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Eccomi tornare nei panni di de-recensitrice dopo poco più di due mesetti dalla mia ultima rece. E torno per recensire un disco che da febbraio a questa parte staziona fisso nel mio lettore. Perchè allora fino ad adesso sono stata presa da dubbi di amletica memoria? Lo recensisco, non lo recensisco, questo è il problema! Scherzi a parte, il fatto è che ho di fronte un cd che mi piace, mi entusiasma, mi rilassa, mi emoziona eppure.. eppure cosa so dei Morcheeba? Poco. E questo perchè prima del 2000 neanche li conoscevo e dopo li ho sempre snobbati, un po' fuorviata da "Rome wasn't built in a day", tormentone da dimenticare di un'estate da ricordare! Non so nemmeno per quale motivo mi sono convinta che fossero un gruppo sforna-tormentoni-estivi-pallosi-con video ridicolo. E con questa idea ho iniziato ad ascoltare questo best. L'opinione poi è cambiata ma la questione di fondo rimane: chi sono i Morcheeba?
Proprio questo best torna utile per ripercorrere la loro storia e farsi un'idea generale del loro percorso musicale. Innanzitutto, una domanda che forse avrà attraversato la mente di molti ma che per quanto mi riguarda non trova risposta: ma cosa vuol dire Morcheeba??! Ho saccheggiato tutte le mie conoscenze linguistiche ma proprio non ne ho la più pallida idea (se qualcuno lo sa e fosse così gentile da comunicarmelo, gliene sarei grata). Detto questo, i Morcheeba sono stati a lungo composti da Paul e Ross Godfrey (due fratelli paciocconi originari di Folkestone) e Shirley Klarisse Yonavive Edwards (ovvero Skye. . per fortuna che ha ridotto il nome se no ai concerti ora che annuciavano il suo nome, la gente era già tornata a casa!). L'avventura "Morcheeba" inizia nel lontano 1995 quando i tre si incontrano ad una festa. Dalla somma e commistione delle loro diverse influenze musicali (hip-hop, blues, rock) nasce uno stile particolare, non assimilabile al bristol sound alla Massive Attack (con cui in effetti hanno in comune solo l'uso dell'elettronica e alcune atmosfere) ma nemmeno semplice pop da classifica. Nascono così i primi successi raccolti nel loro primo album, "Who can you trust", gran belle canzoni come "Trigger Hippie" e "Tape Loop". In totale questo best, pubblicato nel 2003, contiene 18 tracce, dai primissimi successi agli inediti "What's your name" (la prima domanda inglese che si impara alle elementari dietro la quale si nasconde una movimentata e allegra canzone in collaborazione con Daddy Kane) e "Can't stand it" che personalmente trovo piuttosto insipida. Impossibile non citare anche canzoni contenute in "Big Calm", album del 1998 che solo ieri è entrato a far parte della mia collezione. Di questo album nel best troviamo ben 5 canzoni. Ci terrei a nominare soprattutto "The Sea", dedicata ad Hythe, luogo dove Paul è nato, "Let me see", recentemente usata per una pubblicità a conferma del grande appeal di alcune delle loro canzoni (non so voi, ma io, senza avere la minima idea nè del titolo nè degli autori, la canticchiavo in giro per casa... vi lascio immaginare la sorpesa quando l'ho scoperta per caso in questo cd!) e last but not least "Blindfold", canzone che semplicemente adoro, canzone su cui potrei scrivere un libro. Ha contribuito a farmi uscire da un periodo in cui vedevo tutto nero perchè, sarà la solare voce di Skye, saranno questi violini meravigliosi protagonisti del passaggio da strofa a ritornello, sarà che mi sono realmente "affezionata" a questa canzone ma mi bastava metterla nel lettore per sentirmi già meglio, dimenticare per almeno 4 minuti e 38 tutti i miei problemi e tornare a sorridere. Potere della musica!
Prima di concludere vorrei ancora citare "Be yourself" dal ritornello contagioso e orecchiabile e il duetto di Skye con il cantante folk Kurt Wagner "What New York couples fight about", sei minuti in cui la voce soave di Skye fa da contraltare alla voce un po' stanca, a tratti indolente, di Wagner. Insomma, un gran bel cd, a tratti non proprio facile con episodi come "Moog Island" e "Never An Easy Way" che per quanto siano pregevoli sono tutt'altro che orecchiabili. Un cd che, comunque, consiglio a chi non sa molto dei Morcheeba e vuole farsi un'idea generale di questa band che ha avuto la capacità di mescolare vari generi e innovare continuamente il loro stile attraverso nuove ricerche e sfide. Tutto sta nel vedere se a dieci anni dalla loro formazione, dopo l'abbandono di Skye e dopo il risultato abbastanza modesto di "The Antidote" saranno ancora in grado di innovarsi. Ai posteri l'ardua sentenza.
Elenco tracce e testi
01 The Sea (05:50)
Flocking to the sea
Crowds of people wait for me
Sea gulls scavenge
Steal ice cream
Worries vanish
Within my dream
I left my soul there,
Down by the sea
I lost control here
Living free
I left my soul there,
Down by the sea
I lost control here
Living free
Fishing boats sail past the shore
No singing may-day any more
The sun is shining
The Water's clear
Just you and I walk along the pier
I left my soul there,
Down by the sea
I lost control here
Living free
I left my soul there,
Down by the sea
I lost control here
Living free
A cool breeze flows but mind the wasp
Some get stung it's worth the cost
I'd love to stay
The city calls me home
More hassles fuss and lies on the phone
I left my soul there,
Down by the sea
I lost control here
Living free
I left my soul there,
Down by the sea
I lost control here
Living free
I left my soul there,
Down by the sea
I lost control here
Living free
I left my soul there,
Down by the sea
I lost control with you,
And living, living,
And I, living, by the sea
02 Tape Loop (03:50)
Tape loop, keeps on turning round, forever,
Patience, love is coming 'round for your pleasure,
Wait now, no use trying to push, there's no need,
People, go against the grain, with their greed.
I've been here before, it ain't gonna work no more,
I've been here before, it ain't gonna work no more.
Focus, your mind will be strong, no distractions,
Soak up wisdom all year long, and then take action.
I've been here before, it ain't gonna work no more,
I've been here before, it ain't gonna work no more.
I've been here before, it ain't gonna work no more,
I've been here before, it ain't gonna work no more.
I've been here before, it ain't gonna work no more,
I've been here before, it ain't gonna work no more.
03 Otherwise (03:44)
They wanted me here just to show you my face
But when it comes to the crunch I just hide in disgrace
You were calling me mad but I know you're the same
Cuz you gotta be seen to be playing the game
Yes you gotta be seen to be playing the game
It aint gonna hurt now, if you open up your eyes
You're making it worse now, everytime you critisise
I'm under your curse now, but I call it compromise
I thought that you were wise but you were otherwise
A specimen like you I would love to obtain
I asked a tedious guy if he would tell me your name
I'd love to impress you with a back somersault
I wanna take up your love but its locked in a vault
I wanna take up your love but its locked in a vault
It aint gonna hurt now, if you open up your eyes
You're making it worse now, everytime you critisise
I'm under your curse now, but I call it compromise
I thought that you were wise but you were otherwise
When I open my mouth I'm so brutally honest
And I can't expect that kind of love from you
When you open your mouth your teeth are beautifully polished
And I can't explain the pain you're going through
It aint gonna hurt now, if you open up your eyes
You're making it worse now, everytime you womanise
I'm under your curse now, but I call it compromise
I'm under your curse
It aint gonna hurt now, if you open up your eyes
You're making it worse now everytime you critisise
I'm under your curse now, but I call it compromise
I thought that you were wise but you were otherwise
04 Blindfold (04:39)
Three months in here
Can't catch the tears
Time never lands
Our love is all that stands now
Streets feel strange
And longer lives can never change
I'm so glad to have you
And it's getting worse
I'm so mad to love you
And you evil curse
I feel out of place
Just look at my face
Stuck in the mud
Knee-deep in blood girl
Eyes, blind fold
You never said I'm growing old
I'm so glad to have you
And it's getting worse
I'm so mad to love you
And your evil curse
I'm so glad to have you
And it's getting worse
I'm so mad to love you
And your evil curse
Sample: My my my heart is still reliant/very light
Tell them I've gone
And nothing's wrong
In from the past
A sudden blast bang
Spring has gone
And summer keeps on coming on
I'm so glad to have you
And it's getting worse
I'm so mad to love you
And your evil curse
I'm so glad to have you
And I'm getting worse
I'm so mad to love you
And your evil curse
I'm so glad to have you
And I'm getting worse
I'm so mad to love you
And your evil curse
I've a plan to save you from my misery
I'm a man to brave to follow history
05 Be Yourself (03:15)
Too much of a good thing
Has really burnt me out
I'm sick of satisfaction
And living in a drought
Just be yourself
Anyway that you want to
Just be yourself
Anyway that you can
Just be yourself
Anyway that you want to, baby
Just be yourself
Anyway that you can
The center of attention
Is living on the edge
The thirty-second floor
I'm standing on a ledge
Got to get this straight
Cos we're running too late
Just be yourself
Anyway that you want to, baby
Just be yourself
Anyway that you can
Just be yourself
Anyway that you want to baby
Just be yourself
Anyway that you can
Just be yourself
Anyway that you want to, baby
Just be yourself
Anyway that you can
Just be yourself
Anyway that you want to, baby
Just be yourself
Anyway that you can
Just be yourself
Anyway that you want to
Just be yourself
Anyway that you can
Just be yourself
Anyway that you want to, baby
Just be yourself
Anyway that you can
Just be yourself
Anyway, baby
Just be yourself
Anyway that you can
06 Part of the Process (04:25)
Angry faces, cursing loud,
Changing places, falling proud
Behind the bomb, no one cares,
Time is money
We're taught to tear
It's all part of the process
We all love looking down
All we want is some success
But the chance is never around
It's all part of the process
We all love looking down
All we want is some success
But the chance is never around
How can we show, how to feel
Situation ain't so real
Chopping wood won't stop the rage
We need targets on war we wage
It's all part of the process
We all love looking down
All we want is some success
But the chance is never around
It's all part of the process
We all love looking down
All we want is some success
But the chance is never around
You smash they grab 'til it's gone
Attempt to grow and fix undone
And I am the way it's all to scale
We're all companions on which we sail
It's all part of the process
We all love looking down
All we want is some success
But the chance is never around
It's all part of the process
We all love looking down
All we want is some success
But the chance is never around
It's all part of the process
We all love looking down
All we want is some success
But the chance is never around
It's all part of the process
We all love looking down
All we want is some success
But the chance
07 Let Me See (04:22)
Who can you trust when you need to?
Why do we rust when we heed you?
Crashing back down to earth I've found
We can love
Oh, let me see
All of the places that I can be
Oh, let me know
All of the places where we can go
Do you ever think in bubbles?
Do you ever shake up troubles?
Falling apart right from the start
Crawling 'round
Oh, let me see
All of the places that I can be
Oh, let me know
All of the places where we can go
Show us how to stand up, strong
Waiting, for you takes so long
Shadows leave us standing naked
We can't fake it
Oh, let me see
All of the places that I can be
Oh, let me know
All of the places where we can go
Oh, let me see
All of the places that I can be
Oh, let me know
All of the places where we can go
08 Undress Me Now (03:28)
Using your mind
Imagine our skin
Joined at the hip
Joined from within
By using your eyes
You're freezing my frame
Watching our clothes burst into flames
(Undress me now, you know how)
Using your eyes now
(Undress me now, you know how)
Using your mind
Using your mind
So give me a light
Oh give me a drink
Just give me a reason
To feel what I think
(Undress me now, you know how)
Using your eyes now
(Undress me now, you know how)
Using your mind
(Undress me now, you know how)
Using your eyes now
(Undress me now, you know how)
Using your mind
Using my mind
(Undress me now, you know how)
Using your eyes now
(Undress me now, you know how)
You know how, you know how
You know how, you know how
10 Trigger Hippie (05:35)
Tune in, drop out of love,
Pull the trigger, I'm a hippie,
So said a truth, and blood,
Alive and well,
You push the buttons.
Standing in line of fire,
For the whole,
My soul,
Step codes,
The drums,
And sing,
Love the children,
Learn to live with everything.
Love love love, i'm a trigger hippie, yeah
Love love love, we're trigger hippies, yeah.
Zoom in, cut out at sound,
Make it feel so trippy
Hung up, let down to ground,
Forget the kill it's far to sticky
Love love love, i'm a trigger hippie, yeah
Love love love, we're trigger hippies, yeah.
Love love love, i'm a trigger hippie, yeah
Love love love, we're trigger hippies, yeah.
Love love love, i'm a trigger hippie, yeah
Love love love, we're trigger hippies, yeah.
14 World Looking In (04:07)
Angels
Smiling on my happiness
Danger
'Cause the scene is still a mess
( We can all be blessed )
Don't stop just yet
We' ve got the world looking in
Our window
Don't stop just yet
We' ve got the world looking in
Our window
Spacecraft
Spinning slowly out of sight
Policeman keep on chasing the wrong guy
( We'll see eye to eye )
Don't stop just yet
We've got the world looking in
Our window
Don't stop just yet
We' ve got the world looking in
Our window
We've got the world looking in
Our window
We've got the world looking in
Our window
Don't stop just yet
We've got the world looking in
Our window
Don't stop just yet
We've got the world looking in
Our window
15 Moog Island (05:19)
Sometimes I get up feeling good but greed gets me down,
I try to think about the highs, the freedom we've found,
When the business in your life don't sit with your soul,
And they treat you like a child they need to control.
The music that we make will heal all our mistakes and lead us,
The music that we hear is always standing near to feed us.
We're all gonna rise above all things that we lack,
Good vibrations that we make will come bouncing back.
The music that we make will heal all our mistakes and lead us,
The music that we hear is always standing near to feed us.
The music that we make will heal all our mistakes and lead us,
The music that we hear is always standing near to feed us.
The music that we make will heal all our mistakes and lead us,
The music that we hear is always standing near to feed us.
16 Way Beyond (03:32)
Driving with your
Handbrake on
But you can't smell the burning
Cause i've been a little
Oblivious
Just to keep heads turning
Man i want some, pretty cake
Is ugly all they're saving
'Cause we can get so fabulous
When we're all saving
No grieving
Oh way beyond our means
To buy these crazy things
Oh wasting our whole lives
In the struggle to survive
Get yourself in
Debt for me
The grass don't get no greener
Have it all so
For upfront
It doesn't save the dreamer
Bad dreamer
Oh way beyond our means
We love these spending sprees
Oh wasting all our time
On some production line
But diving down the web we shoot
We'll be ok if we approve
Cause i don't mean no heavy family
Holding me
Oh way beyond our means
To buy these crazy things
Oh making them sweet friends
To burst up at the bends
Oh way beyond our means
We love these spending sprees
Oh wasting our whole lives
In the struggle to survive
17 Never an Easy Way (06:43)
I think I slipped the net,
But I cut myself free,
I'm not losing yet,
So don't forget me.
I'll say it, we play it, and try tomorrow
I'll say it, we play it, and live with sorrow.
You'd think I'd learn by now,
There's never an easy way,
I get through somehow,
I'm on my knees to pray,
You'd think I'd learn by now,
There's never an easy way,
I get through somehow,
I'm on my knees.
I'll admit I'm wrong,
But I'm getting on track,
I've been here too long,
I'm under attack.
I face it, replace it, and try to change,
I face it, replace it, and rearrange.
You'd think I learned by now,
There's never an easy way,
I get through somehow,
I'm on my knees to pray,
You'd think I learned by now,
There's never an easy way,
I get through somehow,
I'm on my knees to pray.
On my knees to pray.
I think I slipped the net,
But I cut myself free,
I'm not losing yet,
So don't forget me.
I'll say it, we play it, and try tomorrow
I'll say it, we play it, and live with sorrow.
You'd think I learned by now,
There's never an easy way,
I get through somehow,
I'm on my knees to pray,
You'd think I learned by now,
There's never an easy way,
I get through somehow,
I'm on my knees to pray,
I'm on my knees to pray,
On my knees to pray,
On my knees to pray.
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