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Rating:
It is very difficult to write about a band that has no equal in my universe, about an album that made me rub my eyes in front of the unpredictability of beauty. It is challenging to sift through the tons of subtle emotions that dEUS, with In A Bar, Under The Sea, have given me; difficult to choose the most evocative ones and put them into words. This is why, before proceeding with the review, I directly recommend listening to it; to anyone.
The quintet from Antwerpen debuted in 1994 with Worst Case Scenario, already showcasing their indefinable rock, the result of a thousand influences (from Velvet Underground to Sonic Youth to R.E.M.) but above all of a completely personal genius.
In A Bar, Under The Sea, two years later, confirms to everyone the promises of the debut. In my opinion, it surpasses them. Tom Barman, the egocentric and delicate leader like his voice, leaves more room for the other geniuses of the group in song-writing, producing a dirty and dazzling variety of styles.
It starts with an absurd, boisterous acoustic piece composed and sung by bassist Stef Kamil Carlens, recorded over the phone (!); transitions to the pop-rock of Little Arythmetics in whose final seconds guitarist Craig Ward unleashes his noise madness; to the hallucinatory and lustful Gimme The Heat (for this song, which - attention - is my all-time favorite, I must thank the visionary Barman himself); to the bizarre and dissonant A Shocking Lack Thereof by violinist Janzoons; to the punk of Memory Of A Festival; to the relaxed jazz of Nine Threads (written by Ward); to the post-grunge of the beautiful Roses.
All held together magically by a taste for invention that - sometimes direct, sometimes subtle - is the signature in all their albums.
It was September 1996. My friend Livio handed me a CD; "you might like it," he said. Well, seven years have passed and I still haven’t found one I like more. 5 stars and praise.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
04 Theme From Turnpike (05:46)
He went to the bottom, put his soul on fire
He went to the bottom, put his soul on fire
New Jersey Turnpike riding on a wet night
New Jersey Turnpike riding on a wet night
Maybe he got the rhyme
Maybe he got the eyes
Maybe he got the time counterclock wise
He said...., he said....
New Jersey Turnpike riding on a wet night
New Jersey Turnpike riding on a wet night
Maybe he got the song
Maybe he got the size
Maybe he got it wrong counterclock wise
He said: "No more loud music"
He said: "No more loud music"
He said: "No more loud music"
He said: "No more loud music"
05 Little Arithmetics (04:30)
Into temptation, over in doubt
Black night, neonlight into my house
Talking, talking, talking about
Out of frustration over in doubt
Hold me now, I'm hoping that you can explain
Little arithmetics
Got me down, they're fooling me again and again
Little arithmetics, little arithmetics
Got me down
Sometimes I feel like going down south (Sometimes I'm feeling alright)
Sometimes I feel like I'm over and out (Sometimes I'm losing my mind)
Talking, talking, talking about (Sometimes the day is the night)
Into temptation over in doubt (Sometimes I don't wanna fight)
Hold me now, (Hold me now)
I'm hoping that you can explain
Little arithmetics
Got me down, (Hold me now)
they're fooling me again and again
Little arithmetics, little arithmetics
Hold me now
Little arithmetics
Got me down
08 A Shocking Lack Thereof (05:52)
That's right I aim to please
That's right I aim to please
I'm acting like some kind of Victorian serf child
I have considered the possibility of trading fluids
On the platform of the underground station
But I have watched and I have seen
And I have counted all the passers-by
Me and my friend here we have been engaged
In a search for some time (months now)
For houses (hotels) and highlights, experienced midwives
For money to turn into medicine
And what do we find?
What do we find?
What do we find?
A shocking lack thereof. But wait...
Wear your moonboots, they suit you too
And more like Elvis Presley on the booze
Believe that you have everything to lose
That's right I aim to please
That's right I aim to please
Pay a visit to a nurse to have your head deloused
Talk for hours about the politics of Mickey Mouse
You know how it is
Nighttimes, gotta get out of the house
Gotta get out of the house
Gotta get out of the house
Gotta get out of the house
My life is for pleasure, a wiggle in flesh
I'm soaked and in malice, I'm all in distress
And as I was promised my life is for rage
My guide is a drunk and a female bouquet
My life's been mistaken for garbage and gold
My life is in private, I gotta move on 'till I'm old
'till I'm old, 'till I'm old
I gotta move on 'till I'm old
I gotta move on 'till I'm old
That's right I aim to please
'till I'm old, 'till I'm gone
'till I'm gone, 'till I'm gone
10 Memory of a Festival (01:52)
Do you remember the festival
We took those drugs I never thought
I'd get into that pumpin' stuff
A thousand eyes won't recognise us
'Cause I know you and you know me
that's all you need and all I think of
I know this ain't nothing very deep but it's good fun
So don't run into the crowd
We got on there way too soon
'Cause it takes some time to get the picture
6 to 60 camera zoom oh my god I hate this mixture
of all these crazy crazy tunes
that keep on buzzin' in my head now
I know this ain't nothing very deep but it's good fun
So don't run into the crowd
Don't run into the crowd
Don't run into the crowd
Do you remember the festival
in 94 with 90 fuckups
Don't wanna meet all of your friends, the ones you like
the ones you'd lock up
'Cause you're out there in the atmosphere
It makes me sick just to think about it
I know this ain't nothing very deep but it's good fun
So don't run into the crowd!!!
Don't run into the crowd
Don't run into the crowd
Don't run into the crowd
Don't run into the crowd
13 Disappointed in the Sun (06:03)
Who could tell the story better About the things that I went through Some were great but most were terrifying and so spooky too Had to get out of there, to hide away Had to get out of there, to find my way I troubled everything too soon Now where I want to be is where I want to be is ... Need I say my only wish was To escape my earthly life High skies were no option whereas Diving deep in oceans wide Was the way for me, to hide away A possibility, to leave today I troubled everything too soon Now where I want to be is where I want to be is ... Under the sea, is where I'll be No talking 'bout the rain no more I wonder what thunder will mean, when only in my dream the lightning comes before the roar Circumstantial situations, now I know what people meant Beware of the implications, God I've had enough of them Dedicated to be brave and find a way Just picking out a wave and slide away I troubled everything too soon Now where I want to be is where I want to be is ... Maybe taking it another hour then taking away the pain Maybe taking it another hour then taking away the pain Maybe taking it another hour then taking away the pain then taking away the pain then taking away the pain then taking away the pain I troubled everything too soon Now where I want to be is where I want to be is ... Under the sea, is where I'll be No talking 'bout the rain no more I wonder what thunder will mean, when only in my dream the lightning comes before the roar Under the sea, down here with me I find I'm not the only one Who ponders what life would mean if we hadn't been so disappointed in the sun And that's why we're thinking that's why we're drinking in a bar under the sea And that's why we're thinking that's why we're drinking in a bar under the sea
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