Donovan
Love Is Only Feeling

And here I am again talking about one of my idols, my icons: Donovan, to whom I have already dedicated some time ago a long series of analyses aimed at describing and analyzing in detail his entire discography, with particular attention to the episodes from 1970 onwards. However, there is still something to say, and it is a task I take on with great pleasure. "Neutronica" from 1980 was a progressive album, while the following "Love Is Only Feeling" from 1981 is a conservative album: conservative in sounds and already starting from the title, which refers to the refrain of "Someone Singing", a song dating back to 1968 and included in that wonderful double LP titled "A Gift From A Flower To A Garden". A conservative album but sincere, coherent, graceful, pleasant, well-made. On the cover, Donovan appears unmistakable, without makeup and without deception, as if to say, "this is me, by now you know me well and you know what I can offer you."

Like the previous "Neutronica," "Love Is Only Feeling" also had significant publication problems: it was released only in the Federal Republic of Germany by RCA and, believe it or not, in Italy by Bubble Records. In a way, one could say that the anonymity into which Donovan had slipped may have "saved" him as an artist: just think of the fate suffered by Jackson Browne in the '80s, who devolved from a sublime soul poet to a sloppy populist rocker in the Springsteen style, chasing popularity and the trends of the moment. Donovan Leitch, however, who nevertheless had marvelously shown with "Neutronica" to make new sounds his own without distorting himself, manages to remain true to himself. Far from being comparable in creativity and brilliance to the peaks of the '60s ("Mellow Yellow," "A Gift From A Flower To A Garden") and '70s ("7-Tease," "Slow Down World"), "Love Is Only Feeling" is a pleasant album composed of ten soft and relaxing acoustic guitar and vocal ballads, sung with the usual splendid, empathetic, and captivating voice. The pair "Half Moon Bay"-"The Hills Of Tuscany" evokes natural and bucolic landscapes, calm reflections, and serene contemplation, but there are also darker episodes like the pressing "The Actor", sung in a restless falsetto or the languid "She", a haunting, sinuous ballad, softer and more tranquil heir of the classic "Young Girl Blues," not to forget "Lover O Lover", which I unfortunately came to know through the ill-fated version of "Beat Cafe," but here reveals itself to be a classic intense and melancholic ballad superbly performed and enriched with evocative and visionary lyrics, built on the arpeggio of that great masterpiece "Black Widow" dating back five years prior.

Donovan still wants to play, and "Love Is Only Feeling" is not only about reflection but also joy and fun, and it is in this area that it perhaps offers the best episodes. "Lady Of The Flowers" with its chirping flute in the background almost makes one dance in its carefree joy, just like the waltz of "Johnny Tuff", enlivened by a rich sax and childish choruses, and "Love Is Only Feeling", a re-edition of "Someone Singing" featuring an exceptional collaboration, a duet with his beloved daughter Astrella, with whom he would also perform at the Sanremo Festival in 1982, probably his last appearance at an event of international significance. Still, the best episode of the album goes to "Lay Down Lassie", an exquisite rustic minuet with lively and light tones, made particularly fresh and engaging by the interpretative charisma of the Artist. There is no doubt that "Love Is Only Feeling" is a crafted and openly nostalgic album; practically all the songs have something already heard, a reference to the past, particularly to "Slow Down World" as general stylistic coordinates. But I like Donovan even this way; I love him because I cannot not love him, and I believe that even his minor episodes like this "Love Is Only Feeling" deserve far more attention than many new and insipid offerings. I will always be proud and honored to have been able to know and appreciate this wonderful artist, in all his minute nuances, which fully include an album somewhat modest but always pleasant and unmistakable like this.