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It's Easter time, and I feel at peace with myself. So, with a bit of time on my hands, I start listening to some old gems from the past. I often take pleasure in seeing how much beautiful music I've purchased over the years, and I absolutely do not regret the money spent. Among these very personal favorites of mine, there emerges this masterpiece from what was one of the most controversial and fundamental bands of progressive hard-rock of the 70s: the atomic rooster.
With this second album, our roosters hit the mark.
It's 1971, and the lineup features Vincent Crane on keyboard-organ (an absolute genius), John Cann on guitar, and Paul Hammond on drums (replacing none other than Carl Palmer from the first album).
This new ensemble even brushes the top ten (No. 11) in December 1970 with the single "Tomorrow Night," which was released before the album that saw the light in January 1971, with a cover featuring an unsettling painting by W. Blake. Cann's hard, gritty, and psychedelic guitar brings important innovations to the group's sound and, unlike the debut album where the material was almost exclusively written by Crane, the same guitarist is responsible for composing three tracks and partially the title track. You might ask about the bass parts? These are taken by Crane, who plays them using the pedals and the bass tones of the Hammond organ.
"Tomorrow Night" proves to be an intelligent creation with a clear commercial setting, but much of the remaining material on this record highlights a clear shift towards heavy dark atmospheres.
The grave introduction of Crane's piano in the title track leads the listener into a gothic atmosphere with an oppressive dark tone, reiterated and reinforced by Cann's monolithic guitar riffs and harsh and gloomy vocal parts.
The mini-suite "streets" is perhaps the masterpiece of the album. Composed by Cann, this track is elaborated on the fusion of three different riffs of his guitar, the music rises and falls on the solemn notes of Crane's church organ, which gives the song a majestic and classical aspect.
Also by Cann is the typical psychedelic hard rock of "sleeping for years," which features a swirling guitar solo, and the decent "i can't take no more," originally conceived as a single and then included on the album.
An album that expresses the full expressive maturity of this supergroup and leaves the listener paralyzed by the unease some of its parts evoke.
Often compared to the more infamous Black Sabbath, I don't feel able to pronounce on this comparison, but I can only say that the one trait that might connect these two bands lies in the dark and devilish atmosphere that permeates their music. Musically speaking, AR are a step above, if only for their creative streak.
Part of the credit for the greatness of this combo lies in the genius of Crane, a crazy, semi-psychotic keyboardist who, always suffering from depressive crises, would commit suicide on February 14, 1989, Valentine's Day, almost sacrificing himself for what he loved most: music.
You will not regret the money spent.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Death Walks Behind You (07:23)
Death Walks Behind You,
Death Walks Behind You,
Death Walks Behind You,
Death Walks Behind You.
Lock The Door,Switch The Light.
You'll Be So Afraid Tonight.
Hide Away From The Bad,
Count The Nine Lives That You Had.
Start To Scream,Shout For Help,
There Is No One By Your Side.
To Forget What Is Done,
Seems So Hard To Carry On.
Luck Is False,That It's Near,
Bring Yourself To Understand,
It's Your Fate,Or What's Cast,
Point a Finger At Yourself.
(Death Walks Behind You,)
(Death Walks Behind You.)
Death Walks Behind You,
Death Walks Behind You,
Death Walks Behind You,
Death Walks Behind You.
(Death Walks Behind You,)
(Death Walks Behind You.)
Death Walks Behind You,
Death Walks Behind You,
Lock Your Door,Switch The Light,
You'll Be so Afraid Tonight.
Hide Away From The Bad,
Count The Nine Lives That You Had.
Start To Scream,Shout For Help,
There Is No One By Your Side.
To Forget What Is Done,
Seems So Hard To Carry On.
(Death Walks Behind You.)
Seems So Hard To Carry On.
(Death Walks Behind You.)
Carry On.
(Death Walks Behind You.)
Death Walks Behind You.
Death Walks Behind You.
Death Walks Behind You.
Death Walks Behind You.
03 Tomorrow Night (04:00)
When I Wake Up In Your Bed,
I Can Still Hear What You Said
Like A Bad Dream I Can't Fight,
Tomorrow Night
Am I Lying Here Next To You?
Am I Thinking I Need To
Really Love YouDo It Right,
Tomorrow Night
Time Goes So Slow When You're Gone
Days Turn To Years, It Seems so Long
If You Still Feel Like Today,
If Tomorrow's The Same Way,
Then I Know It'll Be Right,
Tomorrrow Night
Can't You Trust Me To See It Through?
Can't You Wait 'till I See You?
When You're Working, You're Uptight,
Tomorrow Night
Time Goes So Slow When You're Gone
Days Turn To Years, It's Seem So Long
When I Wake Up In Your Bed,
I Can Still Hear What You Said,
Like A Bad Dream I Can't Fight,
Tomorrow Night
Am I Lying Next To You?
Am I Thinking I Need To
Really Love YouDo It Right,
Tomorrow Night.
04 Streets (06:44)
Seven Lonely Streets,Walking All Alone.
Never Needing No One,Always On My Own.
Since I Left The World,To Live My Own Way,
People I Don't See,No One's In My Day.
In My Sleep I hear,But My Eyes Can't See
Photos Of My Past,Of My Life To Be.
Ear Faced To The Wind To See All I Can Hear,
The Days Would Be So Long,Seven Streets I Fear.
Seven Lonely Streets I'm Walking All On My Own.
Seven Days I Weep,Oh All Alone,So All Alone.
Seven Lonely Streets,On My Own.
Seven Lonely Streets,Walking All Alone.
Never Needing No One,Always On My Own.
Since I Left The World,To Live My Own Way,
People I Don't See,No One's In My Day.
Seven Lonely Streets,I'm Walking All Alone.
Seven Days I Plead,All On My Own.
05 Sleeping for Years (05:27)
Open Your Eyes,The Day Is Growing Near.
Wasted Away,Sleeping Off The Years.
Been Around,Stuck Around Far Too Long,
Run Away,Hide Away,I Was Wrong.
Couldn't See,Only Mee,Ahh,Too Bad.
Now I Know,How I Know,You'll Stay The Same.
Give What You Have,Can I Know When I
Left It Too Late?Guess I'll Never Know Just Why.
Been Around,Stuck Around Far Too Long.
Run Away,Hide Away,I Was Wrong.
Couldn't See,Only Me,Ahh,Too Bad.
Now I Know,How I Know,You'll Stay The Same.
What Did I Lose,Going My Way.
Taking No More,The Light From My Day.
Been Around,Stuck Around,Far Too Long.
Run Away,Hide Away,I was Wrong.
Couldn't See,Only Me,Ahh,Too Bad.
Now I Know,How I Know,You'll Stay The Same.
You'll Stay The Same!
07 Nobody Else (05:01)
My Whole World Is Falling Down.
My Whole World Is Fallen Down.
Couldn't See,You're Only Me,
Nobody Else To Blame.
My Whole World Is Gone Away.
My Whole World Is So Alone.
My Whole World Is So Alone.
Couldn't See,You're Only Me,
Nobody Else To Blame.
My Whole World Is Gone Away.
My Whole World Is Falling Down.
My Whole World Is Fallen Down.
Couldn't See,You're Only Me.
Nobody Else To Blame.
My Whole World Is Gone Away.
Gone Away,Gone Away,Gone Away.
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