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EBTG, "TEMPERAMENTAL" (1999) or how to tackle Tunz-Tunz with class. This album represents to date the swan song of one of the most influential international pop groups: Ben Watt plus Lady Voice Tracey Thorn.
How much I miss Everything and how much I loved their discography! Up to and including this album, which represented the furthest point of that "dance-upbeat" turn started with "Missing-rmx (1994), continued with "Walking Wounded" (1996) with the previous "protection" of massive attacks. Many turned up their noses, let’s say the old-schoolers still tied to that new-cool that made Eden (1984) the little gem that it is. But for those who know EBTG, such a fascinating drift must have seemed predictable. The duo skillfully navigated through cool and pop (love not money), the orchestral (baby the stars shine), reimagined Donald Fagen (the language of life), and then moved forward with the synthetelia of "idlewilde" and "worldwide" up to the rigor of "Amplified heart."
On the other hand, when two people know how to write songs there are few stories, they can even take on a B-level genre like late 80’s discoclub (the future of the future) or the almost deadborn Drum&bass of "blame" and still come out on top. This album is appreciated because it winks at the floor but isn't showy. Because the beats are worked and polished by Ben until they are made smooth and "chunky" enough to dress Tracey's undisputed vocal texture. "Five fathoms" is of an overwhelming beauty as is the hype of the title track. And then there are the nocturnal and science-fiction ballads like "downhill racer" with those splendid sampled horns and the Bristolian "no difference". "Temperamental" is an album that few others could have made without seeming vain. EBTG succeeded in the work because they have talent and humility, uncommon qualities these days.
"Temperamental": play it during an intimate evening with friends and it will make your living room the protagonist of the 21st century. (cit.)
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Five Fathoms (06:24)
I walked the city late at night
Just everyone here, do the same
I wanna live the things I see
'cause every face, replace my name
Across the street, take a right
Pick up the pace, pass a fight
Did I grow up? Did you stay home?
I'm not inmune, I love this tune
I wanna love more, I just wanna love more
I wanna love more, I just wanna love more
I wanna love more, I just wanna love more
I wanna love more, I just wanna love more
I drive the city late at night
It's in my mouth, it's in my head
And the people filled the city
'Cause the city fills the people, oh yeah
Across the street, avoid the freeze
The city's warm by couple of degrees
The smell of food, the smell of rain
I'm not inmune, I love this tune
I wanna love more (there's a river in my head)
I just wanna love you more (there's a river in my head)
I wanna love you more (there's a river in my head)
I just wanna love you more (there's a river in my head)
Only way out is down
Only way up is down
I wanna love more, I just wanna love more
I wanna love more, I just wanna love more
I wanna love more, I just wanna love more
I wanna love more, I just wanna love more
04 Hatfield 1980 (05:12)
Suburbia, 1 am, you're walking home again
shopping bags and broken glass
I hate going through the underpass
I wish there was some other way around
but you got beaten up by the playground and it's no use
we'll have to go through the deserted shopping centre
pedestrian walkways I think they were meant to
make things better
but it's just emptier, and scary at nighttime.
Hatfield at that time.
This is the place I live
Where is everyone? Are we the only ones?
This is the place I live
And so does everyone, so does everyone.
Hatfield 1980
I'm seeing my first knife, my first ambulance ride
I hold your hand the whole way, crying.
Get home the next day, police have already been.
Well you can imagine the scene.
And if I'm going home, I better change my clothes,
I better change my clothes.
And if I'm going home, I better change my clothes,
I better change my clothes.
This is the place I live
where is everyone, are we the only ones?
This is the place I live
And so does everyone, so does everyone.
And when I'm looking back, I look for everyone
And when I fall down, I fall for anyone
When I'm looking back, I look for everyone
And when I fall down, I fall for anyone.
07 Downhill Racer (03:49)
From the top you can see so far into the distance
Look it's downhill all the way from here
Getting there is quicker like going you just slide
Shouldn't take more then a year
I could almost like you
Now it's nearly over
Now you've shown some weaknesses
Now you're looking older
And I heard what you said
And I recognise those feelings
I know how hard it is to watch you go
And all the effort that it took to get here in the first place
And all the effort not to let the effort show
And I could almost like you
Now you're falling over
Now you're feeling hopeless
Now you're looking over your shoulder
Who's gonna come and find you?
Who's coming up behind you?
If you can ride the backlash
There's still time for a comeback
You don't have to lie down and die
But Lazarus only did it the one time
He couldn't face another try
And I could almost like you
Now it's really over
Now you've shown some weakness
Now you're looking over your shoulder
Who's gonna come and find you?
And who's coming up behind you?
08 Lullaby of Clubland (05:30)
How much of yourself do you give away
After someone's left your life in disarray?
It still hurts
But it won't show
Because I'm too proud
So you're never ever gonna know.
I'm on the dark side of the street,
Not the light side of the street.
It's packed at 2am.
I've got no coat,
Are you on your own?
I'm into you.
When are you going home?
Get into me.
How much of the day can you sit around
Letting all your feelings drag underground?
I don't care and I do care
Because I want it
If I know that it's out there everywhere.
I'm on the dark side of the street,
Not the light side of the street.
It's packed at 2am.
I've got no coat,
Are you on your own?
I'm into you.
When are you going home?
Get into me.
I saw you standing at the bar,
Don't know your name or who you are.
It's packed at 2am.
I've got no coat,
Are you on your own?
I'm into you.
When are you going home?
Get into me.
09 No Difference (04:26)
You watch the phone
Like it was the TV
If you're all alone
Well, whose fault can that be
Your keys, your bag, the car
They're where they always are
And the light goes down
And all the lights.. come on
And they call to me
Oh come on come on
And you don't make, you don't make no difference to me
You look at me
say What you talking about?
Well me, I'm going out
with or without
I know I don't get far
And we're where we always are
The light goes down
And all the lights come on
And they call to me
Oh come on come on
And you don't make you don't make no difference to me
You don't make no difference to me
You don't make no difference to me
So you fix a drink
'Cause it's time to drown
And the clock speeds up
And then it slows right down
The life that we have missed
I think it still exists
How can you resist?
And the light goes down
And all the streetlights shine
And they call to me
ooh, be dead a long time
And it makes, it makes a difference to me.
And the light goes down
And all the lights come on
And they call to me
Oh come on Come on
You can make a difference to me
Come on make a difference to me
Come on make a difference to me
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Other reviews
By Abraham
For me, EBTG were born with the remix of 'Missing' (1995) and died with 'Temperamental' (1999).
Her voice is splendid, gentle, a caress... Ben Watt handles 90% of the work and doesn’t fail to let us know.
