Il Neoprogressive Metal si fa' fregio di essere una delle scene musicali più prospere e di maggior successo del ventennio.
Numerosi sono i gruppi che fondono i caratteri tipici del Prog con generi addirittura molto differenti tra loro, creando così un tripudio di sonorità complesse e parecchio diversificate, riversate quindi in lavori di buona qualità.
"Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True" è senz' altro uno di questi lavori.
L'album in questione è il quarto lavoro in studio dei Fair To Midland, band Progressive/Alternative Metal d'oltreoceano affermatasi sulla scena degli ultimi anni proprio grazie al successo di questa produzione "made in" Serjcal Records (Sì, avete capito bene, la casa discografica di Serj Tankian, conosciuto ai più come l'eclettico leader dei System Of A Down).
La band, attualmente formata dal frontman e vocalist Darroh Sudderth, dal chitarrista Cliff Campbell, da Matt Langley(tastiere) ed i nuovi innesti Brett Stowers e John Dicken (rispettivamente alla batteria e al basso), aveva già autoprodotto due album ed un EP senza il supporto di una casa discografica alle spalle.
Probabilmente è per questo motivo che "Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True" raccoglie sia degli inediti realizzati espressamente per questa produzione che tracce dei precedenti album: un'efficace strategia per rilanciare i vecchi lavori passati in sordina ed accrescerne la popolarità.
Detto questo, passiamo ad approfondire le caratteristiche dell'album.
Possiamo riconoscere influenze Heavy e Power Metal miste ad un sound Post Rock/Math Rock più o meno marcato. Sorprendente inoltre la presenza di certi intermezzi ricollegabili alla scena Punk Rock/Hardcore Punk.
Quello che più colpisce di questo lavoro è la naturalezza con cui questi elementi vengono amalgamati allo scopo di creare un mix originale e di grande personalità. Riffs di chitarra potenti e privi di eccessivo e pomposo virtuosismo (Purtroppo una prerogativa di band Progressive che si rifanno ad elementi del Power Metal) vengono accompagnati da giri di basso eccellenti, tastiere evocative ed una tutto sommato discreta batteria. I testi mai banali e dalle tematiche tipicamente medievaleggianti permeano la produzione di un'atmosfera epica e sostenuta, senza un momento di stanca.
L'unico difetto che si può riscontrare è, a volte, la poca ricercatezza del suono che avrebbe conferito alla produzione uno spessore ben maggiore. Ad esempio si sente la mancanza di una suite che avrebbe reso giustizia alle capacità tecniche dei cinque artisti, oltre che generalmente di una durata purtroppo esigua.
Confido quindi nel prossimo lavoro dei Fair To Midland, auspicando loro di trovare quella maturità compositiva a cui sono praticamente vicini.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Dance of the Manatee (04:10)
Take a little dive into the shallow or spy what do you sea?
I see the tortoise and the hare in a rat-race
And it fits like a glove under my sleeve
Just wait till then.
Their heads are the heaviest in operation,
he has still not lost imagination.
I can hear him mouth the whole ending -
just wait till then.
We marys had ourselves a ball.
Oh, yes we did.
We marys had ourselves a ball,
I must admit
Hang us those limbs hold no virtue.
Those told to hold: project on my cue.
Whether a he or a she, put your mouth where your money is.
Are the birds of a feather that clever?
If I knew I'd keep locks, that's a given, just wait till then.
Their heads cast shadows like skyscrapers.
Still small enough to fit up their asses
To put it all into perspective, with definition.
We marys had ourselves a ball.
Oh, yes we did.
We marys had ourselves a ball,
I must admit
Hang us those limbs hold no virtue.
Those told to hold: project on my cue.
Oh, take a gander the bigger they are the harder they fall.
Not needy you'll see, not needy
and I come with open arms over trees.
Not needy you'll see .
Listen to my proven guarantees while you're rolling up your sleeves,
beatin' on the chest.
But we can keep it in a jar when it's comin' cats and dogs for days.
We marys had ourselves a ball.
And I guarantee.
And what they've done for you they've done for me.
Hang us those limbs hold no virtue.
Those told to hold: project on my cue.
Hang us those limbs hold no virtue.
Those told to hold: project on my cue.
02 Kyla Cries Cologne (04:01)
And let me introduce you to a pair that strikes crude oil, but I see pyrite.
It is the same old pattern, the goose that feeds the gander.
They choose to act but not I.
Planting the seeds you sow,
Is easier than growing the rocks.
Let's go outside and it might restore us.
More for the fire that fights for the freeze now,
Mechanical.
So then the pair proceeded,
Another pulse defeated, can't say that I am surprised.
It is the fly trap's color that caused the fall into her.
What is the shade that you saw?
Planting the seeds you sow,
Is easier than growing the rocks.
Let's go outside and it might restore us.
More for the fire that fights for the freeze now,
Mechanical.
Bound by the salt, not your Earth,
The hat mocks the rabbit, while the bee stings the shark.
Stop the start, these are my disguises.
Planting the seeds you sow,
Is easier than growing the rocks.
Let's go outside and it might restore us.
More for the fire that fights for the freeze now.
Let's go outside and it might restore us,
More for the fire that fights for the freeze,
Mechanical.
03 Vice/Versa (03:55)
Mountains of molehills,
A grapevine in my ear.
Spots on the tiger while the townspeople gather to hear,
While the nest in my hands starve for rest.
Sticklers for cheap fun,
You oughta be ashamed,
To trade in your heirlooms,
For an all day black market parade.
For a grand prize a slap in the face.
For you.
Bold faced type covers your text,
It must have been winter.
Still frame, no dice.
Where do you get your evidence?
Move now, stay still.
It takes a luminescent hue.
The wood, the crest that's weaved outside your vest.
Still frame, no dice.
Loons light the skyline,
While you sleep on concrete with both your eyes open.
I just kept pullin' on both your feet.
Someday together we'll breathe, breathe.
For you.
Bold faced type covers your text,
It must have been winter.
Still frame, no dice.
Where do you get your evidence?
Move now, stay still.
It takes a luminescent hue.
The wood, the crest that's weaved outside your vest.
Still frame, no dice.
Roll down the windows,
I know there's a shortcut ahead.
The long drive home is taking its toll,
We just need to rest.
Still frame, no dice.
Where do you get your evidence?
Move now, stay still.
It takes a luminescent hue.
The wood, the crest that's weaved outside your vest.
Still frame, no dice.
05 April Fools and Eggmen (04:44)
Rest assured they're weighing words in sympathetic ink, and they don't waste their time suspending disbelief. they face the facts with thinking caps they map out and display, but that's not the only way. common sense won't pay the rent and doesn't grow on trees, but splitting hairs can get you anything you need. who would have though connecting dots might get you to the point? but charities and remedy, almost as much as modesty take the bait, and save however much it takes before you've made your wish, however much it takes. rest assured they're weighing words in sympathetic ink, and i don't waste my time suspending disbelief. masterminds want bottom lines to map out and display, if i have every bit of faith, i won't be turning in my grave. take the bait, and save however much it takes before you've made your wish, however much it takes. yeah take your own advice before you take a side run for middle ground take the bait, and save however much it takes before you've made your wish, however much it takes. before you lie in bed, however much it takes
06 A Seafarer's Knot (04:11)
Lucky are the leaves of the clover.
She's diggin' for chemistry with the butcher's tools.
Shifty are the eyes of the gambler.
He's making his tricks his trade,
And a job well done.
Through the motions waving wishes to your confidence and eloquence.
He's turning a-green from these envious glorious things.
Applied ambitious faith that can keep us all safe.
Invoking a blue that's meant for us too.
What small amazing things we will turn to rain.
Lucky is a deer in the headlights,
Those two are as thick as thieves, not a penny more.
Shaky are the hands of the gun shy,
He'd rather give up the ghost, then take flight.
Through the motions waving wishes to your confidence and eloquence.
He's turning a-green from these envious glorious things.
Applied ambitious faith that can keep us all safe.
Invoking a blue that's meant for us too.
What small amazing things we will turn to rain.
Gather 'round, hold your glasses up high.
Drink to love while we wait for high tide.
Keep it short, keep it brief,
You have my word.
Gather 'round while we wait for high tide.
He's turning a-green from these envious glorious things.
Applied ambitious faith that can keep us all safe.
Your spots,
Your seeds,
Lack fur,
We're all,
A mess,
As though,
We all have another . . .
08 The Walls of Jericho (03:46)
what dreams splendidly weaved from an atom bomb
retrieved from a teleprompt
practical you are not
'cause you break the ice with a cotton swab
a fever can cool us off
a handshake is a contact sport
no one was waiting to throw out the pilot
we'll float on the back of the winds that you send us
another tomorrow shedding the shade we made yesterday
disguised as the lightning, dissolving all of the thunder, then -
appeasing our monsters under the acrylic skies
another tomorrow fills up my front window
outlasting the west wind & building ourselves in
so fly, & grab my hand here comes the crash
i live for the strong impact that renders both our airbags
seven folds take very letter you send
don't fold if you're made to bend
rekindle the feud again
(bridge)
string up your harp
play like today will last five minutes
it wont take long to sing us a song to stop the sirens
sing us a song to stop the silence
10 Upgrade^Brigade (05:17)
Glow but don't shine
A fuse for a blueprint and these devices my hands built.
These roads want the rain and my raincoat,
drown in a flash flood.
For we are alive,
given air and not used to Al Fresco.
Does the sun know that today I forgot the zeros and ones?
Told you to conquer the rush and on Sunday I remembered paper beats rock.
Reached a mile high if I reached a foot.
Leopard skin is not above or beyond him, he's no more a prince than a frog is.
This round road should not have shed for a witness
or taken bites to avenge us.
He's not above or beyond, no more a price than a frog, for we are alive.
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di L.F.D.Y
Se per te la musica è anche fatta di emozioni calde e avvolgenti come una cioccolata calda a novembre, allora questo è l'album che fa per te.
Quest'album fa al caso vostro se volete stare un po' meglio con voi stessi, quindi fate un regalo alla vostra anima.
