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Kazu Makino and the Pace twins are back! "23" is their new work for 4AD.
It seems like they flew by, but it's been a good three years since their previous "Misery Is A Butterfly," a unique album that, after the slight change of direction of "Melodies Of Certain Damaged Lemons," led them to explore sounds and sensations increasingly distant from their origins, leaving some fans disappointed. However, those who, like me, let themselves be carried away by its sweet and melancholic melodies, found themselves in an alien and crepuscular continent made of magical mountains and rosy passions, of elephant-girls light as butterflies and ghosts that pass through the walls of the psyche. I discovered that among those magical mountains, I could breathe, so I stayed, without looking back at the turbulent blue sky...
Now, after three years, I wondered what would happen. Were the butterflies just a parenthesis? Would the journey resume from those broken-down cars of 7 years ago? Not at all, "23" picks up the thread from where it was left off, bringing us to an adjacent territory. This time as well, the whole album is tied together by Kazu's sweet voice, but you can sense more light; after the nocturnal colors, the blue and ink of "Misery Is A Butterfly," "23" brings us the pastel hues of the dawn. The more easygoing footprint of many tracks truly recalls the lightness of a sunrise, there's a nod to the end of the eighties' dream-pop wave (of which 4AD was always a proponent), especially in the opening track where Amedeo's guitar revisits and updates the sound of Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine).
I honestly don't know if it's a deliberate tribute or if Kevin Shields was more or less directly involved, but the imprint is evident, and the result is definitely appreciable. It continues with "Strangeluv," a catchy ballad with Simone's syncopated rhythm and Kazu's meows, and "SW" is also very interesting, where we find the magical chemistry between Amedeo's voice and his guitar, along with some trumpet forays in a Beatles style.
In the more energetic "Spring and By Summer Fall," Amedeo's guitar, along with a bass riff in the style of "Futurism Vs Passeism Part 2," creates an almost Kraut-rock effect. "Publisher" is a decidedly darker track, introduced by a dark-wave-style drum machine, with Kazu and Amedeo's voices languidly duetting, keyboards and guitars creating a fascinating leaden atmosphere. "The Dress," "Heroine," and "My Pure Hair" rest on an intangible and dreamy atmosphere. Less -dream- and more -pop- are "Silently" and "Top Ranking," the two less incisive episodes (at least after the first listens).
This work is likely to finally distance the early fans, too bad for them; Blonde Redhead still have something new to tell us, their style remains original and unique.
An album to listen to upon waking, thinking about the dreamlike ocean we have just left.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 23 (05:19)
23 seconds, all things we love will die
23 magic, if you can change your life
Your tainted heart, my tainted love, repent now
How many times ?
As long as you live, how many times ?
The world will go around
He was a friend of mine,
Son of god, he was a son of god,
He was a son of a gun (Repeat)
23 seconds, in you I see a chance
23 magic, if you change the name of love
Your crazy heart, my crazy love, repent now
How many times ? As long as you wish
How many times ? The world will go around
How many times ? As long as you want
How many times ? The world will go around
He was a friend of mine,
Son of god,he was a son of god,
He was a son of a gun (Repeat)
23
02 Dr. Strangeluv (04:47)
Looking everywhere, I see nothing but people
Looking everywhere, but I see nothing but people
Where have they gone? I always thought I could never leave them
They are calling me, but they don't know I can't stay all night long
Hey, Dr Strangeluv so sad, isn't it true ?
(You left without goodbye)
Hey, Dr Strangeluv so bad, isn't it true ?
(You left without goodbye)
Looking everywhere, keep my fire going
Cold look in their eyes, cold air in their hearts
They are calling me, I always thought I could save them all
They are calling me, they don't know I can't stay all night long
Hey, Dr Strangeluv so sad, isn't it true ?
(You left without goodbye)
Hey, Dr Strangeluv so bad, isn't it true ?
(You left without goodbye)
Looking everywhere, keep my fire going
03 The Dress (04:01)
Tears you see on my face, you do have something to do with
The fear starts creeping up when you have so much to lose
Your love waits you while you're cheating
Lightning strikes you when you're moving
The light you see in my eyes, you do have something to do with
Play the game namely love, play it like you have nothing to lose
Horse loves you when you move with him
People hate you when you're changing
Don't let the dress trick you
I love you less now that I know you
I won't count the scars again
I love you less now that I know you
The glow you see on my face, you do have something to do with
Fear starts creeping up when you have so much to lose
Your love wait you while you're cheating
Lighting strikes you when you're moving
Don't let me wonder away
I love you less now that I know you
Don't let the dress trick you
I love you less now that I know you
I won't count the scars again
Because I love you
04 SW (04:36)
It's not, it's not what you give but it's what you kept
It's not, it's not who you kill but it's who you left
I am I am running in my head
I am I am lying on my left
I am I am growing in my bed
I am I am ...
It's not, it's not how you speak but it's what you said
It's not, it's not what you seek but it's what you have
I am I am running in my head
I am I am lying on my left
I am I am growing in my bed
I am I am...
It's not, it's not what it seems ... It's not what it seems
It's not, it's not what you leave but it's what you hold
I am I am running in my head
I am I am lying on my left
I am I am growing in my bed
I am I am ...
06 Silently (03:57)
Silently, I wish to sail into your port, I am your sailor
Quietly, I drop my weight into your sea, I drop my anchor
I sway in your waves, I sing in your sleep
I stay till I'm in your life
I realize now you were not to be blamed my love
You didn't choose your name my love
You never crossed the seven seas
I realize now you were not to be blamed my love
You didn't choose your name my love
You never crossed the seven seas
Oh, sweet creature
I know exactly how you feel
Your clock is ticking, tick tack tick tack
Your heart is beating tum tum tum tum tum
Silently, I wish to sail into your port, I am your sailor
Quietly, I drop my weight into your sea, I drop my anchor
I realize now you were not to be blamed at all
You didn't choose your name my love
You die a little in my arm
I realize now you were not to be blamed at all
You didn't choose your name my love
We never crossed the seven seas
I realize now you die a little in my arm
Before you even taste my love
We never crossed the seven seas
I realize now you were not to be blamed at all
You didn't choose your name my love
You die a little in my arm
I realize now
08 Heroine (04:11)
Tell me why talk to lie, tell me why tell me why
Oh you were gonna run with me
Tell me why talk to lie, tell me why, tell me why
Oh you were gonna run with me
Show you how, show you how, show you how when to stop
Oh you were gonna run with me
Roland takes the sea, but he goes without me
Roland takes the trip, but he goes without me
Roland makes the move, but he goes without me
Tell me why, tell me why, tell me why you're the one
Oh you were gonna run with me
Walk you through, walk you through, I walk you through my story
Oh you were gonna run with me
Roland takes the sea, but he goes without me
Roland takes the trip but he goes without me
Roland makes the move, but he goes without me
He goes without me
Roland takes the sea but he goes without me
Roland takes the trip but he went without me
Roland, he goes without me
Roland, he goes without me
Roland ...
09 Top Ranking (03:27)
We've come a long way to where the mountain is high
I take my cedar to where the mountain is high
What I need is a peace and quiet
What we see is an illusion
I have no reason to confuse them
I have no reason to confuse my brothers
They have real shotguns
They were baby killers
But I warned you many times that they will burn down your house
Not today (what can I do)
Not today (to make it better)
What we need is a persuasion
What you give is retaliation
I hope one day we meet again
I hope one day we love one another
They were young soldiers
They were old liars
But I heard the rumor that they will burn down your house
Not today (what can I do)
Not today (to make it better)
They will burn down your house
They will burn down your house
10 My Impure Hair (04:52)
I've lost my key
I've gone too far
Was it enough to make you sick ?
Maybe I live again, but would I lose again my virginity ?
Oh, my virginity
I'm shaped to get in your way
But in the end
We defend our decadence
You never wept like that
Whatever lost I won't forget about you
Oh, forget about you
It's not what I said, it's what you said
It's what you did did that belongs to everyone
It's not what I hate, it's what you hate
Its decadence belongs to everyone
One day I lie next to you and you stroke my impure hair
You touch my heart
I forget about you
Oh, forget about you
You touch my...
You touch my...
I forget about you
Oh, forget about you
You touch my...
My virginity
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