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Rating: 1985. The buzz of a critic labeling Duran Duran as a boyband for teenage girls incapable of playing, and a probable creative fatigue lead to the split of the group. Le Bon (vocals), Rhodes (synth), and Roger Taylor (drums) form Arcadia, and their only work, "So Red The Rose", fully satisfies the need for new stylistic experiences also thanks to contributions from names like Sting, Herbie Hancock, Grace Jones, David Gilmour. The single that precedes the album is "Election Day", elegantly sung with a guitar response, uniform rhythm, and flat bassline (an ironic message to the former bassist?), with continuous synth interventions, and Rhodes as the absolute master of the scene. The next three tracks, clearly bearing the Duran mark, steer the sound towards a dark rock style with strongly marked rhythms, Le Bon's timbre is deep, the sound is clear but betrays unease. It is followed by "Missing", an ethereal and dreamy tune with long reverberated notes. The best parts, however, are in the second half of the album where, after a gloomy intro, the electric guitar (Gilmour's?) suddenly illuminates the scene for "The Promise", a splendid melodic theme with Le Bon and Sting in a duet, piano entrusted to Hancock, sax to Andy Mackay, and a fretless bass line that gently envelops sax and guitar phrases. "El Diablo" sees Rhodes once again, backed by a decisive rhythm, preparing the ground for another excellent melodic idea full of unease, alternating with flute and acoustic guitar solos. Finally, "Lady Ice", dark and melodramatic, with a keyboard progression that leaves one stunned, concludes a decent album overall but rich in sometimes brilliant details, suggestive and surreal images, one of the best works of Le Bon/Rhodes.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Election Day (05:28)
Wild kind of look to the day
Opening eyes impale neon flickers
She moon, she turning away
The city�s her slave
He's cheating his mistress
She's moody and grey,
She's mean and she's restless
(So restless, so restless indeed)
All over you as they say,
Rumours or rivals yell at the strike force
Hi guys, by the way, are you aware you're being illegal
It's making your savior behavior look evil
�scuse my timing but say,
How d'you fit in with this flim, flam and Judy
Maximum big surprise your smile is something new
I pull my shirt off and pray,
We're sacred and bound to suffer the heat wave
Pull my shirt off and pray,
We're coming up on re-election day
Stretching my love down the way
To your invitation stretching my body
Use your intuitive play
Cause maybe we have more play time than money
Maximum big surprise she knows something new
I pull my shirt off and pray,
I'm saving myself to suffer the heat wave
Pull my shirt off and pray,
We're coming up on re-election day
(By roads and back ways a lover�s chance, down a wind
Curtain murmurs and sounds be calm hands on skin
Carry further.. entangled strands.. all sing!
Time, saving some time to slip away we could die )
Oh! shouldn't be asking� (why)
Wild and scheming
Could be my election day
Maximum big surprise you know something new
I pull my shirt off and pray,
We're sacred and bound to suffer this heat wave
Pull my shirt off and pray
We're coming up on re-election day
Re-election day
05 Missing (03:42)
And as I wander down to where you lay
The blood rushed up to meet
The roses in your hair
I thought I saw you smile
But now I don't see you anywhere
Whispering your love song in my ear
How can you touch me
When you're not really there
Stumbling out I made my way towards the open door
Climbing fast the sun broad streaming
Laughter down into your empty gaze
Where can I find you
Now I want to join in your games
I hear you calling
I hear you calling, calling, calling, calling
(Calling, calling, calling)
Whispering your love song in my ear
How can you touch me
How do you really dare
08 El Diablo (06:04)
Enter newborn players and gather
Weigh their innocence
Only the brightest shine
But not forever
Many lights die
Many tears rain
When those tears run dry
On a mountain madness day
You were just in time
For a foolish deal
A lover sold
I can't stand another howling day
Inside of this empty skin
While the beacons burn a flame
Please return from so far away
One life with the devil do I play
For so long el Diablo is to blame
Oh el Diablo, el Diablo, won't you sell me back my soul
Oh el Diablo, el Diablo, won't you sell me back my soul
Weddings on the wind, will she blow my way
He can dance and she can sing
She will tear your heart away
While the promise burns a flame
And will you return from so far away
One life with the devil do I play
For so long, el Diablo is to blame
One life with the devil do I play
For so long, el Diablo is to blame
One life but the devil is in my way
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