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Dopo il predecessore ‘Testimony', ecco il 5° album di Neal Morse: "One" (2004), meno classico di quello (meno archi), meno melodico di "Question mark" e meno ritmato di "Sola scriptura"; in favore di un concept meglio sviluppato e di sonorità vicine a vecchie glorie come Genesis, Yes, Asia, Gentle Giant ecc... dai quali si differenzia per l'ascendente metal; ricordando inoltre anche i primi Tears for fears. Il Concept dell'album è invece ispirato all'epopea cristiana della cacciata dal paradiso.
La formazione si compone di Neal Morse (Voce, tastiere, chitarra); Mike Portnoy (batteria e anche arrangiatore) e Randy George (Basso). Oltre una lunga lista di ospiti, che quindi tralascio.
Il concept prende vita con "Author of confusion" dall'intro strumentale scandita da Portnoy, assieme alle chitarre e tanti effetti come consueto, in perfetta tradizione; mentre un ispirato Neal si addentra nelle strofe poetiche e insieme musicali con la sua voce limpida e passionale, perfetta nel descrivere lo scenario idilliaco successivo alla creazione del parazioso; con mellotron, archi e chitarra armonizzati in modo eccelso alla stessa tastiera. La narrazione sottoforma di dialogo o pensiero passa da Adamo ed Eva a Dio, con testi scritti molto bene; che in alcuni tratti fanno pensare allo stesso John Milton, con le dovute attenzioni. Stupendo il modo in cui muta la melodia: un susseguirsi di strumenti mai caotico o stridente. Sempre romantico nei toni Neal, anche nella parte finale più emotiva dove la voce di Dio rimarca il comportamento dei capostipiti dell'umanita.
"The man's gone" fa parte del repertorio più enfatico a livello vocale e musicale, asservito ad una metrica più veloce; molto più corta rispetto ai venti minuti dell'antecedente. Segue "Author of confusion" capitolo della tentazione, che presenta riff metal, non enfatizzati dalla batteria per lasciar spazio all'inventiva di Neal nei panni di chitarrista; le parti cantate suddivise tra jazz e lente, quest'ultime con intonazione molto commossa - ancora presenti gli struggenti rallentamenti acustici, con emissione vocale tenue e fragile, intensa e sospirante.
"The separated man" presenta una base più standard, questa volta rasente il metal e nel secondo capitolo Neal tratta la presunzione dell'uomo, attraverso la metafora della grandezza rincorsa con l'innovazione tecnologica, grattacieli sempre più alti, ecc; ma le cui strofe vengono spesso spezzate ancora una volta da carezzanti assoli vocali di Neal. Segue il capitolo reprise di "The man's gone" con arpeggi folk e tamburi. Anche questa di 20 minuti. "Cradle to the grave" è invece un mid-tempo acustico in cui troviamo Phil Keaggy dei Kansas che accompagna l'ottimo Neal con una voce celestiale in questo botta e risposta tra l'uomo e Dio susseguiti da innesti classici e da un gran finale con voci sovrapposte, di cui il minimo che si possa dire è che sono perfettaqmente intonate.
"Help me - the spirit and the flesh", tratta del fallimento e del pentimento dell'uomo, che per tanto torna a rivolgersi al Dio dimenticato. Come sottofondo torna un po' di jazz. La seconda parte si collega con "Father of forgiveness" dedicata al ricongiungimento con Dio attraverso sempre più melliflue linee vocali. La conclusiva "Reunion" ravviva gli animi con l'impiego di sax e tromba ed è la più allegra in quanto rappresenta la ritrovata unione.
Negli 80 minuti del disco le lodi a Dio, il modo appassionato in cui vengono cantate, non potranno che risuonare anche in chi non è credente; in quanto anche senza corrispettivo l'immagine dipinta è un quadro d'autore.
Il secondo disco contiene alcune tracce che non hanno trovato spazio nel primo, unite ad alcune cover: U2 -Where the streets have no name; George Harrison - What is life (con Keaggy); Badfinger - Day after day; The Who - I'm free - Sparks.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 The Creation (18:23)
I- One Mind
Long before these brave new modern times
The first madman received the breath of life
He and woman walked this wonderland
Talking daily with the great I am
It had begun....
We were of one mind
Fellowship divine
All creation came
We lived to praise his name
And we walked his way
In the cool of the day
All was made was one big everything
The Father gave the son life's golden ring
And all was rosy in their company
All creation in full diversity
Was only one...
Chorus
In the evening breezes they went walking towards the sun
God and his creations had a time when they were one
And they lived together and no other will was done
II- In a Perfect Light
Hand and hand and face to face they tarried
Living in one universal mind
In his garden home (day or night)
Man was not alone (in a perfect light)
Like Clark Kent to Superman he's leaping
The pres, the V.I.P. of the grand design
Sin was never known (day or night)
In their garden home (in a perfect light)
And he let him name the things that are
And asked his opinion
Just like the agent to the star
He gave him dominion
And he was made into two
And he gave them a job to do
And they were to care for every part
And love was the union
III- Where Are You?
And at the designated time
At the usual venue
He went calling in the night
Children where are you?
Children where are you?
Why?
Why are you hiding?
You were ashamed
You fled my eyes
I gave you life
And all that I wanted
Was just one thing
But you chose a lie
IV- Reaching from the Heart
We were of one mind
Once upon a time
But we turned away
We've got to find a way
To get back again
To where it all began
We were torn apart
Now we're reaching from the heart
Make us one we pray
In the cool of the day
We can walk his way.....
03 Author of Confusion (09:31)
Author of confusion you play inside my mind
and I want to run
But where can I hide?
Author of confusion your aim is to confound
'til I do not know
Which is up or down?
Author of confusion you play inside my mind
and I want to run
But where can I hide?
"Author of confusion you start an endless chase; thoughts start running 'round"
Never find their place
Author of confusion your aim is to confound
'til I do not know
Which is up or down?
Low or high
The truth is I don't know
Author of confusion you play inside my mind
and I want to run
But where can I hide?
"Author of confusion you start an endless chase; thoughts start running 'round"
But never find their place
Author of confusion your aim is to confound
'til I do not know
Which is up or down?
Day or night
Who knows right from wrong?
How long will stay tied to the mast?
How long 'til you reach for me at last?
Aren't you tired of living in the cold?
How long 'til you come to claim the gold?
You are like a raven in the night
You fly high but you're sleeping in the light
The waves will crash and the mighty winds will roar
Why can't we be the way we were before?
Author of confusion you play inside my mind
Author of confusion you live to make me blind
Author of confusion you play inside my mind
and I want to run
But where can I hide?
"Author of confusion you start an endless chase; thoughts start running 'round"
Never find their place
Author of confusion your aim is to confound
'til I do not know
Which is up or down?
05 Cradle to the Grave (04:56)
Sometimes I don't understand
Why I was born at all
When all that I do leaves me empty
Aching and longing for more
Sometimes I feel I could stand
Man, I feel like I'm ten feet tall
But then it's like I'm on trial and I'm guilty
I don't know exactly what for
How I wish
I could be relieved
Fall on God's doorstep
And be received
But it seems he doesn't
Care for me anymore
So I'll be on my way
Live from the cradle to the grave
On my own
Son you must understand
Why I would let you fall
It isn't because I don't love you
It's not that I want you to crawl
But the silence between us has grown
And your towers have grown so tall
"I let you choose; you have chosen"
You don't seem to want me at all
How I wish
To be reconciled
That you would just love me
With the heart of a child
But it seems you never
Want me around anymore
So you can have your way
Live from the cradle to the grave
Far from home
How I wish (Child how I love you)
I could be relieved (but you're so far away)
Fall on God's doorstep (Won't you come home to me?)
And be received (I will give you my robe)
But it seems he doesn't (Clothe you in linen)
Care for me anymore (Son I want you to stay)
So I'll be on my way (I'll set you free)
Live from the cradle to the grave (How I long to be home)
How I wish (I've been alone)
To be reconciled (so very long)
That you would just love me (with a heart made of stone)
With the heart of a child (Can you dry all the tears)
But it seems you never (I've held in my heart?)
Want me around anymore
So you can have your way (I'll be on my way)
Live from the cradle to the grave
Far from home
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