• Voto:
Non ricordo se l'estate del '97 sia stata calda, fredda, piovosa, divertente, di merda (ma mi pare l'ultima). Ricordo, in compenso, che, nella tragica mancanza di occupazioni migliori, si scommetteva su chi sarebbe andato al primo posto in Inghilterra tra i Blur e gli Oasis. Ricordo che tifavo per i primi, e che persi. Perché al primo posto ci capitarono gli Olive, venuti dal nulla, con una canzone dal titolo banale ("You're Not Alone") e dal sound ben poco estivo, con un video scuro e ovattato, con un disco che si chiamava "Extra virgin". Roba da condirci una pasta fredda, si pensava da queste parti. E invece.
A undici anni di distanza il debutto di Olive si fa ancora sentire, eccome, pur inserendosi in un filone stereotipato che nel settore elettronico di quegli anni andava per la maggiore: due dj nascosti dietro le quinte e un'affascinante vocalist a metterci la voce e la faccia. Tra residui acidognoli di trip-hop e ingredienti drum'n'bass, tra i Lamb e gli Everything But The Girl, Moloko e Roni Size, nel solco di un'elettronica ombrosa e delicata, tra downtempo folk rivestiti di trip-hop e riferimenti jazz, questo disco si fa sentire eccome.
La voce di Ruth-Ann Boyle prende le suadenti sfumature di Sade e le cala in un contesto sonoro più profondo, cavernoso, sostenuto da tastiere sempre molto ariose, come usava allora (sentire i sette minuti di "Miracle": piccola perla nascosta che non stonerebbe se piazzata in compagnia degli oscuri bijoux che in quegli anni andavano rifinendo Massive Attack e Portishead). Ma non è elettronica pura: non rari i pezzi guidati dalla chitarra, frequenti i samples che rinviano al jazz (qui, sì, con il modello portishediano alle spalle, soprattutto nella conclusiva "I Don't Think So"), con un effetto di eleganza e morbidezza diffusi, assecondati dalle linee vocali sinuose, come fumo di sigaretta, e dalle scale melodiche non sempre banali.
Dopo tutto, si tratta di pop: deliziose "You Are Nothing", "Blood Red Tears", col clarinetto in apertura che lo rende un notturno pezzo breakbeat, "Outlaw", concessione più melodica, "This Time", con chitarra funkeggiante. "You're Not Alone" è la canzone che ti rimane nelle orecchie, che ti si imprime subdolamente e con lentezza, con lo stesso torpore con cui inizia (un minuto e mezzo senza basi, la voce accompagnata da rifiniture minimali), conducendo per mano al ritornello, sostenuto dalle tastiere de-frammentate e dalla voce de-composta e raddoppiata della Boyle. Prime in classifica possono (o potevano) andare anche canzoni degne di nota.
"Extra virgin" resta un disco minore, un episodio periferico nel quadro del trip-hop di fine millennio, nascosto nella retroguardia. Ma a me questi dischi piacciono. Quelli che hanno il fascino consolatorio delle cose ordinarie. Anche le estati in cui non si ricorda cosa è successo hanno bisogno di uno specchio dove guardarsi. E gli Olive ne offrono uno con assoluto stile.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Miracle (07:31)
Verse 1
Deeper than deeper was my love for you
Sweeter than sweeter joy
Hoping that every day
You can go your way
I cannot hold you down
Turning the situation 'round a little more
Making it look like things
are just fine
You can go your way
Shudder to think these words were mine
Chorus
Touching the place that makes it a love thing
Straight to the face, One way love would be a miracle
Touching the place that makes it a love thing
Straight to the face, One way love would be a miracle
Verse 2
Dreamily passing by
Words sort of come and go
Wasting the time of day
I don't know
Don't you smile that way?
Smiling is all I've got left for you
You can go your way
You can go your way
Repeat Chorus * 3
02 This Time (04:43)
This time
Make no mistake, resolute and crystal clear
This time
I'm ready for you, complete and without fear
Sweet believer, you must be found
A soul survivor, who'll stick around
Never let me down
Trouble in mind
It's a question of pride
The standard is high
I couldn't live another lie
I could walk miles
If the feeling is right
I'm takin' my time
I couldn't live another lie
This time
My eyes will look at you, searching for better ground
This time
The rules we make will be mine, stronger than you have found
Clearer than clarity itself
I am no visionary
Why do I inquire of myself
Questioning my inner strength, too heavy to carry
Trouble in mind
It's a question of pride
The standard is high
I couldn't live another lie
I could walk miles
If the feeling was right
I'm takin' my time
I couldn't live another lie
Trouble in mind
It's a question of pride
The standard is high
I couldn't live another lie
I could walk miles
If the feeling was right
I'm takin' my time
I couldn't live another lie
Trouble in mind
It's a question of pride
The standard is high
I couldn't live another lie
I could walk miles
If the feeling was right
I'm takin' my time
I couldn't live another lie
04 Killing (04:17)
Given the way we're living,
Wouldn't you say we're killing ourselves?
Why do you say 'don't worry'?
This is the way we're killing ourselves.
05 You're Not Alone (04:25)
In a way it's all
A matter of time.
I will not worry for you.
You'll be just fine.
Take my thoughts with you,
And when you look behind,
You will surely see a
Face that you recognize.
You're Not Alone.
I'll wait 'til the end of time.
Open your mind.
Surely it's plain to see
You're Not Alone.
I'll wait 'til the end of time for you.
Open your mind.
Surely there's time to be with me...
It is the distance
That makes life a little hard.
Two minds that once were close --
Now, so many miles apart.
I will not falter though.
I'll hold on to your home.
Safe way back where you belong,
And see how our love will grow-ow-ow-ow!
You're Not Alone.
I'll wait 'til the end of time.
Open your mind.
Surely it's plain to see
You're Not Alone.
I'll wait 'til the end of time for you.
Open your mind.
Surely there's time to be with me...
You're Not Alone.
I'll wait 'til the end of time.
Open your mind.
Surely it's plain to see
You're Not Alone.
I'll wait 'til the end of time for you.
Open your mind.
Surely there's time to be with me...
You're Not Alone.
(You're Not Alone!)
I'll wait 'til the end of time.
Open your mind.
(O-open your mi-ind!)
baby theres time to be with me
You're Not Alone.
(You're Not Alo-o-one!)
I'll wait 'til the end of time for you.
(never alone)
Open your mind.
(Open your mind!)
Surely there's time to be with me...
(till the end of time)
You're Not Alone.
(You're Not Alone!)
I'll wait 'til the end of time.
Open your mind.
(O-open your mi-ind!)
baby theres time for me and you, (you, you...)
06 Falling (04:52)
In love In love
In love In love
Slower than the sun goes down
Softer than the autumn rain
Surer than the earth is round
Gentle as the morning breeze
Warm enough to sleep and dream
There is no doubt in my mind
I'm falling
In love
I'm falling
In love
Leaves that are falling around me
Make sense to me, reality
Leaves that are falling surround me
They only see reality
Clearer than the morning light
Darker than the darkest night
There is no doubt in my mind
I'm falling
In love
I'm falling
In love
Leaves that are falling around me
Make sense to me, reality
Leaves that are falling surround me
They only see reality
Leaves that are falling around me
Make sense to me, reality
Leaves that are falling surround me
They only see reality
07 Outlaw (05:08)
Two faces
Playing with my trust in you
You cover all your traces
And watch me relax with you
Insidious
Creep away and do your deal
Return what you think is you
It couldn't be further from the truth
(Bridge)
Cruel, keeping this a secret
Fool, you surely are
It's so you, blind to all the damage done
You go too far
(Chorus)
Couldn't you have told me before?
I would have loved you so much more
(So much more)
Couldn't you have told me before?
Feeling like an outlaw
Mmm
So you got some
You brought another person
Uncanny how he looks like you
Except there is too much he cannot do
It's not the problem
The way you shut your mouth was real low
My reputation tainted
I will not accept being the last to know
(Repeat bridge and chorus twice)
So
(Repeat bridge)
Couldn't you have told me before?
So much more
Couldn't you have told me before?
Feeling like an outlaw
(Repeat chorus twice)
I would have loved you so very much more
Feeling like an outlaw
08 Blood Red Tears (04:41)
Lighten up, give it up
I see a chance to make it up
There's a price for every day
You've just thrown away
I am all I ever was
Didn't change the way I was
Get a grip, button it
Cool down hypocrite
Couldn't you find her?
Examine your head
Here's a reminder
Blood red tears will shed
Wouldn't you need her?
Examine your head
Will you remember?
Blood red tears will shed
You dispose, I oppose
Couldn't you resist a girl
You applaude your reward
I sit here alone
You agree to comfort me
Every day I try to leave
And a feud, your attitude
Worn there on your sleeve
Couldn't you find her?
Examine your head
Here's a reminder
Blood red tears will shed
Wouldn't you need her?
Examine your head
Will you remember?
Blood red tears will shed
They tell me to go
I lied and I know
He cries so kindly
Couldn't you find her?
Examine your head
Here's a reminder
Blood red tears will shed
Wouldn't you need her?
Examine your head
Will you remember?
Blood red tears will shed
Couldn't you find her?
Examine your head
Here's a reminder
Blood red tears will shed
Wouldn't you need her?
Examine your head
Will you remember?
Blood red tears will shed
09 Curious (05:00)
Straight as a dye
In us we rely
Yet watch how my head is turning
Distracting my eye
It's no reflection on you, yet who would believe me
Troubled by the thought of it, I can't deny
That I'm curious, never meant to hurt you
Just curious, I can't deny
That I'm curious, never have deceived you
Just curious, I cannot lie
Give me a reason
I'll hide my delight
Shamelessly I'll seize the moment
Just my needs in sight
It's no reflection on you, yet who would believe me
Troubled by the thought of it, I can't deny
That I'm curious, never meant to hurt you
Just curious, I can't deny
That I'm curious, never have deceived you
Just curious, I cannot lie
It's no reflection on you, yet who would believe me
yet who would believe me
Troubled by the thought of it, I can't deny
That I'm curious, I can't deny
That I'm curious, never have decieved you
Just curious, I cannot lie
That I'm curious, never meant to hurt you
Just curious, I can't deny
That I'm curious, never have deceived you
Just curious, I cannot lie
That I'm curious, never meant to hurt you
Just curious, I can't deny
10 You Are Nothing (04:19)
You allude to every negative there was
Makin' out, that's all we had
Couldn't you believe that there would be an end to it?
All the good could not be that bad
There is just one thing to say
There's a lesson here to learn
Can you use it in any way?
You are nothing without my love
Couldn't care if you decide today and run away
Always said we'd be apart
Wouldn't care if you begin your life with someone else
You'd be back before you start
There is just one thing to say
There's a lesson here to learn
Can you use it in any way?
You're nothing without
You are nothing without
You are nothing without my love
Laissez faire approach is all you ever gave to me
Either way you didn't care
Maybe if you had the honesty you need to see
A wager everything you wouldn't dare
There is just one thing to say
There's a lesson here to learn
Can you use it in any way?
You are nothing without
You are nothing without
You are nothing without my love
You are nothing without
You are nothing without
You are nothing without my love
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