• Voto:
A discapito di un classico quale "Skylarking", il mio personale parere è che il loro lavoro più significativo di quella perfetta macchina pop chiamata XTC sia stato "Drums & wires". Ciò in virtù di una freschezza e una pirotecnia maggiore, oltre ad essere incidentalmente tra gli apici della new wave. Infatti uscì in un' annata magica, il 1979, contribuendo a forgiare in maniera determinante quel clima.
Il merito principale di Andy Partridge e Colin Moulding fu quello di portare una visione pop sopraffina ("This is pop!", non a caso cantavano in pieno clima "no future") in un periodo di sconvolgimenti sonori epocali. Ciò si traduceva non certo in canzoncine tutto sommato innocue, come scrive quel simpaticone di Scaruffi. Bensì in melodie maligne e complesse benché irresistibilmente orecchiabili, inserite in un tessuto musicale sempre più sofisticato, in grado di ridare dignità al lascito beatlesiano - dalla fantasia negli arrangiamenti all'originalità della scrittura - anche nel periodo del punk.
"Drums & Wires" è impregnato fino al midollo dello spirito new wave, in particolare nel lavoro in cabina di regia di "futuro prezzemolino" Steve Lillywhite: del quale si iniziano ad avvertire i trucchi che renderanno celebri le sue produzioni: ad esempio i tamburi mixati in cruda evidenza. La controllata frenesia di "Making Plans for Nigel" - certamente una delle canzoni più celebri della "nuova onda", con il basso di Moulding (autore del pezzo, segnando un punto importante nella sana rivalità compositiva con il soverchiante Partridge) implacabile nel martellare - lascia altresì chiaramente emergere il significato del titolo dell'album. Potenti e spiazzanti patterns della batteria di Terry Chambers, e una maggiore efficacia delle parti di chitarra (i "wires" appunto) spadroneggiano, a compensare l'abbandono del tastierista nerd Andrews. Sintomatici sono in tal senso anche la marziale "Roads girdle the globe", l'arzigogolata "Complicated game" (pazzesco il suo crescendo!), le vertiginose stratificazioni ritmiche di "Millions", o l'incedere squadrato di "Scissor man" (della quale faranno una brillante cover i Primus, a dimostrazione di quanto influente sia stato il gruppo anche oltre i reami del pop inglese).
Se forse sono meno riusciti quei momenti in cui si allenta la tensione, come nella ballad "Ten feet tall" o nella frizzante "Real by reel", con quegli ironici e inconfondibili coretti, altrove gli XTC dimostrano come un aggettivo di solito abusatissimo come eclettico, per loro calzi a pennello. "Day in day out", con quelle sghembe chitarre su frammentazioni ritmiche che faranno scuola negli anni 80, e la magnifica "That is the way", con connubio delirante tra sax e chitarra hawaiiana, fanno impallidire in un colpo solo interi album di gruppi che all'epoca vendevano assai di più.
Grande disco insomma: un viaggio tra gli umori più affascinanti del pop alla fine degli anni '70, con la capacità di ritrovare la centralità della melodia in mezzo a tanta avanguardia: quest'ultima, per altro, invecchiata decisamente peggio.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Making Plans for Nigel (04:12)
We're only making plans for Nigel
We only want what's best for him
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
And if young Nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
We're only making plans for Nigel
He has this future in a British steel
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel's whole future is as good as sealed
And if young Nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
Nigel is not outspoken
But he likes to speak
And loves to be spoken to (in his work)
Nigel is happy in his work (in his work)
Nigel is happy in his work (his work)
We're only making plans for Nigel
We only want what's best for him
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
And if young Nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
We're only making plans for Nigel
We only want what's best for him
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
We're only making plans for Nigel
He has this future in a British steel
Steel, Steel, Steel, Steel, Steel
Yeah, yeah
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel, Nigel, Nigel, Nigel...
02 Helicopter (03:54)
Oh heli, Oh heli
I'm crouching here with a telescope in hand
Looking out across our lego land
I really think it's about time that she came down
She a laughing giggly whirlybird
She got to be obscene to be obheard
I really think its about time that she came down
And I object to all the air male that she pick up
the air male that she pick up
the air male that she pick up
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter - copter
She's landing on the town
It's about time that I stopped her - stopped her
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter - copter
Oh heli - Oh heli
Now she's away from convent she's gone wild
Grown from a nice young lady to a child
I really think its about time that she came down
She a laughing giggly whirlybird
She got to be obscene to be obheard
I really think it's about time that she came down
And I object to all the air male that she pick up
the air male that she pick up
the air male that she pick up
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter - copter
She's landing on the town
It's about time that I stopped her - stopped her
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter - copter
Oh heli - Oh heli
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter - copter
She's landing on the town
It's about time that I stopped her - stopped her
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter - copter
Oh heli - Oh heli - Oh heli
When she's up there twirling round
Like a helicopter - copter
She's landing on the town, Look out, town
It's about time that I stopped her - stopped her
When she's up there floating round, round, round, round...
Oh heli - Oh heli
05 Ten Feet Tall (03:11)
Happy I'm floating
Around on my feet now
You make me go dizzy
I'm weak at the knees, yes
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall
Well you say I'm faking
And I say don't worry
The way that I bubble
There's something in the make, yes
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall
Right, the chemistry is right
This boy has reached his height
The feeling just goes on and on and on and on
From strength to strength
I'm ten feet long
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall
Right, the chemistry is right
This boy has reached his height
The feeling just goes on and on and on and on
From strength to strength
I'm ten feet long
Happy I'm floating
Around on my feet now
You make me go dizzy
I'm weak at the knees, yes
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall...
06 Roads Girdle the Globe (04:52)
Am I asleep
Or am I fast
Your every race
You first, you last
Roads girdle the globe
We safe in your concrete robe
Hail mother motor
Hail piston rotor
Hail wheel
Roads girdle the globe
Am I tied in
Or do I turn
Your holy incense
You tyre burn
Roads girdle the globe
We safe in your concrete robe
Hail mother motor
Hail piston rotor
Hail wheel
Roads girdle the globe
Steer me Anna, Steer me Anna
Steer me Anna, Steer me Anna
Steer me Anna, Steer me Anna
Steer me Anna, Steer me Anna
Steer me Anna, Steer me Anna
Steer me Anna, Steer me Anna
Steer me Anna, Steer me Anna
Steer me Anna, Steer me Anna
Am I get there
When is A, B
Your iron, oil, and steel
You set me free
Roads girdle the globe
We safe in your concrete robe
Roads girdle the globe
We safe in your concrete robe
Roads girdle the globe
We safe in your concrete robe
Roads girdle the globe
We safe in your concrete robe
Hail mother motor
Hail piston rotor
Hail wheel
Hail mother motor
Hail piston rotor
Hail wheel
Hail mother motor
Hail piston rotor
Hail wheel
07 Life Begins at the Hop (03:48)
I have learnt there's a magical spot at the hop
Come with me to the church on the corner the hop
There's nuts and there's crisps and there's c-c-c-cola on tap
A good time had by those boys and those girls at the hop
Tell me what do you say (tell me what do you say)
Tell me what do you say
I tell you
Life begins at the hop, boys and girls
Prepare yourself for the boys in the band at the hop
The cheap guitars, they're too young for the bars at the hop
We'll jive around, make fools of ourselves 'til they stop
We're back next week with another ridiculous tie knot
Tell me what do you say (tell me what do you say)
Tell me what do you say
I tell you
Life begins at the hop, boys and girls
Tell me what do you say (tell me what do you say)
Tell me what do you say (tell me what do you say)
I tell you
Life begins at the hop, boys and girls
I have learnt there's a magical spot at the hop
Come with me to the church on the corner the hop
There's nuts and crisps and there's c-c-c-cola on tap
A good time had by those boys and those girls at the hop
Tell me what do you say (tell me what do you say)
Tell me what do you say
I tell you
Life begins at the hop, la la la la la la la
Life begins at the hop, la la la la la la la
Life begins at the hop, la la la la la la la la la la la
boys and girls
09 Limelight (02:25)
I'm in the limelight
No time for sun ray
We are the happening
This day is our day
I'm in the limelight ah ah
Big on my block now ah ah
I'm in the limelight ah ah
I'm in the limelight
I'm in love
with myself
Please don't break the spell
Or give to someone else
I am a success
At least for a short while
I make decisions
Influence people
10 Real by Reel (03:48)
In this secret time, invading on our privacy
Unknowing we mime, we play for the ministry
They can film you in bed
Or when you take a bath
They can tape every cry
They can tape every laugh
They can turn you around so you won't know what's
Real by reel
Busy little bees recording everything you feel
On real by reel
You're documented down like rats
They're catching up on every squeal
On real by reel by reel by
Real by reel by reel by
In this hidden time, ignorance may help you to cope
Rehearsing for crimes, and sex just in government cinemascope
The can film you at work
Or when they let you play
They can tape what you think
They can tape what you say
They can blur your I.D. so you won't know what's
Real by reel
They're busy little bees recording everything you feel
On real by reel
You're documented down like rats
They're catching up on every squeal
On real by reel by reel by
Real by reel by reel by
Now I lay me down to sleep
Knowing that your lenses peep
Now I eat my daily bread
And into the tape spool I'll be fed
They can film you in bed
Or when you take a bath
They can tape every cry
They can tape every laugh
They can turn you around so you won't know what's
Real by reel
They're busy little bees recording everything you feel
On real by reel
You're documented down like rats
They're catching up on every squeal
On real by reel by reel by
Real by reel by reel by
Real by reel by reel by
Real by reel by reel by
15 Complicated Game (04:47)
I ask myself should I put my finger to the left, no
I ask myself should I put my finger to the right, no
It doesn't really matter where I put it
Someone else will come along and move it
And it's always been the same
It's just a complicated game
It's just a complicated game
A little girl asked me should she part her hair upon the left, no
A little girl asked me should she part her hair upon the right, no
I said it really doesn't matter where you part your hair
Someone else will come along and move it and it's
Always been the same
It's just a complicated game
It's just a complicated game
A little boy asked me should he put his vote upon the left
A little boy asked me should he put his vote upon the right
I say it really doesn't matter where you put your vote
'Cause someone else will come along and move it
And it's always been the same
It's just a complicated game
It's just a complicated game
They wanted Tom
They wanted Joe
To dress 'em up and stick 'em out on show
They were arrows in a very bad aim
It's just a complicated game
God asked me should he ought to put his world upon the left, no
God asked me should he ought to put his world upon the right
I said it really doesn't matter where you put your world
Someone else will come along and move it
And it's always been the same
It's just a complicated
Game
It's just a complicated game
It's just a complicated game
Just a complicated game
It's just a complicated...
Carico i commenti... con calma
