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Rating: The few Debaser members who know Gamma Ray will probably associate their name with works like "Land Of The Free", "Somewhere Out In Space" and will be eagerly anticipating the imminent release of the second part of "Land Of The Free". However, I want to briefly talk to you about the early Gamma Ray and "Sigh No More" in particular: the second product of one of the most beloved and famous Teutonic bands in European power metal. "Sigh No More" was released back in 1991; at the time, Kai Hansen was only playing guitar, Ralph Scheepers (now Primal Fear) was singing, and Dirk Schlachter was busy with his six strings rather than the bass (as happens from "Somewhere Out In Space" onwards).
When I bought the following CD I was 15 years old: back then, I had no musical culture, I couldn't appreciate a change in rhythm, a pause, a break, a nice bass line, or an arpeggio. At that time, good music for me was only the immediate, powerful kind with catchy choruses: in short, the easiest and most predictable power. "Sigh No More" did not go in that direction and only over the years have I been able to fully reevaluate it.
Let's start by saying that this CD has almost nothing that can be related to power music, as it is experimental rock. The songs refuse to be confined into linear and predictable structures. It's a sonic swing, between tempo changes, crescendos, accelerations, and sudden slowdowns without desperately chasing the catchy chorus. "Father And Son" is a memorable example of moving rock and compositional creativity. It starts with an elegant arpeggio, followed by the piano's sound carpet and passionate vocals. A few moments later, we are tossed from one side to the other in a powerful, evolving, irresistible, and seemingly chaotic sound. Chapeau!!! The same goes for the opening track: this one is usually catchy, very simple, and designed to stick in your mind. Nothing to do with the paced "Changes". It moves slowly, in no hurry to reveal itself and bring us to the chorus. The verses, during which the backing vocals become sublime, parade with class through a calculated situation of waiting that builds up to the articulated and passionate solo followed by a tempo change (relentless crescendo) underscored by the bass line.
"Countdown" is genuine, minimal, and impactful rock with repetitive hypnotic melodic lines in which it's pleasant to get lost: a track that has practically nothing to do with the future production of Gamma Ray. Uwe Wensel rallies with the bass for a track with a committed lyric like "(We Won't) Stop The War" which screams against people's hypocrisy. Memorable and highly appealing chorus for an unconventional track in the break that completely deviates from the rest of the piece and sets the stage for the final push. "Dream Healer"... vertiginous. A wild ride is evoked by the riff, the rhythm section, and the solo. It's a wonderful push and pull, full of pauses, accelerations, atmospheres of anticipation, and restarts. Unlistenable for a teenager unwilling to reason and digest the sound, astounding for those who can appreciate music and aren't afraid of listening to the same song repeatedly. "As Time Goes By", "Rich And Famous", and "Spirit" are three excellent examples of changeable melodic metal without double bass drum. However, they deviate from the rest of the proposal and the sense of the review focused on the fact that "Sigh No More" is a breakthrough CD and different from the usual post-"Land Of the Free" Gamma Ray.
In 1991, Kai Hansen, after decisively contributing to the success of Helloween by giving birth to melodic power metal and after breaking into the record market with the debut of Gamma Ray, lost his way. He lost his way in the sense that he managed to find the courage to explore more original, creative, and less easy-to-listen-to musical shores with the release of this CD, in perfect dichotomy with the ugliness of the cover. A path that was never reopened for a gem that hardly anyone knows and appreciates. A pity.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Rich & Famous (04:39)
I don't believe in fame, I believe in music.
I don't believe in money, I believe in the power of love.
I know I got a brain and I know how to use it.
I don't want no one to stick his finger in my pie.
You think you put your best foot forward
But it is moved by someone else.
In blind belief you follow every path that says:
I lead you to a universe of fortune, fame and luck.
Do you really wanna be - rich and famous, rich and famous.
Do you really wanna be - rich and famous now.
I don't believe in Rock 'n' Roll illusions.
I don't believe that what they say must always be the truth.
I don't believe in good guys against bad guys.
I just might as well say I believe in Santa Claus.
You think you put your best foot forward
But it is moved by someone else.
In blind belief you follow every path that says:
I lead you to a universe of fortune, fame and luck.
Do you really wanna be - rich and famous, rich and famous.
Do you really wanna be - rich and famous now.
Mr. Big shot wat is your game
Mr. Big shot what is your final aim.
Now you wonder who is to blame.
Mr. Big shot what is your final aim in life.
Rich and famous, house with two floors, big jacuzzi, car with TV.
Private airplane, furs and diamonds, seafood cocktails-
CRAP AND BULLSHIT!
Do you really wanna be - rich and famous, rich and famous.
Do you really wanna be - rich and famous now.
05 Father and Son (04:26)
Did you ever want to worry
Did you ever wanna have a doubt?
You wanted the best for me,
Somehow things went wrong.
And I tore us apart.
Did you ever think it was easy,
Thought my time was running out
Tried it how I wanted to
Though you did not agree
But I was calling you - calling
Father, you can't hide, it's time to lose the pride - some day.
Take a look and see, I'm blue as I can be.
In former days you made your own way,
You found on easy way of life.
But I'll be never satisfied to work from nine till five.
I'm heading for more-
I remember what you've said
But I know I won't regret
When I try to break the rules
I'm searching for my way, my own way
Father, you can't hide your feelings deep inside - oh no
There's a better way for you and me today.
I can't stand it anymore - it's only you and me,
We have to talk and see.
How things are gonna be, but all I want is peace
Father, Father, Father -
Father, now it's time, we ain't losin' our minds any more
It seems so long ago, fate will bring us hope!
07 Start Running (03:58)
Mankind has found every treasure on earth
It stands to reason that we have got all we need.
Comfort is now a condition of life,
Without any sources our dream will fade away.
To live a better way was our final aim-
Did we ever try?
Start running!
The moment of reason will somebody appear,
But then it's too late to return to stay,
No single person can change the truth,
We have to move forward and do it side by side.
To live a better day is our final aim
And we won't stop trying
Start running - can't you see the hangmen are coming?
Start running - can't you see the hangmen are coming?
The things we have done to destroy our world are enough.
How long will the madness remain?
We're children of the warriors, we learn from our faults,
Hope is our guiding hand, conscious is our force.
Start running - can't you see the hangmen are coming?
Start running - can't you see the hangmen are coming?
Start running - can't you see the hangmen are coming?
Start running - can't you see the hangmen are coming?
08 Countdown (04:19)
The businessmen got a job to do
The Eastenworld is waiting too.
They're sittin' on a bloodstone calling you a beggar,
Waitin' for another deal in open cars.
The presence of the men gives a bad vibration,
They're countin' dollar bills, and they're workin' on
The final countdown
Countdown
I'm sitting all around and I'm waitin' for the lyrics
they gotta be cool, gotta satisfy the critics.
"Sigh of warning all across the edges"
maybe too pathetic ... and my pencil scratches,
Meanwhile X is comin' from Miami
Another perfect deal was made in open cars.
I don't care 'cos I'm much too busy,
I have to write my lyrics
And I'm waiting for the final countdown,
Countdown.
It's jut a matter of time
We're only waitin' for the end of the world
And we got nothing to lose
We're only servants of the monsters we curse.
It's just a matter of time
We can be sure we'll be doin' our worst.
And we're waiting for the countdown.
We're sittin' all around and we drink our lage,
Thanks to God we got no embargo.
What is left to do when you're looking for pleasure,
Somehow we gotta lose the pressure.
We're sittin' on a blood stone, worker, boss and beggar.
I don't give a damn
I want my open car.
God has turned to money, Jesus is a Liqueur
I'd rather get my record done and party for the final,
COUNTDOWN, COUNTDOWN.
It's jut a matter of time
We're only waitin' for the end of the world
And we got nothing to lose
We're only servants of the monsters we curse.
It's just a matter of time
We can be sure we'll be doin' our worst.
And we're waiting for the countdown.
10 The Spirit (04:20)
We follow our own instincts, we're livin' in between,
The struggle of the races continues on the scene.
A million miles above us the spirit is unseen,
Beyond our small horizon it's got a perfect dream.
We travel through the ages, we follow our dreams
But the spirit of a free world is the final dream.
The sun, the wind, and water are all we really need,
We waste our time on fighting to satisfy our greed.
We travel through the ages, we follow our dreams
But the spirit of a free world is the final dream.
But the spirit of a free world is the final dream.
We're about to lose control now, the prophecy is clear,
Does it help to sigh and hope with sentimental fear?
S.O.S. no more lifeboats here.
If I could ask the maker about the master plan
Could he give an answer, would I understand?
Our ignorance will drive us on, the world remains obscene
But the spirit of a free world is the final dream.
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