’Anima, di una adeguata spiritualità, tanto da determinare la morte e la scomparsa di un personaggio e di uno stile e la nota rinascita nelle vesti sacre di Yusuf Islam.
Nel 1972 esce “Catch Bull At Four”, con questo disco Cat Stevens mette una pietra sopra la precedente produzione dando vita ad un percorso di ricerca spirituale in musica. Un disco che nei suoi tratti irrequieti e marcatamente multiculturali esprime il senso della profonda ricerca, la commistione tra stili, religioni, culture e stati d’animo. Le canzoni si fanno più difficili e tortuose, ma vive ed intense, rassomigliando sempre più al percorso di ogni Uomo verso la Verità. L’apparato sonoro in quest’opera è scarno, così per le cose semplici tra le quali l’animo può elevarsi libero dai legami terreni. La voce è espressione di vigoria e di fragore, strumento di un uomo ispirato e desideroso di guardare oltre con occhi nuovi. La scrittura è vivace e altera. Introspezione, riflessione e comunicazione si uniscono nel disco che diviene ad un tempo meditativo ed energetico, volto ad aprire molti interrogativi senza chiudere risposta alcuna, ma che pur nella sua transitorietà, nel suo essere tappa di un percorso ben più alto, esprime un fascino evidente ed un messaggio limpido.
E’ proprio la prima, una canzone che parla in qualche misura di Conversione. In “Sitting” Stevens canta con grande forza la vita che cambia e apre a nuovi interrogativi.. un brano eversivo pregno delle atmosfere di quegli anni aperti e grigi, un brano sfrontato in cui ancora il “risveglio” viene attribuito al celeste intervento di generici astri..
“Oh I’m on my way I know I am, but times there were when I thought not, bleeding half my self in bad company, I thank the moon I had the strength to stop..”
“The Boy With A Moon And Star On His Head” è una sorta di parabola, una rivisitazione a tinte orientali del presepe, che riflette sul concetto dell’Amore .. Siamo catapultati in un villaggio d’oriente nel quale la nascita di un bimbo con la luna e la stella sulla testa scuote le consuetudini..
“I got down on my knees and kissed the moon and star on his head. As years went by the boy grew high and the village looked on in awe, They’d never seen anything like the boy with the moon and star before. And the people would ride from far and wide just to seek the world he spread. I’ll tell you everything I’ve learned, and Love is all.. he said”
Ed eccoci davanti ad un’alba marina, una sirena “emerge dalle acque, viene verso di noi, lasciando diamanti sulla baia”, Steven con un uso gioiso delle chitarre e dei cori fa un ritratto ideale ed espressionista della femminilità, una dichiarazione d’amore libera, di grande respiro, anche grazie alla sua eminente poesia..
“Her clothes are made of rainbows and twenty thousand tears, shine through the spaces of her golden ochre hair [..]She ripples on the waters, leaves diamonds on the shore and fish from every distance, watch her ocean cellar door, Her breathe a warm fire in every lover’s heart, a mistress to magicians and a dancer to the Gods”
“Silent Sunlight” raccoglie l’avvento della riflessione spirituale di Stevens che unisce in una canzone concetti cari a diverse filosofie e religioni quali, dal lavoro come preghiera, alla speranza, fino al trascendimento delle cose terrene.
“Don’t ever look behind at the work you’ve done, for your works has just begun, there’ll be the evening in the end, but till the time arrives, you can rest your eyes and begin again..”
“Can’t Keep It In”, questo prorompente inno alla vita esprime al meglio l’anima comunicativa ed energetica di questo lavoro, nel quale Stevens manifesta una speranza universale ed il necessario bisogno di esprimerla..
“Oh I can’t keep it in, I’ve gotta let it out, I’ve got to show the world, world’s got to see, see all the love, love that’s in me, I said why walk alone, why worry when it’s warm over here. You’ve got so much to say, say what you mean, mean what you’re thinkin’ and think anything. Oh, why must you waste your life away? ”
“18th Avenue”, è l’incubo suburbano che non ti aspettersti in un disco del genere. Stevens da prova d’eccellente vena compositiva, concentrando in 4 minuti atmosfere altere e raffinati cambi di ritmo, si parte in sordina..
“Oh the path was dark and borderless down the road of the eighteenth avenue and I stung my tongue to repeat the words that I used to use only yesterday, meanings just dropped to the ground, I try to remember what I though and what I used to say. Don’t let me go down! No don’t let me go.. Oh my hands were tied as I struggle inside the empty waste of another day..”
In “Freezing Steel”, compare il primo ed unico graffito elettrico di tutto il disco, rock intenso e strampalato dove non mancano riferimenti alla trascendenza e alla vacuità delle cose..
“They tied my body up, I’m force to eat my meal, a cold plate of lamb and cold potatoes too, now what’s a soul to do, brother won’t you tell me is this a eucharistic dove?”
"O’Caritas", speranza e distruzione, la prima per combattere la seconda, entrambe nelle mani dell’uomo ed una missione inalienabile per l’umanità. Cat sceglie di cantare in latino a favorire il tono d’apocalisse e l’eminenza, finisce, poi, col rendere chiaro a chiunque il messaggio tramite l’anglosassone idioma. E’ la prima di due perle apocalittiche..
“I don’t want to lose the harmony of the universe I see all the things burning, I hear men shouting [..] I don’t want to lost it here in my time, give me time forever here in my time..”
"Sweet Scarlet", canzone dell’amor perduto e dall’atmosfera Hippies, con dolci note e una voce flebile ma quanto mai espressiva.. Si prova gusto nel mordere un lampone in un mattino fresco d’estate..
“Once she came into my room [..] Two eyes like lights, milky marble whites lookin’ up at me, looking for a way, moons in an endless day. All I knew was with her then, no couldn’t see the time, as we drank down the wine to the last Sweet scarlet. Every bottles is empty now and all those dreams are gone.. ah, but the song carries on… so holy..”
"Ruins", il lavoro è concluso da un secondo brano di connotazione apocalittica ed ancora una volta la speranza e l’“Umanità” sono le uniche chiavi per riscattare la disperante strada verso cui ci siamo incamminati..
“Stole away the land, people runnin’ scared, losing hands, dodging shadows of falling sand, buidings standings like empty shells and nobody… helping no one else […] People needing more and more it’s all getting lost, I went back, back to the time when the earth was green and there was no high walls and sea was clean ”
In definitiva imbattersi d’improvviso in questo disco disorienta, confonde e in breve tempo affascina e ripaga della pazienza prestata. Come un mosaico romanico, “Catch Bull At Four” necessita della giusta distanza per essere osservato, dal principio vedremo tasselli incoerenti e di varia mineralità, stracci indiani e pareti arabesche, freddezze anglosassoni e tappeti di Persia, colonne doriche e vini francesi, quasi fossimo finiti in un disco del buon Vinicio. Ma lentamente prendendone più ampia visione, creandone un armonico quadro d’insieme, si presenta a noi un affresco d’apocalisse incompiuta ed evitabile avendo maggior cura e interesse nei riguardi della nostra spiritualità, del nostro essere Uomini, di gioire nella possibilità del redimersi. Contradditorio, istrionico e insufficiente, questo disco, oltre a donarci tre quarti d’ora di musica d’Autore, potrebbe aprire una porta e divenire utile spunto nella riflessione, probabilmente come utile fu per il suo stesso autore.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Sitting (03:15)
from the album titled
Catch Bull at Four
Oh I'm on my way, I know I am, somewhere not so far
from here
All I know is all I feel right now, I feel the power growing
in my hair
Sitting on my own not by myself, everybody's here with me
I don't need to touch your face to know, and I don't need to
use my eyes to see
I keep on wondering if I sleep too long, will I always wake
up the same (or so)?
And keep on wondering if I sleep too long, will I even wake up
again or something
Oh I'm on my way I know I am, but times there were when
I thought not
Bleeding half my soul in bad company, I thank the moon I
had the strength to stop
I'm not making love to anyone's wishes, only for that light I see
'Cause when I'm dead and lowered low in my grave, that's gonna
be the only thing that's left of me
And if I make it to the waterside, will I even find me a boat
(or so)?
And if I make it to the waterside, I'll be sure to write you
not or something
Oh I'm on my way, I know I am, somewhere not so far
from here
All I know is all I feel right now, I feel the power growing
in my hair
Oh life is like a maze of doors and they all open from the
side you're on
Just keep on pushing hard boy, try as you may
You're going to wind up where you started from
You're going to wind up where you started from
03 Angelsea (04:30)
She moves like and angel
And seven evening stars
Dance through the window
Of her universal house
Of her universal house
Her voice a crystal echo
Lies humming in your soul
So patiently awaiting
For your ears to behold
For your ears to behold
She ripples on the water
Leaves diamonds on the shore
And fish from every distance
Watch her ocean cellar door
Her breath a warm fire
In every lovers heart
A mistress to magicians
And a dancer to the gods
And a dancer to the gods
Her clothes are made of rainbows
And twenty thousand tears
Shine through the spaces
Of her golden ochre hair
Ooh my babe I want you
and on my life I swear
My conscience will I follow you forever
If you meet me everywhere
Yes if you if you meet me everywhere
04 Silent Sunlight (03:00)
La ilaha illallah
La ilaha illallah
Silent sunlight welcome in, there is work I must now begin,
All my dreams have blown away.
And the children wait to play,
They'll soon remember things to do,
When the heart is young and the night is done and the sky is blue.
La ilaha illallah
La ilaha illallah
Morning song birds sing away,
Lend a tune to another day,
Bring your wings and choose a roof,
Sing a song of love and truth.
We'll soon remember if you do,
When all things were tall,
And our friends were small,
And the world was new.
La ilaha illallah
La ilaha illallah
Sleepy horses heave away,
Put your backs to the golden hay,
Don't ever look behind at the work you've done,
For your work has just begun.
Ther'll be the evening in the end,
But till that time arrives,
You can rest your eyes,
And begin again.
La ilaha illallah
Silent sunlight
La ilaha illallah
Morning sun
La ilaha illallah
Silent sunlight welcome in.
05 Can't Keep It In (02:59)
Oh I can't keep it in, I can't keep it in, I've gotta let it out.
I've got to show the world, world's got to see, see all the love
love that's in me. I said, why walk alone, why worry when it's
warm over here. You've got so much to say, say what you mean,
mean what you're thinking, and think anything.
Oh why, why must you waste you're life away,
you've got to live for today, then let it go
Oh, lover, I want to spend this time with you,
there's nothing I wouldn't do, If you let me know.
And I can't keep it in, I can't hide it and I can't lock it away.
I'm up for your love, love heats my blood,
blood spins my head, and my head falls in love, oh.
No, I can't keep it in, I can't keep it in, I've gotta let it out.
I've gotta show the world, world's got to know,
know of the love, love that lies low, so
Why can't you say, If you know, then why can't you say.
You've got too much deceit, deceit kills the light,
light needs to shine, I said shine light , shine light.
Love, That's no way to live your life,
you allow too much to go by, and that won't do.
No, lover. I want to have you here by my side
Now don't you run, don't you hide, while I'm with you.
'N I can't keep it in, I can't keep it in, I've gotta let it out.
I've got to show the world, world's got to see, see all the love
love that's in me. I said, why walk alone, why worry when it's
warm over here. You've got so much to say, say what you mean,
mean what you're thinking, and think anything. Why not?
Now why why why not?
06 18th Avenue (Kansas City Nightmare) (04:23)
Well I rode a while, for a mile or so
Down the road to the eighteenth avenue
And the people I saw were the people I know
And they all came down to take a view
Oh the path was dark and borderless
Down the road to the eighteenth avenue
And it stung my tongue to repeat the words
That I used to use only yesterday
Meanings just dropped to the ground
I tried to remember what I thought
And what I used to say
"Don't let me go down" no don't let me go
Oh my hands were tied as I struggled inside
The empty waste of another day
Memories were blank to my eyes
The fire and the glory of that night
Seemed safely locked away
Too hungry to rise. Too hungry to
Well I rode a while, for a mile or so
Down the road to the eighteenth avenue
And the people I saw were the people I know
And they all came down to take a view
Oh the path was dark and borderless
Down the road to the eighteenth avenue
But my head felt better as I turned the car
And the airport slowly came to view
One mile said the sign
Checked my bags and made it straight to end gate 22
Made it just in time, boy you've made it just in time
07 Freezing Steel (03:38)
FREEZING STEEL
I've flown the house of freezing, the house of freezing steel
And though my body's back I know it can't be real
'Cause I've been on that house without a guiding wheel
The house of freezing steel
Oh where's it going, picked me up at seven
When my eyes were weak from the light of the morning
Oh sister won't you tell me what a man might want to know
This madness is fine, yes if you're mad at the time
Back on the house of freezing, the house of freezing steel
The tied my body up, I'm forced to eat my meal
A cold plate of lamb and cold potatoes too
Now what's a soul to do
Oh Lord above, brother won't you tell me
Is this a eucharistic dove
'Cause I've been waiting for the right one to appear
But I've seen it in your face, and baby this ain't the place
Up on the house of freezing, the house of freezing steel.
I made my mind up then to get me to the wheel
I made the cabin door, the pilot turned around
He said we're Venus bound
Oh please take me home
After all I'm only human and the Earth is where I belong
I must have looked pitiful to this freak without a face
'Cause as he touched my head I saw myself back in bed
I've flown the house of freezing, the house of freezing steel
And though my body's back I know it can't be real
'Cause I've been on that house without a guiding wheel
The house of freezing steel
10 Ruins (04:23)
It's so quiet in the ruins walking though the old town
Stones crumbling under my feet I see smoke for miles around
Oh it's enough to make you weep, all that remains of the main street
Up in the park on Sunday, dogs chasing and the children played
Old man with his head down, can't see nothing more around...no
But he remembers how it used to be, back in the old days,
So nice to see you coming back in this town again
It's nice to see a friendly face come peeping through having tea
In the afternoon, so nice to see you coming back in this town again...
Ah but it's all changed winter turned on a man
Came down on day when no-one was looking and it
Stole away the land, people running scared, losing hands
Dodging shadows of falling sand, buildings standing like empty shells
And nobody...helping no-one else
Young child with his hands high, ain't able to see no reason why...no
But he remembers how it used to be, back in the old days,
So nice to see you coming back in this town again
It's nice to see a friendly face come peeping through
You'd better know what you're going through now
You came back here to find your home is a black horizon
That you don't recognize, evil destruction has taken everything
You'd better walk on the side while you're still walking
Just keep on walking on down the street keep your distance
From the people you meet. Oh Lord and you'd better watch your eyes
'Cause if smoke gets in them, baby you won't rise again.
Where's it leading to freedom at what cost
People needing more and more and it's all getting lost
I want back, I want back
Back to the time when the earth was green
And there was no high walls and the sea was clean
Don't stop that sun to shine, it's not yours or mine...no.
Carico i commenti... con calma
