• Voto:
“World Machine”, quinta fatica in studio dei Level 42, creò i presupposti per la rottura tra i fratelli Gould, Phil soprattutto, e Mark King (leader carismatico, oltre che bassista di prim’ordine).
Il sodalizio resse ancora nei due anni seguenti, tempo utile per raggiungere definitivamente la vetta con “Running In The Family”. Ma ormai il dado era tratto.
I fatti, di una semplicità comune a molte band: inclinazioni, aspirazioni e gusti differenti.
Nati come band di stampo fusion, con spruzzate jazz e inclinazioni funk, i Level 42 stavano lentamente ma inesorabilmente cedendo il passo al pop.
E se, dicevamo, il successore “Running In The Family” compie il balzo definitivo, “World Machine” fa solo la mossa.
Si prendano i due estremi del disco, aiuteranno a capire.
Tastando il polso ai fans, il brano più apprezzato dell’album pare essere “I Sleep On My Heart”. Considerazione che mi trova d’accordo. Brano complesso, poco radiofonico ma essenziale e caratteristico nel definire i tratti della band. Per contro, a lanciarli in America, fu “Somenthing About You”, melensa pseudo ballata senza pretese stilistiche e suonata decorosamente ma senza slanci o contorsioni.
Morale: dove sta il buff ? O meglio: dove sta la verità ?
L’antefatto è che i Level sanno suonare, l’approccio agli strumenti è educato, superlativo nel caso di King, ma probabilmente era in corso una crisi d’identità.
Al tempo: non tutto il pop melodico va derubricato a mediocre. “Leaving me Now”, parere di chi vi scrive, è un brano sostanzioso, gradevole, assolutamente decoroso.
Ma chi si è identificato in “Love Meeting Love”, “Love Games”, “Turn It On”, che può pensare ?
E qui viene il bello: il fan, in quanto fan, se appagato dal pregresso, difficilmente molla la presa: ma diventa criticone, sbuffa, prende un non so che di distanza, e ci sta.
Comunque: l’album esce nel 1985 laddove King e Lindup prendono la decisione senza sottoporre ad interrogazione plenaria il resto della band e virano. Virano con grazia, con educazione, ma ammaliati dagli stadi, dai grandi palcoscenici, scelgono di abbandonare nicchia e spazi stretti.
Non saranno gli unici, in quell’era.
Fatta questa (lunga, e me ne scuso) dovuta premessa, va detto che l’album è meritevole, solido, fluido.
Discreta la title – track che apre il lavoro, vi sono picchi piacevoli (la già citata, malinconica “Leaving Me Now”, precursore dei 5 giorni di Zarrillo, “I Sleep On My Heart”, “Good Man In A Storm” e la strofa di “Lying Still”) ma anche episodi trascurabili com “It’s Not The Same For Us”.
“World Machine” è indispensabile per chi ama i Level 42, essenziale per chi vuole approcciarli, necessario per chi li ha scoperti recentemente.
Perché c’è tutto: il passato, il periodo contingente, la voglia di uscire dagli schemi, il compromesso.
E vi sono anche amnesie: brani che partono alla grande, ma poi cincischiano (accennavo a “Lying Still”).
Tempo due anni, dicevo, e i fratelli Gould, Phil e Boon, parolieri essenziali del progetto, oltre che batterista e chitarrista, saluteranno.
Il primo, cercherà un riavvicinamento nel 1994 in occasione delle sessioni di “Forever Now”, ma poco prima di partire per il tour, al rifiorire di vecchi dissapori, scenderà nuovamente dalla nave.
Il secondo, rimarrà in buoni rapporti tanto da occuparsi dei testi dell’album solista di King, nel 1998. Pochi mesi or sono, è stato rinvenuto privo di vita. Infarto. Aveva 64 anni.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 World Machine (05:16)
some folks try
to multiply
from sunrise to sunset
leave behind
more of their kind
so no one will forget
but that ain't where I'm coming from - today
those easy girls don't turn me on - anyway
I wanna know where my pride has gone
the party's over
caught in a dream
inside this world machine
teachers teach
and preachers preach
of spiritual evolution
but this big I am
from uncle sham
just adds to my confusion
I've seen his face, I've heard his song - before
but I don't care what time he's on - anymore
I must have been on the streets too long
the party's over
caught in a dream
inside this world machine
I find myself outside your door
trying to make it like before
but you don't follow what I say
and I can tell by your smile
you're no longer a child
that part of you was buried yesterday . . .
. . . who knows
why they come and where they go
in this world machine?
it's the chosen fools
who make the rules
that don't apply to me
with their fast-car games
and counter claims
not my reality
and I don't know if I belong - today
I don't know why my friends have gone - away
I must have been on the streets too long
the party's over
caught in a dream
inside this world machine
(don't knock the system - we'll knock some sense in you
don't beat the system - there's nothing you can do)
02 Physical Presence (05:27)
I leave as I enter
another boy caught in-between
now all I can muster
are whispers to your screams
don't you remember
how you eased my disgrace
don't you remember
the love you saw in my face
perfected in silence
a physical presence
perfected in silence
a physical presence
I sought affection
but now I realize
a cold rejection
the movement in your eyes
but I can remember
when you shook against me
I can remember
when I saw what love could be
perfected in silence
a physical presence
perfected in silence
a physical presence
ain't what she did
it's the way that she did it
when I couldn't give
only she could forgive it
ain't what she did
it's the way that she did it
as long as I live
it's for me to re-live it . . .
silence . . .
part of the answer
is that there's really no escape
part of the answer
is that life can have such perfect shape
don't you remember
all the nights you shared in my disgrace
don't you remember
that the love that filled this empty space was . . .
. . . perfected in silence
a physical presence
perfected in silence
a physical presence
03 Something About You (04:26)
Ooh ooh
How how can it be that a love
Carved out of caring fashioned by fate
Could suffer so hard
From the games played much too often
But making mistakes is a part
Of life's imperfections born of the years
Is it so wrong to be human after all
Drawn into the stream
Of undefined illusion
Those diamond dreams
They can't disguise the truth
That there is something about you
Baby so right
I wouldn't be without you baby tonight
If ever our love was concealed
No one can say that we didn't feel
A million things
And a perfect dream of life
Gone fragile but free
We remain tender together not so in love
It's not so wrong
We're only human after all
These changing years
They add to your confusion
Oh and you need to hear the time
That told the truth
because there's something about you
Baby so right
Don't want to be without you
Baby tonight
Because there's something about you
Baby so right
I couldn't live without you
Baby tonight ooh ooh
To feel there's something about you
Baby I couldn't sleep without you
Tonight
04 Leaving Me Now (05:02)
It seems true love is so rare
Seems all I've known is deceit
Your laughter fills the air
Once more I'm sensing defeat
And I suppose you're leaving me now
I was so sure, now I'm so full of doubt
And I suppose you'll be leaving this place
Just like the smile you've wiped from my face
This time
I always gave my best
Your memory serves you so badly
Some people kill for less
Yet I'd still die for you gladly (so gladly)
But I suppose it's my turn now
To play a scene that's familiar somehow
I turn the page and you walk away
Not even love could bring you to stay
This time
Walk away, it's so easy
Once more I'm learning
In the depths of my despair
Your lies confirming
True love is so rare
And I suppose it's my turn now
There's no more love, only feelings of doubt
Gone with the hope your words have erased
Gone with the smile you wiped from my face
Love is a ship we all hope to steer
Through troubled times, 'cross an ocean of tears
A midnight sea that swells in your eyes
Takes just one look to know I'm still mesmerised
But I suppose you're leaving me now
I was so sure, now I'm so full of doubt
I turn the page and you walk away
Not even love could bring you to stay
This time
Leaving me now
Leaving this place
06 It's Not the Same for Us (04:38)
I know you live on my street
I sometimes wonder
Why we don't meet
I've seen your face in the sky
Twenty-five stories high
You never come down to earth
Communication (communication)
Could hardly be much worse
Don't keep me here in the dark
I want to be your friend
Your fears are way off the mark
(Bridge)
Every generation
Sees it their own way
Never learning their lessons
Making the same mistakes again
(Chorus)
It's not the same for us - as history fades away
It's not the same for us
It's not the same for us - you must hear me when I say
It's not the same for us
Look out on this brave new land
Think of the future
The future that lays in our hands
Our leaders live in the past
We can change it
There's something to hope for at last
(Bridge)
(Alternative Chorus)
It's not the same for us - as history fades away
It's not the same for us
It's not the same for us - do you hear me when I say
It's not the same for us
(It's not the same for us)
What dreams are you chasing now?
What are you living for?
(It's not the same for us)
The problems that we're facing now
Nobody faced before
(It's not the same for us)
Please don't reject me
In anger or in sorrow
(It's not the same for us)
You've got to accept me
If we're to make a better tomorrow
It's not the same - it's not the same for us
(Repeat to fade)
07 Dream Crazy (03:54)
dream crazy
we change too fast
take cover
cos it can't last
(it's a) cold crime
a deadly sting
there's no time
to talk of deadly things
well there's no lifetime guarantees
but I see you and you see me
let's spend the night on love's deep sea
and let emotion set us free
I love the way you start to glow
I love the way your body flows
stand easy
it's a party crash
so sleazy
let's make a smash
cool colors
set the scene
dive into
the neon love machine
you know my love's a guarantee
so dance a dance of love with me
your body's moving like the sea
now we're as close as we can be
(Chorus)
I love the way you start to glow
I love the way your body flows
that's the way the party goes
and it's a way everyone knows
well there's no lifetime guarantees
but when you you're making love to me
we'll ride the waves of ecstasy
and let emotion set us free
(Chorus)
dream crazy
dream crazy
09 Coup d'etat (03:43)
on the border
there's disorder
now they've gone too far
wait for the coup d'etat
fragmentation
we don't know who we are
wait for the coup d'etat
no choice
look what we've become
world peace
at the point of a gun
the voice
that calls everyone
says fight
for a place in the sun
proud man's daughter
came through slaughter
but she still bears the scars
wait for the coup d'etat
declaration
'cross the nation
hailed as a rising star
wait for the coup d'etat
too late
to make any plans
the state
has met her demands
we wait
for the blood on her hands to dry
on the border
there's disorder
proud mans' daughter
came through slaughter
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di luigi42
Il disco in questione rimane insieme al live 'A physical presence' il loro capolavoro.
È un disco 'estetizzante', perfetto connubio tra forma e contenuto e poi facilmente fruibile.
