Dai primi esperimenti dei suoni campionati, ai primi motivetti ballabili, dalla ricerca della musica atmosferica ambientale fino al rock sintetizzato, la mia recente passione per la musica elettronica mi ha portato a conoscere molte band, alcune delle quali, mi sono apparse come rivelazioni sacre.
Gli Erasure, ad esempio mi hanno illuminato, colpito, affascinato come nessuna band faceva da parecchio tempo. Sicuramente tra i massimi esponenti mondiali del genere Synthpop, gli inglesi Erasure nascono nell'85, i membri sono solo 2: Vince Clarke ex Depeche Mode e Alison Moyet. Nella seconda metà degli anni 80, gli Erasure sono considerati da molti come il miglior gruppo di musica elettronica, in testa in tutte le classifiche, e rivali dei Pet Shop Boys. La loro caratteristica principale è la forte venatura tipicamente pop delle canzoni, con leggere matrici dance, cori quasi ecclesiastici e testi molto profondi che molte volte spaziavano nella difesa dei diritti civili dell'uomo. Gli erasure quindi rappresentano il tecno-pop, a volte di stampo più Dance, altre volte un pò più Ambient, sempre comunque sulla via per l'evoluzione del suono, anno dopo anno più fluido, curato, pulito.
La musica degli Erasure è una musica particolare, perchè oltre ad essere piacevole, melodica e rilassante all'ascolto è anche una musica che un tempo, negli anni 80, nasceva come corrente anticonformista e che oggi è ancora di nicchia, conosciuta dai numerosissimi fan (per un attimo della loro vita vendettero più di Madonna) che sono ragazzi con la voglia di esplorare i larghi confini musicali, ma lo stesso sconosciuti ai più. Cosa molto importante è che gli Erasure più che musicisti erano e sono tutt'ora scienziati del suono, esploratori dei confini musicali, e la loro musica, quella dei dischi è il frutto di lavori di ricerche elettronice e digitali sulle frequenze e sulle innovazioni tecnico musicali. Perciò nell'ascoltare tutta la discografia del duo inglese ci si affronta un viaggio da un genere all'altro, pur sempre elettronico, ma di diverso impatto auditivo. Io penso che ogni capitolo di una qualsiasi saga sia importante, e che svalorizzare anche un solo pezzo significhi far venir meno tutta l'opera, perciò per non dover consigliare un album in particolare, penso che chi voglia conoscere la band faccia bene a procurarsi "Hits!", il "The very best of", doppio cd con un totale di 38 canzoni che fanno da riassunto a questo viaggio di spiritualità sonora.
Una canzone degli Erasure alla quale non ho mai saputo resistere è sempre stata "Take a chance on me" dal ritmo quasi dance ma nonostante tutto molto ben fatto, e con uno stacchetto molto simile a una ballata ragga. Dalla classica, magnifica, famosa e immortale "Oh l'amour", dolce atmosfera ritmica a pezzi più recenti come la magnifica "Solsbury Hill" con l'atmosfera cosmica e spaziale e una vastità di suoni curati fino all'ultimo decibel, ritmi costruiti sulla base di una perfezione assoluta. Molto carina anche "Freedom" con l'accompagnamento di una chitarra acustica ma soprattutto di un ottimo coro, ed effetti vari di vocoder e distorsione vocale. Altri pezzi sono meno ballabili e quindi molto più dolci e atmosferici, come la stupenda "Stay WIth Me" o la rilassantissima "In My Arms". Altre pescano dal periodo di maggior successo come "A little Rispect" o "Chains of love" che in tutto lo splendore della voce di Clarke trascinano quella fantastica aria di "anni 80". Altre ancora come "Stop" e "Victim Of Love" (una delle mie preferite) hanno un ritmo che fà sognare, ma in assoluto un capolavoro di canzone, è a mio parere "Always" un pò screziata, profonda e triste.
Il secondo cd invece presenta le migliori hits coverizzate digitalmente, con dei trucchetti qua è là che rendono il tutto molto più dance. Insomma gli Erasure sono un templio in cui tutti gli adoratori dell'elettronico si sono trovati a pregare, sono un biglietto per un viaggio verso una fluida scarica di emozioni sonore, sono ciò che i Depeche Mode e gli Yazoo non hanno trasmesso. Sono una band assolutamente da conoscere per una vita dignitosa e musicale.
Elenco tracce e testi
01 Stay With Me (05:05)
Tempered by greed
Tall buildings breathe
Give a sigh of relief when it's night
Stirring from sleep,
we night-owls creep
Is there any sign of life under this stone?
Star chime hollow and true.
Love, child
Weep for me...
And I will cast your wheels in motion
Walk with me...
The inner reaches of emotion
Sheltered by creed
One piled on one
Do you have a little room for one small one?
Light shine wild and free
Sun, rise
Weep for me...
And I will fill you with devotion
Walk with me...
The inner reaches of emotion
Here we are
In the sunshine
Everything is fine
Weep for me...
The sands of time will fill the ocean
Keep with me...
And like a roller on the ocean
Stand by me...
And I will fill you with devotion
Walk with me...
The inner reaches of emotion
Weep for me...
The sands of time will fill the ocean
Keep with me...
And rays of sunshine fill the ocean
02 You Surround Me (05:40)
Don't ever let me take you for granted
You've got your finger on the pulse of my soul
Let me place a kiss in the small of your back
Love and protect you from the evils of this world
Oh baby don't ever leave me stranded
Whoever said that the streets were paved with gold
Well I'm afraid that we're all sadly mistaken
There's nothing here 'til you have someone to hold
Bridge:
I love you with all the joy of living
'Til the lights go down in New York City
It's a special love affair
And there's magic in the air
Chorus:
You gotta shake me down
Bring me 'round to my senses
'Til I'm lost and found
And surround me with your senses
If love wasn't here would we reinvent it?
Oh take me down to the very root of my soul
Oh baby say it as if you really mean it
And feel the passion work it's way up through your skin
Bridge
Chorus
Let me take you by the hand
And we can go and find a brand new world
Starlight - starbright
Let me take you by the hand
And lead you to a safe place in this world
Chorus x 6
03 In My Arms (03:35)
The deal is on the rise again.
The ship comes into shore.
They've been away to somewhere,
but life goes on no less.
Through the foreign oceans,
underneath the seas.
And walls come tumbling down;
we'll be forever calm.
And you'll be here in my arms,
I'll keep you away from harm.
I thought about you twice just then;
you get me everytime.
Keeps coming out of nowhere;
it cannot be defined.
Your colors are magnificent:
from magenta to bright blue.
And walls come tumbling down;
we'll be forever calm.
And you'll be here in my arms,
I'll keep you away from harm.
And walls come tumbling down;
we'll be forever calm.
And you'll be here in my arms,
I'll keep you away from harm.
04 Solsbury Hill (03:38)
Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve
I had to listen had no choice
I did not believe the information
Just had to trust imagination
My heart was going boom boom, boom
"Son," he said, "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."
To keeping silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day
Tho' my life was in a rut
'Till I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut
I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart was going boom boom boom
"Hey," he said, "grab your things, I've come to take you home."
Yeah back home
When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes, but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me
Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart was going boom boom boom
"Hey," I said, "You can keep my things, they've come to take me home."
05 A Little Respect (03:43)
I try to discover
A little something to make me sweeter
Oh baby refrain from breaking my heart
I'm so in love with you
I'll be forever blue
That you give me no reason
Why you're making me work so hard
That you give me no
That you give me no
That you give me no
That you give me no
Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me
And if I should falter
Would you open your arms out to me
We can make love not war
And live at peace in our hearts
I'm so in love with you
I'll be forever blue
What religion or reason
Could drive a man to forsake his lover
Don't you tell me no
Don't you tell me no
Don't you tell me no
Don't you tell me no
Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me
I'm so in love with you
I'll be forever blue
That you give me no reason
You know you're making me work so hard
That you give me no
That you give me no
That you give me no
That you give me no
Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me
Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me
07 Take a Chance on Me (03:21)
If you change your mind
I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know
And I'll be around
If you got no place to go
When you're feeling down
If you're all alone
When the pretty birds had flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best
To there ain't no lie
If you put me to the test
You could let me try
Take a chance on my (come on, give me a brake, would you?)
Take a chance on me
Oooh! we can go dancing,
We can go walking,
As long as we are together
Listen to some music
Or maybe just talking
Get to know you better
'Cause you know I've got
So much that I wanna do
When I dream I'm alone with you
It's magic
You wanted to leave me there
Afraid of a love afair
But if you know......
But I can let go
If you change your mind
I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know
And i'll be around
If you got no place to go
When you're feeling down
(take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)
If you're all alone
When the pretty birds had flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best
To there ain't no lie
If you put me to the test
You could let me try
Take a chance on me (it's alright, alright honey)
Take a chance on me
Oooh! you could take your time baby
I'm in no hurry
I know I'm gonna get you
You don't wanna hurt me
Baby don't worry
I ain't gonna let you
Let me tell you now
My love is strong enough
To last when things are rough this magic
You said that I waste my time
But I can't get you out of my mind
Ohh I think you know.....
'Cause I want you so....
Repeat chorous till fade away........
08 Love to Hate You (03:56)
I'm crazy flowing over with ideas
A thousand ways to woo a lover so sincere?
Love and hate what a beautiful combination
Sending shivers up and down my spine
For every Casanova that appears
My sense of hesitation disappears
Love and hate what a beautiful combination
Sending shivers up and down my spine
And the lovers that you sent for me
Didn't come with any satisfaction guarantee
So I return them to the sender
And the note attached will read
How I love to hate you
I love to hate you
I love to hate you
I love to hate you
Oh you really still expect me to believe
Every single letter I receive
Sorry you what a shameful situation
Sending shivers up and down my spine
Oh I like to read murder mystery
I like to know the killer isn't me
Love and hate what a beautiful combination
Sending shivers make me quiver
Feel it sliver up and down my spine
09 Stop! (03:56)
We'll be together again
Ive been waiting for a long time
We're gonna be, We're gonna be together again
Ive been connected to the right line
We'll be together and nobody aint never gonna disconnect us
or ever separate us or say to us you've got to
Chorus
Stop!
Stand there where you are
before you go to far
before you make a fool out of love
Stop!
Don't jump before you look
get hung up on a hook
before you make a fool out of love
We'll be together again
Ive been waiting for a long time
We're gonna be, We're gonna be together again
Ive been connected to the right line
We'll be together and nobody aint never gonna disconnect us
or ever separate us or say to us you've got to
Chorus
Stop!
Stand there where you are
before you go to far
before you make a fool out of love
Stop!
Don't jump before you look
get hung up on a hook
before you make a fool out of love
11 Blue Savannah (03:45)
Blue Savannah song
Oh blue Savannah song
Somewhere 'cross the desert
Sometime in the early hours
In a restless world
On the open highway
My home is where the heart is
Sweet to surrender to you only
I send my love to you
Blue Savannah song
Oh blue Savannah song
Racing 'cross the desert
At a hundred miles an hour
To the orange side
Through the clouds and thunder
My home is where the heart is
Sweet to surrender to you only
I send my love to you
I'm on my way back and your love will bring me home (Say that your loving will bring me home)
I'm travelling fast and your love will bring me home (Say that your loving will bring me home)
Will I discover that your love will bring me home? (Dream away, darling)
That your love will bring me home? (Yeah)
Somewhere 'cross the desert
Sometime in the early hours
To the orange side
Through the clouds and thunder
My home is where the heart is
Sweet to surrender to you only
I send my love to you
Home is where the heart is
Sweet to surrender to you only
I send my love to you
Savannah song
Sweet to surrender to you only
I send my love to you
Savannah song
To you only
To you only
12 Always (04:56)
Open your eyes I see
Your eyes are open
Wear no disguise for me
Come into the open
When it's cold outside
Am I here in vain?
Hold on to the night
There will be no shame
Always I wanna be with you
And make believe with you
And live in harmony, harmony, oh love
Melting the ice for me
Jump into the ocean
Hold back the tide I see
Your love in motion
When it's cold outside...
Always I wanna be with you...
13 Freedom (03:37)
Freedom will come
To real love
Heaven will come
For real love
(Do-Wah Do-Wah Do-Wah)
Run away when it hurts from the things that we do
(Do-Wah Do-Wah Do-Wah)
Don't know why we cry
Run away from the truth
Children of new men
Colors of human kind, in shadow Good is your loving
Growing and sharing storms
Believe
You've got to believe
Calling the day freedom will come
And we will arise to real love
Day by day heaven will come
And we'll survive for real love
Cherish the union, the light in a stranger's eyes
Your guardian angel will make all the wrong things right
Believe
You've got to believe
(Do-Wah Do-Wah Do-Wah)
(Do-Wah Do-Wah Do-Wah)
Calling the day freedom will come And we will arise to real love
Day by day heaven will come
And we'll survive for real love
Calling the day freedom will come
And touch the sky in heaven above
Day by day heaven will come
And we'll survive for real love
Calling the day freedom will come
And touch the sky in heaven above
Day by day heaven will come
And we'll survive for real love
Calling the day freedom will come
And touch the sky in heaven above
Day by day heaven will come
And we'll survive for real love
14 Chorus (04:03)
Go ahead with your dreamin'
For what it's worth
Or you'll be stricken bound
Kickin' up dirt
For when it's dark
You never know what the night it may bring
Go ahead with your schemin'
And shop at home
You'll find treasure
While cookin' up bones
But the knife is sharp
You'd better watch that you don't cut your hands
2x
And they covered up the sun
Until the birds had flown away
And the fishes in the sea
Had gone to sleep
Go ahead with your dreamin'
For what it's worth
Or you'll be stricken bound
Kickin' up dirt
For when it's dark
You never know what the night it may bring
Go ahead with schemin'
And shop at home
You'll find treasure
While cookin' up bones
But the knife is sharp
You'd better watch that you don't cut your hands
2x
And they covered up the sun
Until the birds had flown away
And the fishes in the sea
Had gone to sleep
Holy Moses our hearts are screaming
Souls are lifting only dreaming
We'll be waiting some are praying
For a time when no one's cheatin'
The sunlight rising over the horizon
Just a distant memory the dawn chorus
Birds singing bells ringing
In our hearts in our minds...
2x
And they covered up the sun
Until the birds had flown away
And the fishes in the sea
Had gone to sleep
15 Oh L'Amour (04:27)
Oh L'Amour
Broke my heart
Now I'm aching for you
Mon amour
What's a boy in love
Supposed to do
Looking for you
You were looking for me
Always reaching for you
You were too blind to see
Oh love of my heart
Why leave me alone
I'm falling apart
No good on my own
Oh L'Amour
Broke my heart
Now I'm aching for you
Mon amour
What's a boy in love
Supposed to do
Why throw it away
Why walk out on me
I just live for the day
For the way it should be
There once was a time
Had you here by my side
You said I wasn't your kind
Only here for the ride
Oh L'Amour
Broke my heart
Now I'm aching for you
Mon amour
What's a boy in love
Supposed to do
No emotional ties
You don't remember my name
I lay down and die
I'm only to blame
Oh love of my heart
It's up to you now
You've tore me apart
I hurt inside-out
Oh L'Amour
Broke my heart
Now I'm aching for you
Mon amour
What's a boy in love
Supposed to do
Oh L'Amour
Broke my heart
Now I'm aching for you
Mon amour
What's a boy in love
Supposed to do
Oh L'Amour
Broke my heart
Now I'm aching for you
Mon amour
What's a boy in love
Supposed to do
16 Breath of Life (04:39)
Never had a point of view
Cause my mind was always someone else's mind
I never had to tell a lie
Cause I left the choices up to them
Don't know why but I did
Oh I want life
Life wants me
To breath in it's love
Take me I'm yours
Now I'm comin' up for air
I'm gonna live my time
For the rest of my life
Then I'll be comin' back for more
I never had to call the tune
'Cause I always drifted with the tide of the moon
(Ah la luna, my love, my love, my love)
I would go out every night
Looking for someone to treat me right
Not a chance (chance) not a hope (hope) in this world (world)
Oh I want life
Life wants me
To breath in it's love
Take me I'm yours
Now I'm comin' up for air
I'm gonna live my time
For the rest of my life
Then I'll be comin' back for more
Take me I'm yours
Now I'm comin' up for air
I'm gonna live my time
For the rest of my life
Then I'll be comin' back for more
(More)
Take me I'm yours
Now i'm comin' up for air
I'm gonna live my time
For the rest of my life
Then I'll be coming back for more (more)
(oh yeah) (More)
17 Sometimes (04:40)
It's not the way you lead me
By the hand into the bedroom
It's not the way you throw your clothes
Upon the bathroom floor
Been thinking about you
I just couldn't wait to see
Fling my arms around you
As we fall in ecstacy
Ooh sometimes
The truth is harder than the pain inside yeah
Ooh sometimes
It's the broken heart that decides
It's not the way that you caress me
Toy with my affection
It's not my sense of emptiness
You fill with your desire
Climb in bed beside me
We can lock the world outside
Touch me, satisfy me
Warm your body next to mine
Ooh sometimes......
18 Ship of Fools (03:05)
I can't believe what is happening to me
My head is spinning
The flowers and the trees are encapsulating me
And I go spinning
He was the baby of the class you know
He really didn't know that one and one was two
Two and two were four
He was the baby of the class you know
He really didn't know that, really didn't know that
Oh what a poor soul
Oooh, do we not sail on the ship of fools?
Oooh, why is love so precious and so cruel?
I close my eyes and I try to imagine
What you're dreaming
Why can't you see what you're doing to me
My world is spinning
You were the baby of the class you know
You really didn't know that one and one was two
Two and two were four
You were the baby of the class you know
You were so young and so uncertain
Suffer little children
Oh what a poor soul
Oooh, do we not sail on the ship of fools?
Oooh, why is love so precious and so cruel?
He was the baby of the class you know
He really didn't know that one and one was two
Two and two were four
He was the baby of the class
You were so young and so uncertain
Suffer little children
Oh what a poor soul
Oooh, do we not sail on the ship of fools?
Oooh, why is love so precious and so cruel?
Oooh, do we not sail on the ship of fools?
Oooh, why is love so fragile and so cruel?
Oooh, do we not sail on the ship of fools?
Oooh, why is love so precious and so cruel?
Oooh, do we not sail on the ship of fools?
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