una tromba
dei rumori assortiti
altri strumenti a fiato
una voce tremolante
entra la batteria, il ritmo cresce e comincia a prendere forma il minestrone sonoro. Così inizia questo cd.
Ma facciamo un passo indietro, a quando, in cerca di ispirazione musicale, leggo (e scopro) dell'esistenza di questo trio di Manhattan. Che siano particolari lo capisco subito dalle poche cose che vengo a sapere su di loro: 2 neri e un bianco, uno dei tre "traffica con l'arte visuale" (tratto pari pari dall'articolo), un altro è il produttore degli Yeah Yeah Yeahs (e mi torna in mente la loro "Maps", bellissima e ipnotica). Faccio un salto sul loro sito internet (www.tvontheradio.com) e vedo una loro foto: sono dei personaggi.
Ok,devo procurarmi questo cd. E finisco per procurarmelo (ehm..).
Com'è allora? Beh, originale è dir poco! La voce del cantante è molto simile a quella di Peter Gabriel, qua e là fanno uso di seconde voci in falsetto, ma è soprattutto quello che prima ho definito minestrone a spiazzare: c'è
della new wave, del blues, del jazz, del gospel, dell'elettronica. E' incredibile come possa mescolarsi tutto così bene, ma è così! Pensate che una canzone ("Ambulance") è cantata completamente "a capella", alla "Neri per caso" e si incastra alla perfezione tra l'elettronica che fa da base a "King Eternal" e la chitarra rock di "Poppy".
Ma il capolavoro dell'album si intitola "Staring at the sun": non fate facili battute pensando all'omonima melensa canzone degli U2, questa è sporca, brutta e cattiva, ovviamente in senso buono! Tra l'altro è anche l'unica sopravvissuta all'EP (intitolato "Young Liars") che ha preceduto di qualche mese questo album.
Qualcuno è ancora perplesso? Ok, aggiungo che l'etichetta discografica è la Touch & Go (dove hanno un po' di naso per quello che poi si rivelerà vincente) e che nell'articolo ispiratore sono stati paragonati agli Interpol.
A buon(i) intenditor(i)...
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 The Wrong Way (04:38)
wake up in a magic nigger movie
with the bright lights pointed at me
as a metaphor
teachin' folks the score
about patience, understanding, agape babe
and sweet sweet amour.
When I realized where I was
did I stand up and testify
oh, fist up signify
or did I show my soft shoe
maybe teach 'em a boogaloo
busy playin the whore
oh loiterers united
indivisible by shame
hungry for those diamonds
served on little severed bloody brown hands
oh the bling drips
oh the bling drips down
fallin' just like rain.
I don't wanna cast pearls to swine
I don't wanna march peacefully
no no no no no no no no no
new negro politician
is stirring
is stirring
is stirring inside me
no there's nothing inside me
but an angry heart beat
can you feel this heart beat?
oh fear we're fallin' off
oh terror we're pained
oh hunger we're stavin' off
roasted vermin sustain...
this shit will have to sustain.
shootin' doves from off balconies,
they wanna shackle the lame
by now you know their game.
Little niña arose,
went to stand by her payphone
waited for her caller to ring, said
ask me anything
I just asked for Her
I just asked for her to say so
and with her permission
I'm gonna take liberty
and I'm tellin' you to take it too
cause it's right there in front of you
Hey, desperate youth!
Oh, blood thirsty babes!
Oh your guns are pointed
your guns are pointed the wrong way
your guns are pointed the wrong way
02 Staring at the Sun (03:26)
Cross the street from your storefront cemetery
Hear me hailing from inside and realize
I am the conscience clear
In pain or ecstasy
And we were all weaned my dear
Upon the same fatigue
(You're staring at the sun)
Oh my own voice
Cannot save me now
It's just
(standing in the sea)
One more breath
And then
I go down
Your mouth is open wide
The lover is inside
And all the tumults done
Collided with the sign
You're staring at the sun
You're standing in the sea
Your body's over me
Note the trees because
The dirt is temporary
More to mine than fact face
Name and monetary
Beat the skins and let the
Loose lips kiss you clean
Quietly pour out like light
Like light, like answering the sun
You're staring at the sun
You're standing in the sea
Your mouth is open wide
You're trying hard to breathe
The water's at your neck
There's lightning in your teeth
Your body's over me
Be what you will
And then throw down your life
Oh it's a damned fine game
And we can play all night
You're staring at the sun
You're standing in the sea
Your mouth is open wide
You're trying hard to breathe
The water's at your neck
There's lightning in your teeth
Your body's over me
You're staring at the sun
You're standing in the sea
You're staring at the sun
You're standing in the sea
04 King Eternal (04:27)
All men condemned by men to die
Damned by blind bitch in hallowed halls
Hear it, heed this call:
Oh fucking eternal
Infinity's hourglass will measure all measure all
So, power
Cover your balls
'Cause we swing kung fu
Oh fucking eternal
Oh fucking eternal
Afraid of thunder children, so hide your ears
Hope your fortress holds up for many many many years
Shudder, it's a shame
Lightning, call the game
Send us up a baby boy
Let the smoke carry his name
If it's a girl let her shine
We will be
Oh fucking eternal
The hour of man is nigh
So gather up all supplies
And stack 'em up high
Stack 'em up high
Faith, Nathan I could see it in your eyes
Warmth, Nathan I can see it in your eyes
Golden houses, silver brides
Immortal erection, tongues untied
Oh fucking eternal
Oh fucking
06 Poppy (06:07)
I'm not looking for a mommy
Don't seem like you need a poppy
Plenty of time till you're an old lady
And the same for me before I'm an old man
We could celebrate it monthly
How we stayed individuated
Oh kid, congratulations
You held on to your dear dear dear identitiy
Even while spending so much time with me
I see two blackbirds in the yard
They are paired together
They are feeding
They are flying
They are fucking
I see two dragonflies do the same in midair
There is something
Special in the air
We wake up in the same bed
But with different bodies
God bless our separate heads
Oh desire will run about
That's what the geese were all roaring about
The fact that our love
Is not that kind of love
Not that selfish love
Says what's yours is mine
And what's mine is yours
I don't need to turn you out
You don't need to turn me into your whore
We are not some rutting pair of wild boars
We're just psyched so psyched
So psyched so fucking psyched
That's what the geese are all roaring about
That's what their hearts were all open about
Our love
That kind of love
Unselfish love
09 Wear You Out (07:20)
I can barely move
For want of room
And I'm forgettin' to breathe
But the sight of you
Has me instantly
Remember my needs
Oh the lights spin
And the beat breaks in
And I'm smellin' your sweet
Should I spend the next six hours
Tryin' to get you
Off your feet?
Oh no girl, just pretend
There ain't no one else around
So let's break it down
Ooh, let's break it down
Watch a room full of roosters
Turned to cocks runnin' wild
Scramblin' like hungry dogs
Towards you, child
See those boys tryin' to sweat you
Watchin' grown men cry
Like you're shakin' it
Like you're shakin' it
Like you're shakin' it
Put somethin' in their eyes
Oh wide open eyes
Well here I am
Just a man
Is this light flattering?
Did you notice my crown of feathers
And check out my vital vibrant comb?
Oh puff chest out and play strong
Grab you by the hair and pull you along
Or do I just talk to you
And tell you what I really
Really really want to do
Stop because you think that you
Know where this is going
Couldn't stop it girl
If you knew where this was going
You don't know the half
You seem so so smart
Ooh, but you're so wrong
Closing time
Pale blue lights gonna shine
In through any open window
Nighttime says goodbye
Let's pursue this argument in darkness
Curtains drawn, limbs entwined
Now you're two hours away
From starting your day
And you can't be late
So let's get straight
Let me wear you out
Let me wear you out
Let me make you mine, mine, mine
Let me make you mine, mine, mine
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