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Il titolo è più che esplicativo: "Magia e Medicina". I talentuosi ventenni inglesi nati dalle parti di Liverpool (di celebre lì non c'è solo la squadra di calcio...) sanno quello che vogliono: far coesistere l'ispirazione e la razionalità; innovare senza per questo dover fare strumentali e poco credibili rivoluzioni; scrivere canzoni nuove ma dal sapore antico
, senza lasciarsi influenzare troppo dalle mode del momento.
Il secondo capitolo dei Coral prosegue, ampliandolo, il discorso intrapreso con il loro giustamente acclamato debutto. Negli undici brani che compongono l'album i dottori/sciamani mescolano nel loro dorato calderone tutti i generi che hanno contribuito alla loro mirabile formazione.
Ascoltare "Magic & Medicine" è un po' come ripercorrere degli itinerari che si ritiene di conoscere a menadito, per poi ritrovarsi all'improvviso in luoghi nuovi (ecco la magia...) che i nostri giovani apprendisti stregoni si divertono a farci scoprire.
Il risultato complessivo, diciamolo subito, è sorprendente. Il lavoro non suona affatto "old time music", come qualcuno potrebbe pensare. Nonostante, in filigrana, siano chiaramente individuabili tutti i modelli di riferimento, il disco risulta fresco, ispirato, coinvolgente.
Si parte con "In the Forest", brano che indica chiaramente la direzione di marcia, con un organo Hammond a condurre le rallentate danze. Con "Don't Think You're The First" siamo in un morriconiano west che si colora di tinte psichedeliche; se oggi Stan Rigday e i suoi Wall of Voodoo avessero vent'anni, avrebbero forse scritto canzoni simili a questa.
"Leizah" suona meravigliosamente country, ma non è un idillio: nuvole e lampi incombono all'orizzonte.
"Talkin' gypsy market blues" è un pezzo dylaniano fini al midollo, un blues elettrico in stile "Highway rivisited 61", "cattivo" al punto giusto, ma che, come molti pezzi dei Coral, possiede ramificazioni insospettablili. In "Secret kiss" riappare l'organo anni '60 per "condire" una canzone dalle ascendenze francesi (Jacques Brel ?). "Milkwood Blues" è la più speziata, la più ricca di quelle deviazioni caratteristiche della band; finanche il jazz, il vaudeville fanno capolino in un brano che, comunque, potrebbe essere definito neopsichedelico.
"Bill McCai" è una sfrenata cavalcata country-western, con Roger McGuinn e i suoi Byrds a condurre la colorata carovana, che decide di fare una sosta al ranch dei Credeence. "Eskimo Lament" parte come un'intensa ballad alla King Crimson, ma ben presto si aprono nuovi scenari e si finisce con l'accompagnamento dei tromboni, presi in prestito dai passeggeri del "Sottomarino Giallo".
"Pass it on" è un brano alla Neil Young di disarmante semplicità, ma che possiede calore e d intensità da vendere.
In "All of our Love" le atmosfere diventano più rarefatte e conturbanti: la voce di Skelly sussurra; un piano, un'armonica, una chitarra acustica e un minaccioso basso intrecciano una lisergica melodia.
In "Confessions of A.D.D.D." il miglior pop californiano degli anni d'oro e il progressive meno onanista si incontrano, non senza avere prima invitato i padri del blues; un finale alla Can rende il tutto più appetitoso.
Che dire di più? Mi rendo conto che i nomi citati, i riferimenti sono troppi, ma la magia dei giovanotti di Liverpool è quella di riuscire a farteli dimenticare, di avere comunque un loro sound.
La medicina dei Coral forse non sarà miracolosa, ma rappresenta di certo un ottimo ricostituente per la musica pop.
P.S. L'album in questione per me è stato il migliore del 2003.
Elenco tracce testi e video
02 Don't Think You're the First (04:03)
Don't think you're the first
In the whole universe
To follow your heart
Or gaze at the stars
To stare at the night
To the clear daylight
Don't think you're the first
In the whole universe
To feel sorrow or shame
As you walk in the rain
Do I love you?
Yes I love you or I wouldn't tell you
So don't think you're the first
In the whole universe
To be caught in the act
Numbered and wrecked
Put in your place
Made to feel like a fake
Don't think you're the first
In the whole universe
To be untouched by the time
Think you're one of the kind
Do I love you?
Yes I love you or i wouldn't tell you
So don't think you're the first
Don't think you're the first
In the whole universe
To dance with the light
From the meak to the might
As the birds in the trees
Sing their sweet melodies
Don't think you're the first
In the whole universe
To hear a thousand violins
As the trial begins
Do I love you?
Yes I love you or I wouldn't tell you
So don't think you're the last
To be tied to the mast
While you watch from afar
As your world falls apart
You hang on for help
But the rest help themselves
Don't think you're the last
To be tied to the past
While you future's controled
While the present untold
Do I love you?
Yes I love you or I wouldn't tell you
So don't think you're the first
03 Liezah (03:31)
I had a girl her name was Liezah
She had only one desire
To walk the cobbled streets alone
Heading anywhere but home
With Crowley as her close companion
His Diaries went hand in hand with
All the men that she has known
She leaves their silver but keeps their gold
So lawyers, doctors please beware
Of that girl with wavy hair
For she will cut you down to size
Reveal the truth behind your disguise
Liezah
Just passed by yer
Now you're standing
Empty handed
Liezah
Can't despise her
She'll change your look
She'll have you hooked
The city sleeps as she's arriving
Tongue tied and twisted was her timing
Her eyes glazed in deep despair
Those crocodile tears they don't care
Don't turn your back cos she'll be gone
Chasing shadows in the sun
All along the dusty road
Where she goes well we'll never know
And everytime I think of Liezah
I break down and I start crying
Although she tore me apart
There's still a place for that girl in my heart
Liezah
Just passed by yer
Now you're standing
Empty handed
Liezah
Can't despise her
She'll change your look
She'll have you hooked
04 Talkin' Gypsy Market Blues (03:07)
Talkin’ gypsy market blues
I was too late but I never got to choose
Talkin’ gypsy market blues
I was too late but I never got to choose
Got to have them gypsy boots
Followed them by familiar root
Rambled round from town to town
Sleeping in a doorway as still as a mouse
Saw the bullfighters last stand
I've been drinking dust
I've been kicking cans
All my family, they went home
Let me in Portugal, all alone
Thought I saw that caravan
But it was just a car park man
Said to me as I stood in line,
There's nothing in the world as sad as time
Well if nothing comes to nothing
Then what's the point?
I sat right down and I built my joint
Flat caps they just pass me by
The dust pneumonia left me dry
Talkin’ gypsy market blues
I was too late but I never got to choose
Talkin’ gypsy market blues
I was too late but I never got to choose
3 days later when I awoke
My dust filled lungs could hardly cope
Realised I was not alone
I was in the old car park man's home
Looked out the window at the local scenes
One the ledge were some grilled sardines
Then through the door in came the maid
Said Maria was her name
Long dark hair and copper skin
Washed away my seven sins.
Said senor what's this bad news
Told her of my gypsy blues
Maria laughed and said your cute
You don't need no gypsy boots
Picked myself up off the floor
I don't need them boots no more
I don't need them boots no more
I don't need them boots no more
Said I don't need them boots no more (don't need them boots baby)
05 Secret Kiss (02:56)
A secret kiss,
Reminded me of what I miss,
Some kind of forgotten bliss,
On this summers eve,
Though the seasons deceive.
??? of my honesty,
You still make me believe,
Is this the rock,
That your daring me to cross,
Down the river to the docks,
That's where we'll meet,
Where the bayline(?) creeps(?)
Into her majesty
You still make me believe
So far away (so far away)
So far away (so far away)
Can't get away (so far away)
So far away
But that's alright
But that's alright
Jewels and pearls,
And all the wonders of the world,
Mean nothing until I return,
In time for tea,
Sit on my settee,
Lost in my memories,
You still make me believe,
You make me believe,
You make me believe,
You make me believe
07 Bill McCai (02:37)
Family taught him right from wrong,
Local tales and children's songs,
Sunday school was his shelter,
With his friends Joe and Walter,
Now those days so far away,
An empty swing where he once played,
Now he's got so fat and bald,
He never thought that he'd grow old.
Everyday when he gets the train
Looks out the window and he thinks in vain
If I could only be that boy again
He's got a sales job and it gets him down
Same old faces, same old sounds
Heart attacks, orthopaedic backs
Documents and labelled racks
His wife can't stand the sight of him
With his routine glass of gin
She makes his lunch of processed ham
Waiting for the meter man
Everyday when he gets the train
Looks out the window and he thinks in vain
If I could only be that boy again
(Take it away Bill)
He could be that boy again
Another day, another gin
His kids don't even notice him
Something different about his face
His happy smile seems out of place
Family gathered round for tea
Eyes fixed on the new telly
A news flash came and then it said
Bill McCai was just found dead
No more windows, no more trains
Hung himself out in the rain
Now he'll never be that boy again
And we say...
Bye, bye Bill Mccai
Bye, bye Bill Mccai
Bye, bye Bill Mccai
09 Careless Hands (04:14)
Don't put your heart in careless hands,
Those careless hands they don't understand.
Sugar and spice and all things nice,
You won't think twice about sacrifice,
You'll put your heart in careless hands,
Those careless hands they don't understand.
They'll lift you up and they'll put you down,
Having you running round this one horse town.
Those careless - hands,
Those careless - hands,
Won't understand,
Those careless - hands.
Don't warm your hands in this cold heart,
Cos this cold heart won't play that part,
The choice is yours to hesitate,
Threw his line and you took the bait,
And warmed your hands in his cold heart,
But his cold heart won't play that part.
Open your eyes and look around,
Any chance they get to put down,
With careless hands,
Those careless hands,
Won't understand,
Those careless hands
10 Pass It On (02:19)
Every day I recognise
What's deceased and what's alive
But don't repeat what I just said
Until gold has turned to lead
Then all the tales will be told
Whilst you and I are in the cold
But don't think this is the end
Cos it's just begun my friend
And when it's done
And all this is gone
Just find the feeling pass it on
For every tear cried in shame
There'll be someone else to blame
And every crime that I commit
There'll be a punishement to fit
But I'd accept what's coming round
If I could only lose this sound
That's been ringing in my ears
And tormenting me for years
When it's done
And all this is gone
Just find the feeling pass it on
And when it's done
And all this is gone
Just find a feeling pass it on
Just find the feeling pass it on
Just find a feeling pass it on
Just find the feeling pass it on
11 All of Our Love (03:06)
All of our love we give to you
Can you see what we see
Can we see it too?
All of our hate we give to you
Can you do what what we do
Can we do it too?
All of our joy we give to you
Can you say what we say
Can we say it too?
All of our pain we give to you
Can you be what we be
Can we be it too?
All of our love
We give it to you
All of our hate
We give you that too
All of our pain
We give you that too
All of our love
All of our hate
All of our joy
All of our pain
Love
Hate
Joy
Pain
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di giov
La canzone che apre il disco, intitolata 'In The Forest' è sicuramente uno dei brani migliori scritti finora dalla band.
I ragazzi stanno crescendo bene dal punto di vista musicale, se continuano di questo passo tra un po', saranno i Coldplay ad aprire i loro concerti e non viceversa.
Di gluca1985
Un lavoro fondato su un precario ma vittorioso equilibrio tra ciò che fu e ciò che potrebbe essere.
I Coral rielaborano con sfrontatezza e con quel tocco di "sgangheratezza" tipicamente inglese.
