Più che una recensione si tratta di una curiosità, un aggiornamento tecnologico, un'operazione commerciale, chiamatela come volete questa nuova uscita dei "Giganti del Prog" degli anni '70. Non c'è niente di nuovo? A dire il vero qualcosina d'inedito in realtà alla fine e sapientemente salta fuori, ma procedo con ordine.
"Three Peice Suite" è una raccolta tecnicamente qualitativa, nel senso che l'autore, Steven Wilson, non s'è calato nella notevole produzione dei primi tre capolavori del gruppo britannico attivo come saprete dal 1970 al 1980, scegliendo quelli di maggior successo o a suo insindacabile giudizio migliori, bensì s'è ritrovato fra le mani solo 9 nastri multitraccia dei 21 brani che complessivamente compongono la prima trilogia dei Giganti Gentili. Ne consegue, ahimé, che i rimanenti 12 sono andati perduti, a differenza invece di quelli di "Octopus", già sottoposto ad un'operazione di lifting dallo stesso Wilson e degli album sucessivi, viceversa già sottoposti a rielaborazioni.
L'operazione tecnica ha come risultato la pubblicazione di questo lavoro edito sia in doppio vinile che in CD+Blu Ray, personalmente sono andato sulla prima opzione ed è a questa che si riferiscono le mie impressioni, il CD contiene lo stesso materiale per un'ora abbondante d'ascolto, mentre il blu ray è decisamente ricco nel senso che contiene la riproposizione integrale ed originale dei primi tre album, lo stesso CD remixato e le versioni dei brani in esso contenuti puramente strumentali. Da un punto di vista economico la seconda scelta appare vincente, ma per gli anziani del settore sarà inevitabile la prima.
Andando a scorgere l'elenco dei brani: 11, però i conti non tornano, infatti il primo vinile contiene "Giant", "Nothing at All" e "Why not?" dall'album d'esordio, seguono "Pantagruel's Nativity" e "The House, the Street, the Room" tratti da "Acquiring the Taste, mentre il secondo riporta sul terzo lato: "Schooldays" and "Peel the Paint", seguono nella quarta facciata: "Mister Class and Quality?" e "Three Friends" a chiudere abbiamo infatti un inedito "Freedom's Child" e una rielaborazione di "Nothing at All" operata dallo stesso Wilson.
Liquido velocemente l'analisi dei 9 brani "riesumati" rilevando semplicemente che l'operazione di ripulitura è senz'altro riuscita, anche grazie alla circostanza che gli originali scontavano talvolta una qualità non eccelsa, specialmente nella riproposizione digitale, anche nelle riedizioni made in Japan su CD SHM e vengo alle "novità": la prima riscoperta dalle incisioni dei Giant di fine '69 che ci consente di trovare una brano decisamente melodico che mette in risalto sia la voce di Derek Shulman che le qualità del fratello Ray al violino, davvero ispirato in questo frangente; più che un out take a mio parere è un provino, chissà per quale motivo risparmiato alla distruzione del tempo, molto piacevole ma che non è di certo in grado di suscitare brividi nell'ascoltatore abituato a ben altra grinta e sonorità. Abbastanza coerente con l'inedito è la tranquilla rielaborazione di "Nothing at All" che da un punto di vista tecnico ha quasi del miracoloso: sembra infatti un arrangiamento postumo del brano, in forma di pacata ballata, da parte degli stessi autori.
E vengo al succo, al giudizio di questa produzione che lo stesso Wilson descrive nelle (lunghe) note interne come sia: "basata su sofisticati software in grado di ripulire i suoni delle singole tracce conferendo maggiore definizione e nitidezza all'elaborato, senza tuttavia modificare in alcun modo la musicalità originale", che si può senz'altro dire riuscita a pieni voti restituendoci quei brani con un dettaglio che ahimé gli originali un po' celavano, senza meravigliarci più di tanto se consideriamo sia l'anno di pubblicazione degli album che le capacità finanziarie del produttore dei primi Giant, quel giovane Tony Visconti che come lui stesso afferma "scommise molto su questo Gruppo che avrebbe dovuto salvare il mondo musicale dalla mediocrità!".
Perciò l'ascolto è senz'altro di notevole soddisfazione, con l'unica nota triste che esso si limita a meno della metà della produzione dei giganti del prog, per il resto dovremo "accontentarci" di quanto abbiamo nella nostra discoteca........
Elenco tracce e testi
11 Pantagruel's Nativity (00:00)
How can I laugh or cry
When my mind is sorely torn?
Badabec had to die
Fair Pantagruel is born
Shall I weep, yes, for why?
Then laugh and show my scorn
Born with a strength untold
Foreseen to have great age
Set in Gargantuan mould,
Joyful laugh, yet quick to rage
Princely wisdom, habits bold;
Power, glory, lauded sage
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
How can I laugh or cry
When my mind is sorely torn?
Badabec had to die;
Fair Pantagruel is born
Shall I weep, yes, for why?
Then laugh and show my scorn
13 Schooldays (00:00)
The bell rings
And all things
Are calling
The days past
The play's cast
Remember
September
When we were
Together
Together
Together
Schooldays the happy days when we were going nowhere
Schooldays the happy time when we were feeling no care
Schooldays when three said that we'd better be friends forever
How long is ever isn't it strange
Schooldays together why do they change
How long is ever isn't it strange
Did kites fly
And I spy
And you cry
To run fast
Or come last
You know how
We made vows
They're gone now
We made friends
We broke friends
No more friends
Schooldays the happy days when we were going nowhere
Schooldays the happy time when we were feeling no care
Schooldays when three said that we'd better be friends forever
How long is ever isn't it strange
Schooldays together why do they change
Remember,
Remember when we
Together
Went to the sea
Was it real or did we dream. The days of children gone.
Seagull's scream and pink ice cream and the deep blue sky
And the waves seem high and golden sand and the town
brass band play on
Wait for me
Wait for us always
Wait for me
Wait for us to come
Homework's dull. It's worth the pain to go out when I want
Mister Watson wants to see you in the master's room
It's about the work you should have done and I think you
must go now
Schooldays are gone
15 Mister Class And Quality? (00:00)
Look around my rooms and see the prizes I have showing
Working hard to build my life and plan the way I'm going
House and car and pretty wife - they've all been won by knowing
All been won by knowing
All been won by knowing.
Paperwork, white collared shirts - where would we be without them
Man of class and quality - I never shout about them
Choose my friends for my own ends.
You can't succeed without them
Can't succeed without them
Can't succeed without them.
Middleman sees straight ahead and never crosses borders
Never understood the artist or the lazy workers
The world needs steady men like me to give and take the orders
Give and take the orders
Give and take the orders
21 Alucard (00:00)
Lying still;
Am I dreaming
Feel the chill
Breath of fear
Evil fingers
Hover, linger
Someone help me
Terror fills my soul.
Living dead;
Am I breathing
Sightless, blind
Heart stopped beating
Hear the crying
Of the dying
Someone help me
Ogres of the night.
22 Isn't It Quiet And Cold? (00:00)
Isn't it quiet and cold walking all alone, alone?
Happened I missed the bus and found I had to walk, alone.
What was that?
Only me.
Hear the echo of my feet
Footsteps
Are they mine?
Hear the echo of the street.
Wished I lived near at hand although I live alone, alone
At least I'll find company, so why should I moan, alone.
Movement
By my feet
Paper wind across the street
Curtains closed
Sleepy heads
Wrapped together in their beds
I used to walk with someone else
I didn't seem to notice sights and sounds of the lonely street
I used to talk with someone else
Now the only answers are the calls of the night
Look at that alley cat, it's winding home to rest, alone
Half-past four and daylight shows itself once more
Walking all alone
Walking all alone
25 The Queen (00:00)
[Instrumental]
Derek Shulman, lead vocals, backing vocals and some bass; Ray Shulman,
most bass, violin, some guitar, percussion, and backing vocals; Phil
Shulman, sax, trumpet, recorder, lead vocals and backing vocals; Kerry
Minnear, keyboard, some bass, cello, lead vocals, backing vocals and
tuned percussion; Gary Green, lead guitar, 12 string guitar; Martin
Smith, drums and percussion. Produced by Gentle Giant.
26 Pantagruel's Nativity (00:00)
How can I laugh or cry
When my mind is sorely torn?
Badabec had to die
Fair Pantagruel is born
Shall I weep, yes, for why?
Then laugh and show my scorn
Born with a strength untold
Foreseen to have great age
Set in Gargantuan mould,
Joyful laugh, yet quick to rage
Princely wisdom, habits bold;
Power, glory, lauded sage
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
How can I laugh or cry
When my mind is sorely torn?
Badabec had to die;
Fair Pantagruel is born
Shall I weep, yes, for why?
Then laugh and show my scorn
27 Edge Of Twilight (00:00)
The moon is down
Casting its shadow over the night-haunted town
Mystical figures under the silence of light
The trembling air
Drifts slowly unseen over the houses there
And echoes changing into the voices of night
On the edge of twilight whispering
Whisper, whisper, whisper, whisper,
On the edge of twilight whispering
Whisper, whisper, whisper, whisper
Elusive time
In limbo active in never ending mime
The edge of twilight into the darkness of day
31 Wreck (00:00)
The ship's rising up from the sea to the sky heyeheh Hold on
Just one sorry scream and a desperate cry heyeheh Hold on
Their lives pass before them before they die heyeheh --
The sea yawns around like a boiling hell heyeheh hold on
And souls disappear with the toll of that bell heyeheh hold on
The arms of the sea they are dragging them down heyeheh hold on
And sorrows and sins they are lost as they drown heyeheh --
How strange when you think that the sea was their way;
And a meaningless death is the price they pay
For their living was made from the deep
To their people in comfort and keep
Keep all their people and places there
Never to be seen again, never to be loved and their last embrace --
And the kiss has a salt bitter taste
Now all that remains is the deep cruel sea heyeheh hold on
And wreckage of things that used to be heyeheh hold on
No stone marks the place of that watery grave heyeheh hold on
Together they die both the weak and the brave heyeheh hold on
The arms of the sea they are dragging them down heyeheh hold on
And sorrows and sins they are lost as they drown heyeheh hold on
(fade)
34 Plain Truth (00:00)
Why do you question
When there's no answer told?
Plain truth is nothing
You can't buy it when it's sold
Save all your money
And they won't reason why
Why all the worry?
They'll spend it when you die
Don't look for something
Plain truth is nothing,
nothing but the plain truth
You stand and wonder
Just let it warm your skin
Take all the living
Live life and let it win
Plain truth means nothing
Cry, laugh and cry again
You question answers
Born, live and die, Amen
Don't look for something
Plain truth is nothing,
nothing but the plain truth
Why do you question
When there's no answer told?
Plain truth is nothing
You can't buy it when it's sold
Save all your money
And they won't reason why
Why all the worry?
They'll spend it when you die
Don't look for something
Plain truth is nothing,
nothing but the plain truth
35 Prologue (00:00)
Three friends are made, three lives are laughs and tears
Through years of school and play they share
As time stands still the days change into years
And future comes without a care.
But fate and skill and chances play their part
The wind of change leaves no good-bye
Three boys are men their ways have drawn apart
They tell their tales to justify.
36 Schooldays (00:00)
The bell rings
And all things
Are calling
The days past
The play's cast
Remember
September
When we were
Together
Together
Together
Schooldays the happy days when we were going nowhere
Schooldays the happy time when we were feeling no care
Schooldays when three said that we'd better be friends forever
How long is ever isn't it strange
Schooldays together why do they change
How long is ever isn't it strange
Did kites fly
And I spy
And you cry
To run fast
Or come last
You know how
We made vows
They're gone now
We made friends
We broke friends
No more friends
Schooldays the happy days when we were going nowhere
Schooldays the happy time when we were feeling no care
Schooldays when three said that we'd better be friends forever
How long is ever isn't it strange
Schooldays together why do they change
Remember,
Remember when we
Together
Went to the sea
Was it real or did we dream. The days of children gone.
Seagull's scream and pink ice cream and the deep blue sky
And the waves seem high and golden sand and the town
brass band play on
Wait for me
Wait for us always
Wait for me
Wait for us to come
Homework's dull. It's worth the pain to go out when I want
Mister Watson wants to see you in the master's room
It's about the work you should have done and I think you
must go now
Schooldays are gone
39 Pantagruel's Nativity (00:00)
How can I laugh or cry
When my mind is sorely torn?
Badabec had to die
Fair Pantagruel is born
Shall I weep, yes, for why?
Then laugh and show my scorn
Born with a strength untold
Foreseen to have great age
Set in Gargantuan mould,
Joyful laugh, yet quick to rage
Princely wisdom, habits bold;
Power, glory, lauded sage
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
Pantagruel born -- the earth was dry and burning
In Paradise dear Badabec prays for him
How can I laugh or cry
When my mind is sorely torn?
Badabec had to die;
Fair Pantagruel is born
Shall I weep, yes, for why?
Then laugh and show my scorn
40 Mister Class And Quality? (00:00)
Look around my rooms and see the prizes I have showing
Working hard to build my life and plan the way I'm going
House and car and pretty wife - they've all been won by knowing
All been won by knowing
All been won by knowing.
Paperwork, white collared shirts - where would we be without them
Man of class and quality - I never shout about them
Choose my friends for my own ends.
You can't succeed without them
Can't succeed without them
Can't succeed without them.
Middleman sees straight ahead and never crosses borders
Never understood the artist or the lazy workers
The world needs steady men like me to give and take the orders
Give and take the orders
Give and take the orders
43 Schooldays (00:00)
The bell rings
And all things
Are calling
The days past
The play's cast
Remember
September
When we were
Together
Together
Together
Schooldays the happy days when we were going nowhere
Schooldays the happy time when we were feeling no care
Schooldays when three said that we'd better be friends forever
How long is ever isn't it strange
Schooldays together why do they change
How long is ever isn't it strange
Did kites fly
And I spy
And you cry
To run fast
Or come last
You know how
We made vows
They're gone now
We made friends
We broke friends
No more friends
Schooldays the happy days when we were going nowhere
Schooldays the happy time when we were feeling no care
Schooldays when three said that we'd better be friends forever
How long is ever isn't it strange
Schooldays together why do they change
Remember,
Remember when we
Together
Went to the sea
Was it real or did we dream. The days of children gone.
Seagull's scream and pink ice cream and the deep blue sky
And the waves seem high and golden sand and the town
brass band play on
Wait for me
Wait for us always
Wait for me
Wait for us to come
Homework's dull. It's worth the pain to go out when I want
Mister Watson wants to see you in the master's room
It's about the work you should have done and I think you
must go now
Schooldays are gone
45 Mister Class And Quality? (00:00)
Look around my rooms and see the prizes I have showing
Working hard to build my life and plan the way I'm going
House and car and pretty wife - they've all been won by knowing
All been won by knowing
All been won by knowing.
Paperwork, white collared shirts - where would we be without them
Man of class and quality - I never shout about them
Choose my friends for my own ends.
You can't succeed without them
Can't succeed without them
Can't succeed without them.
Middleman sees straight ahead and never crosses borders
Never understood the artist or the lazy workers
The world needs steady men like me to give and take the orders
Give and take the orders
Give and take the orders
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