Se l'obiettivo di questo disco era di ricreare il sound dei vecchi Yes, non si può dire che sia un successo completo. "The Ladder" ha però il pregio di trovare un buon equilibrio tra il pop e il prog, e sostanzialmente quasi ogni canzone del disco è orecchiabile, ben prodotta e non scontatissima. I testi, come al solito, non vogliono dire una sega, ma tanto ci eravamo abituati.
"Homeworld" è un gran pezzo. L'avevo sentito ben prima di comprare l'album, in quanto era inserito come canzone di sottofondo nei titoli di coda dello stupendo videogioco omonimo. Sinceramente è il brano che mi ha spinto a spendere i miei buoni venti sacchi per avere anche il resto. A dirla tutta non è che mi avesse entusiasmato in un primo momento, il resto: canzoni come "It Will Be A Good Day", "Lightning Strikes" o "Can I?", francamente stucchevoli, non aiutavano a farmi amare il disco.
Però ci sono anche cose come "Face to Face", brano super luccicoso, con un goloso giro in maggiore di basso e synth, e "If Only You Knew", che è il punto d'incontro tra i due concetti, difficilmente conciliabili, di ballata "à la festival di sanremo" e di canzone ben fatta. Giuro, funziona. Ha un ritornello semplicemente troppo piacevole per poter essere snobbata solo in quanto è pop.
Anche "Finally" tocca un po' quelle corde 'easy' che il proggettaro pieno di peli e stizza dovrebbe spolverare, ma l'altra grande perla è "New Language", che chiude l'album (se si tralascia quella postilla che è "Nine Voices") in modo egualmente degno di come "Homeworld" l'aveva aperto. Un inizio prog che sfocia in un giretto di chitarra a cui si aggiunge il cantato a cui si aggiunge la batteria, tutto seguito da un bridge in minore seguito da un ritornello coi coretti.
Un disco da tre stelle e mezzo, che approssimo per difetto perchè sono un bastardo.
Elenco tracce e testi
01 Homeworld (The Ladder) (09:34)
Anderson/Squire/Howe/White/Sherwood/Khoroshev
Nothing can take us far enough emotion
Far enough together
As the light shines so bright
Bright enough to let us in
Nothing can bridge our souls' devotion
Fast enough together
As the power proves you right
Right enough to let you begin
So many displaced among the future dreamers
Realized their doubles
Took a new step
A question of origin
Only in the recent past
Seekers fought to realize
Skyward shone like beacons
A question of origin
Ten thousand millions flee
To the westward light
The dreamers represent
This arc of peace
As the poets entranced
The anchor redeemed
Secrets of science
The history of the future
Was surely made
Just what keeps us so alive
Just what makes us realize
Our home is our world, our life
Home is our world
Nothing can take us far enough emotion
Far enough together
As the light shines so bright
Bright enough to let us in
Nothing can bridge our souls devotion
Fast enough together
As the power proves you right
Right enough to let you begin
Speak so fast to the prophets of the living
Looking for the signs
Spanning out the centuries
Search for truth
Ancient ones, they watch and listen
Carry our wishes
Took upon themselves to guide us
Through the endless skies
Just what keeps us so alive
Just what makes us realize
Our home is our world, our life
Our hope is our world, our life
I have seen the passion
That's in the hope that everyone
Will find their way into the secret
Of the home of your heart
Living within the vision
Within the power, beyond belief
We see that hate destroys the soul
Of anyone who tries to teach it
I have seen the dream
That's in your heart
That's in your eyes
To bring you closer to the one
It's what keeps us so alive
It's what makes us realize
Our home is our world, our life
Just what keeps us so alive
Just what makes us realize
Our home is our world, our life
Home is our world, our life
Send, ascending to the secrets
All is pure and clear to resolve
Nothing can change us now
Send, ascending to the future
Nothing can ever change us now
We follow the sun
We follow the sun
We follow the sun
Truth is a simple place
Here for us all to see
Reach as it comes to you
As it comes to me
As I will always need you inside my heart
Peace is a word we teach
A place for us all to reach
Sing as it sings to you
As it sings to me
As I will always need you inside my heart
03 Lightning Strikes (04:35)
Anderson/Squire/Howe/White/Sherwood/Khoroshev
What you gonna do when the lightning strikes and hits you
Who ya gonna call for the secret of stealing the world
Swimming in this ocean of words on your new cellphone
Diving for the wisdom of pearls in your eyes
Come on
What ya gonna do when the lightning strikes and hits you
How ya gonna laugh when the joker forgets his lines
Stepping off a cloud into space whatever greets you
Show me how you got this award for being alive
Waking up is waking to the power
Dancing up is dancing till the dawn
Talk talk talk will always get you someplace
Shake it up 'n' shake me till I'm done
Shake it up now!
She ay... Do wa bap
She ay... Do wa bap
She ay... Do wa bap
She ay... Do wa bap
Who ya gonna call when the power
Begins to chase you
Spinning out of shape now you're learning to live again
Fastening your seatbelt tonight it could get jumpy
Showing me the good 'n' that
Life is not in vain
Take take take 'n' take me thru the lightning
Walk don't talk me always on the run
Ride it out until you get the picture
Shake it up and let me get me some
Let me get me some
Eya he say touch it together
Touching my spirit touching my feeling
Eya he say touch it together
Touching my spirit touching my feeling
Eya he say coming together
Touching my spirit touching my feeling
Eya he say coming together
Touching my spirit touching my feeling
Talk, talk, talk, keep moving 'round in circles
Moving till the moon is on the run
Take me take me take me to the new day
Take me out and let me get me some
Take take take and dance me thru the lightning
Moving to the left 'n' to the sun... ya ya ya
Help me get me some... ya
Help me get me some... come on
Ooh ya... ooh ya... ooh ya... ooh ya
Ooh ya... ooh ya... ooh ya
05 Face to Face (05:03)
Anderson/Squire/Howe/White/Sherwood/Khoroshev
Here we are trying to mend all the broken hearts
In a world where the pain is the fear
Ain't no doubt there's a method to madness here
Set your clock to the start of a brand new year
Shine your heart to the universe and get the news
Not alone never have been, never will be
See the truth, not to mention the promise made
See them all, see them all high on judar rhythm
We began at the very first spring
How the promise will come when the promise is made
We will sing at the very first spring
That the promise will come when the promise is made
Promise is made, promise is made
Shake me up, take me up
Face to face
Lift me up, shake me up
Face to face
Make me real, make me longing to see you smile
Shall we dancing, shall we be the dancing down under
In this life of lives, are we ready to take the chance
Moving to the rhythm, here at last to
Believe
To believe
We began at the first real spring
How the promise will come when the promise is made
We will sing at the very first spring
That the promise will come when the promise is made
We began at the first real spring - ya
We will sing at the very first spring - ya
We began at the first real spring
We will sing at the very first spring
How the promise will come when the promise is made
Promise is made, promise is made
We began at the first real spring
That the promise will come when the promise is made
We will sing at the very first spring
That the promise will come when the promise is made
Promise is made, promise is made
Shake it up, take me up
Face to face
Face to face
Face to face
06 If Only You Knew (05:42)
Anderson/Squire/Howe/White/Sherwood/Khoroshev
I can lift you with my heart
Give you meaning every day
Cannot live without your truth
And be the true me
To be the true you
Pick the flowers from your floor
Put them in your arms for you my love
Realise my life and more
Say you will 'n' then
Take me home
Make me clear
It feels so much better
Take me home
To this heart of hearts
If only you knew
You caught me when I was falling
Yes you caught me when I was falling fast
And only you knew
You answered me when I was calling you
You saw me when I was dreaming you
Into my life
Everyone who looks at you
Sees the loving in your every move
You're the healing of the soul
To be the true you
To be the true me
I will be your strength all time
Ever wishing you this love and more
Forever be your guiding song
Say you will and then
Take me home
Make me clear
To feel so much better
In this life
In your heart of hearts
If only you knew
How you caught me when I was falling
Yes you caught me when I was falling fast
And only you knew
You answered me when I was calling you
You saw me when I was dreaming you
Into my life
When I feel the hurt in so many peoples' lives
I take a deep breath and think of your smile your eyes
When I hear the sadness of this earthtime
Then I take a deep breath and know that you understand
That you understand
And only you knew
How you caught me when I was falling fast
Caught me when I was falling fast
If only you knew
How you answered me when I was calling you
You saw me when I was dreaming you
If only you knew
Yes you caught me when I was falling fast
You caught me when I was falling
Into your life
07 To Be Alive (Hep Yadda) (05:07)
Anderson/Squire/Howe/White/Sherwood/Khoroshev
Not a lot is missing
Every ounce of treasure found
And I believe that everyone should get what
They're allowed
Suspected of belief that comes suspended
In a sound
And everybody wants some
It's the sound they make in heaven
It's a sound for here on earth
I've heard it in the whispering
Of the wonders that we search
We've waited far too long
To hear the healing of the stars
'N' everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
To feel alive
Oh - does it get much better than this
Oh - does it get much better, much better
Oh - does it get much better than this, than this
There's the sound that keeps you trying
There's the sound that makes you smile
There's a sound in every corner
Of the world that we survive
Your temple is the harmony
You feel the sacred ground
Just wishing for the secret
To appear within the sound
Watching for the morning star
The rhythm of the sun
I hear it in my waking dreams
The singing has begun
The passion that we walk upon
The passion that we bring
Is written for the mountains
They love to hear us sing
Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
To feel alive
Oh - doesn't get much better than this
Oh - doesn't get much better than this, than this
Who made me make believe
I'm alive I'm living
Never underestimate
The signals coming to you
Oh
The sounding of the earth
It shakes you, yes it shakes you
Oh
The sounding of the earth
It shakes you, let it shake you
Hep yadda
08 Finally (06:01)
Anderson/Squire/Howe/White/Sherwood/Khoroshev
Finally... We put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally... Put it to the test
Finally
Make no mistake to the mainstream
Music be the master planner
Just like the books you read
You'll hear it on your radio scanner
It's not so much what you know
Or who you know that's coming
Its what you do regardless
Its what you do... eventually
Finally... We put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally... Put it to the test
Finally
I've seen them running, down and out
Never mind the good intentions
A dreamer with a reason to live
Is as clear as his next invention
You take a second look to find
A second chance at giving
The voices say do not despair
There's a real good reason you're living
I could feel the earth moving
I could see sky falling
We can chase the storm
We can sing the rain
Walk the final distance
Live this life again
Finally... We put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally... Put it to the test telling me to let go
I can feel the earth moving (I can sing the rain)
I can feel the rain coming (live this life again)
I can feel the storm
I can sing the rain
I can free my heart
Live this life again
You can choose to stand
You can choose to fall
You can see the rain
You can have it all
I can feel the rain coming
I can feel the earth moving
I can feel the love coming
I can feel the earth moving
I can feel the rain coming
I can feel the love coming
I can feel the earth moving
09 The Messenger (05:12)
Anderson/Squire/Howe/White/Sherwood/Khoroshev
Judging by the voice
He was free to himself so real
We slaved ourselves to sacrifice
More than that we do not know
Then you hear him on the radio
He would play the sacred themes
That my children sang to me
Amazing as it seems
It was the answer to my dream
His heart that touches me
More than that I do not not know
Then I hear him on the radio
Remembering his every word
That my children sing to me
We have seen the world, this ecstasy
Now my children sing to me
This loving place, beyond belief
You got to stand stand to to together
Keep the message alive
You got to stand stand to to together
To keep the message alive
Spirit up moving, spirit up
Rhythm of sunfire
You got to stand stand to to together
Keep the message alive
Listening for his words
He would speak in ancient verse
So we mesmerize a way to go
Reaching out the universe
Reaching out the universal
Not afraid to learn new words
That our children sing to us
We have seen the world, this ecstasy
So his children bring to us
This inner peace, beyond belief
You got to stand stand to to together
Keep the message alive
You got to stand stand to to together
To keep the message alive
Spirit up moving, spirit up
Rhythm of sunfire
You got to stand stand to to together
Keep the message alive
One voice
One world
One touch
One life... truly, truly say it
One world... one voice
One touch... truly, truly say it
Some people realise
Some people see it
From the beginning
One world... one touch
One voice... one life
One touch... one voice... one world... one life
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