•
Rating: Reviewing "The lexicon of love" by ABC is a bit like commenting on "Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne. Both are works that initiate a completely new artistic genre, yet they are the result of contamination from multiple external genres. So what can "Journey to the Center of the Earth" by ABC, a new run for the old that cannot be older, at the core of something known only on the surface but totally unknown beneath the crust, be associated with? The oldest and most ungovernable sentiment that supports humanity, yet with a small shift, the latter collapses. I am talking about LOVE, the romanticism that permeates the debut album of an apparently humble British band, which from one day to the next finds itself leading (though not for long) the colorful and heavily disguised carriage of musical Neoromanticism, better known as "New romantic". This will bring fortune to groups like "Visage", "Spandau Ballet", "Culture Club", "Duran Duran" and ABC themselves, and will brand, defining attitudes and boundaries, the musical reality of the early eighties, one of the most homogeneous periods in the history of music.
It was no coincidence that in the same year (1982), in one fell swoop, the four gospels of "New romantic" were released: "Avalon" (Roxy Music), "True" (Spandau Ballet), "Rio" (Duran Duran), "The lexicon of love" (ABC). Probably, indeed surely, those who most inspired the sound and especially the look of Neoromantic bands were David Bowie, Roxy Music and, albeit to a lesser extent, Brian Eno. However, it is still unclear what exactly eighties Neoromanticism consists of. It is not about a specific sound; rather, it is a blend of multiple different genres, nevertheless having as a common thread a catchy and "easy" melody, punk-new wave attitude, extensive use of electronic instrumentation, and danceable rhythm. Overarching all this, the true revolution of the "New romantic" does not lie in the sound, but in the visual, exterior aspect. A sort of thinly veiled hedonism distinguishes every respectable Neoromantic piece, and "The lexicon of love", if you will, can be considered on a sentimental level an album of sublimation of the concept of sentiment, but which upon merely hearing the word does not hesitate for a moment to declare itself a fervent disciple of the most carnal and wild eros, a sort of Platonic eros in continuous change. In conclusion with the "New romantic", it was indisputably the final vector that brought the Pop genre into the homes of the Earth's inhabitants and defined its standards, which still endure today, despite Neoromanticism officially dying by the end of '85, losing the color, vibrancy, and pomposity that distinguished it, relentlessly commercializing. Today, surrounded by silly songs full of serious and ridiculous lyrics, a little healthy and casual romanticism would be welcome again. And now to us.
The album kicks off with "Show me", with an orchestral intro that anticipates an explosion of pumped sounds more precise than a surgeon, which in four minutes describes the anatomy of the entire album, ambitious and, if anything, effective in the analysis of the lexicon of love, the center of the "humanity" planet it rests upon. And after a spine-tingling intro, it officially starts with "Poison arrow", the band's first commercial success and, in my opinion, one of the best moments of the album and the "new romantic", this song is a real "poison arrow", scratching the ego and spirit of the previously innocent listener without hesitation. The rhythm picks up with "Many happy returns", a fast and lethal synth-atmosphere track that brings the album's aesthetic side to its peak, taking sensual and defined forms like never before, all products of façade imagination. "Tears are not enough" is literally and conceptually the immediate continuation of the previous track and reintroduces the same gloomy atmosphere and the same pressing rhythm, now even stronger and faster. It is the peak, the highest tower of the album. In fact, with the next song, "Valentine's day", the rhythms remain fast but the pathos drops, nevertheless maintaining part of the atmosphere of "Many happy returns" and part of another, which anticipates the eternally present one in the next track, mistakenly chosen by many as the symbol of ABC's music and inexplicably the most successful one. I am talking about "The look of love", complete with a very plastic and colorful video. The only thing I say about it is that "The look of love" sounds false and insincere at several points, but I admit that commercially speaking it was one of the album's strength points. And with this, after six fundamental tracks that passed faster than a train, the first act and the true soul of "The lexicon of love" conclude.
The rest is the side dish and dessert. We move through "Date stamp", a fast dark passage of the band (still excellent), the pure sentiment of "All of my heart", heralding a change of direction, a second dark moment full of atmosphere like "4ever 2gether", an unnecessary "The look of love" part 4 (who knows where the "part 2" and "part 3" have gone?) and the end that passes through the beginning, "Theme from Mantrap", a slow version in 6/8 of "Poison arrow". So goes "The lexicon of love", an excellent demonstration of competencies that has challenged artists and audiences by conducting a journey, in some ways, against the current towards the purest and most faithful definition of "LOVE", resulting in advocating that chivalric and noble love nowadays much derided and increasingly a target of satire. Much can also be understood by looking at the CD cover itself (back then, LP).
In conclusion, "The lexicon of love" is a low blow to the excessive materialism and political commitment present in today's music, a complete and classy work, which is an absolute must-have in the collection of any true music lover.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Show Me (04:01)
Once I needed your love
But that was just one thing left on my mind
Then I needed to feel you near me
You said:"Don`t have the time."
The cowboys at the rodeo
The rhine-stones on that Romeo
Your theme tune on the radio
Souvenirs that only go to
Show me, show me
Show me that your mine
Show me, show me
Give me just one sign
Show me, show me
Second that emotion
Show me, show me love
Since we`re skimming the surface darling
Now`s time to get in deep
You`ve opened up the envelope
But there`s still one secret you keep
A pirate station or the late night show
A sunken ship with a rich cargo
Buried treasure that the four winds blow
Wind and rain it only goes to
Show me, show me
Show me that your mine
Show me, show me
Give me just one sign
Show me, show me
Second that emotion
Show me, show me love
Some things are hidden
Some things you`ll see
Make me know
Signal to me
Nine out of ten, in every case
She might look pretty but there`s make up on her face
Show me, show me love
And you can be free
And you could be free. Free. Free.
Where are the diamonds?
Where are the curls?
Where are the things that you took from this world?
These are the diamonds
These are the curls
These are the things that you took from this world
02 Poison Arrow (03:25)
If I were to say to you
"Can you keep a secret?"
Would you know just what to do
Or where to keep it?
Then I say"I love you"
And foul the situation
"Hey girl I thought we were
The right combination"
Who broke my heart?
You did, you did
Bow to the target
Blame Cupid, Cupid
You think you're smart
Stupid, Stupid
Shoot that poison arrow to my heart
Shoot that poison arrow
No rhythm in cymbals
No tempo in drums
Love on arrival
She comes when she comes
Right on the target
But wide of the mark
What I thought was fire
Was only the spark
The sweetest melody
Is an unheard refrain
So lower your sights, yeah but raise your aim, raise your aim
Who broke my heart?
You did, you did
Bow to the target
Blame Cupid, Cupid
You think you're smart
Stupid, Stupid
I thought you loved me but it seems you don't care
I care enough to know I can never love you
Who broke my heart?
You did, You did
Bow to the target
Blame Cupid
You think you're smart
That's stupid
Right from the start
When you knew we would part
03 Many Happy Returns (03:57)
When I accepted this job
I was resigned to my fate
When I got there early
She`d arrive late
You can say she`s gone forever
Or just sit tight and wait
She said I was unprincipled
That I was not the first
Like the Phoenix coming back
From the ashes, uh-huh
I know what`s good,
But I know what trash is
In the head-lights,
In the highlights of her hair...
Hit the head lines
But she`s not there:
Many happy returns
Many happy returns
These are the lessons I could have learned
Return. Many happy returns
And these are the letters I should have burned
Okay, I`m sad, not blue
Okay, remember
All that matters to me now
Is the message I sent her
Like the world, spinning `round
On its axis, uh-huh
I know democracy
But I know what`s fascist
When she`s gone, all I got to learn
Is the law of diminishing return
When she`s here, one thing I`ve found
Things get better second time around
Many happy returns
Many happy returns
These are the lessons I could have learned
Return. Many happy returns
And these are the letters I should have burned
Okay I`m sad, not blue
Okay, remember
All that matters to me now
Is the message I sent her
Now she`s gone, she`s gone away
Now she`s gone forget her
Coming back another day
If you`d only let her
Now she`s gone, she`s gone away
But she`s gone forget her
Coming back another day
So why resurrect her?
Many happy returns
Many happy returns
These are the lessons I could have learned
Return. Many happy returns
And these are the letters I should have burned
04 Tears Are Not Enough (03:31)
Tears for souvenirs
Tears are not enough
Tears for shields and spears
Tears are not enough
Searching for certainty
When it's such an unstable world
Searching for something good
And I'm looking for the real McCoy
Blueprint: That says that boy meets girl
Picture: Girl meets boy
A blueprint that says that the boy meets the girl
Picture in a magazine
Yes you've shown your feelings
Yes you've shown you're tough
Said things worth believing
Tears are not enough
Slam that door, slap my face
I don't love you anymore
Dry your eyes Sink or swim
You surmise you can't win
We all make great mistakes
Would I lie
Should I lie
Could I lie to you?
Excuses had their uses
But now they're all used up, all used up
Yes you've shown your feelings
Yes you've shown you're tough
Said things worth believing
Tears are not enough
Tears for souvenirs
Tears are not enough
Tears for shields and spears
Tears are not enough
05 Valentine's Day (03:42)
When the postman don't call on Valentine's Day
And Santa Claus don't come on a Christmas Day
That umbrella won't work on a rainy day
Don't ask me, I already know
When they find you beached on the barrier reef
And the only pleasure treasured is in map relief
The choice is yours, sure, saint or thief
Don't ask me, I already know
Yes, they baked your cake in little slices
Kept your eyes on rising prices
Wound up winning booby prizes
I'm sure you'd like to think you know what life is
Find destiny through magazines
Liplicking, unzipping, Harpers and Queens
From here to eternity without in-betweens
Ask me, I already know
With your heart on parade and your heart on parole
I hope you find a sucker to buy that mink stole
School for scandal, guess who's enrolled
So ask me, I already know
When they find you beached on the barrier reef
When the postman don't call on Valentine's Day
When the only pleasure treasured is in map relief
When you don't tell the truth, that's the price you pay
When I'm shaking a hand, I'm clenching a fist
If you gave me a pound for the moments I missed
And I got dancing lessons for all the lips I shoulda kissed
I'd be a millionaire, I'd be a Fred Astaire
07 Date Stamp (03:52)
This heart's up for sale
Yeah, this heart's on the stand
Mix and match and melt in my mouth
Nothing ever goes quite as planned
You fly north and I'll sail south
So redevelop product
Redesign this package
Still refuse to reach in your pocket
Everything is temporary written on that sand
Looking for the girl that meets supply with demand
Love has no guarantee
(Yes I'm date stamped)
Promise me eternity
(Guess I'll fade away)
Even with a pedigree
(Yes I'm date stamped)
Love has no guarantee
That heart's on display, yes, that heart's off the rails
A ship in the harbour with wind in its sails
Chain up love inside the chain-store girl
Chain up love and exchange it
Is Monsieur a connoisseur or just short-changed?
Off the rack or custom-fit it all seems the same
Look but don't touch in paradise
Don't let them catch you damaging the merchandise
Love has no guarantee
(Yes I'm date stamped)
Promise me eternity
(Guess I'll fade away)
Even with a pedigree
(Yes I'm date stamped)
Love has no guarantee
I get sales talk from sales assistants
When all I want to do girl, is lower your resistance
Everything is temporary, written in the sand
Looking for the girl that meets supply with demand
Love has no guarantee
Brings out the woman in me
Even with a pedigree
Love has no guarantee
No chance of subtlety
No promise of eternity
Even with a pedigree
Love has no guarantee
08 All of My Heart (05:12)
Once upon a time when we were friends
I gave you my heart the story ends
No happy ever after now we're friends
Wish upon a star if that might help
The stars collide if you decide
Wish upon a star if that might help
What's it like to have loved and to lose her touch
What's it like to have loved and to lose that much
Well I hope and I pray that maybe someday
You'll walk in the room with my heart
Add and subtract but as a matter of fact
Now that you're gone I still want you back
Remembering
Surrendering
Remembering that part
All of my heart
Spilling up in silk and coffee lace
You hook me up a rendez-vous at your place
Your lipstick and your lipgloss seals my fate
Sentimental powers might help you now
But skip the hearts and flowers skip the ivory towers
You'll be disappointed and I'll lose a friend
No I won't be told there's a crock of gold at the end of the rainbow
Or that pleasure and pain sunshine and rain might make this love grow
But I hope and I pray that maybe someday
You'll walk in the room with my heart
Add and subtract but as a matter of fact
Now that you're gone I still want you back
Remembering
Surrendering
Remembering that part
All of my heart
Yes I hope and I pray that maybe someday
You'll walk in the room with my heart
And I shrug and I say that maybe today
You'll come home soon
Surrendering
Remembering
Surrendering that heart
All of my heart
09 4 Ever 2 Gether (05:30)
You can tell me how to run my life
You can tell me the drugs you're using
You're talking loud and saying nothing
Walking proud and going nowhere fast
You know
If you could tell me how to find belief
If you told me, I'd believe you
Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil
I'll close my eyes, you know love grows
4 ever 2 gether, 4 years 2 come
4 love 2 strong, 4 us 2 part
4 ever 2 gether, 4 years 2 come
4 love 2 strong, 4 us 2 part
I stuck a marriage proposal in the waste disposal
If that's the trash aesthetic, I'd suggest that we forget it
Your 12 disciples might kiss and tell
But you can tell me much more than they can
Right now
A mathematical equation won't describe my liaison
The stars in the sky might try persuading
But you can tell me, I won't hear you
You can tell me, I gave up the listening
Years ago
4 ever 2 gether, 4 years 2 come
4 love 2 strong, 4 us 2 part
4 ever 2 gether, 4 years 2 come
4 love 2 strong, 4 us 2 part
So you're broken hearted, take it to the mender
I got something on the agenda
Speak no, speak no, speak no evil
4 ever 2 gether, 4 years 2 come
4 love 2 strong, 4 us 2 part
For when two hearts but strong and sweet
One promise I can never meet
Forgive and forget, for goodness sake
For love this strong, might make or break
4 ever 2 gether, 4 years 2 come
4 love 2 strong, 4 us 2 part
Two's a party, three's a crowd
I'm surprised what get's allowed
Three coins inside the fountain
You saw Mohammed move the mountain
Speak no evil
Speak no evil
This is silly, well nearly
Yours faithfully, well eventually
Speak no evil
Speak no evil
Loading comments slowly
