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Rating:
SMALL INTRODUCTION
Have you ever played that game called "word association"? I have. You know how it works? For example, I say "rifle" and you say "weapon." At the same time, to the word "Switzerland," the swift reaction would be to say "chocolate," "mountains," "cows," "milk," "neutrality." Of course, these are the most common stereotypes about the beautiful country of cantons. But none of the words written above can represent Switzerland better than another term: Gotthard. Not meant as the horrendous homonymous tunnel, but as a great hard rock band, with long hair, platforms, and patched jeans. A band that, unfortunately, few know outside of Switzerland.
BAND HISTORY
The band started in 1990, in Lugano, thanks to a fortunate meeting between Leo Leoni, a guitarist, and Steve Lee, a voice endowed with a rare falsetto. The two want to play together and, after recruiting two other members (Marc Lynn on bass and Hena Habegger on drums), they start composing melodies and writing lyrics. Their self-titled debut album, dated 1992, finds great success in their home country, besides gaining acclaim in France and Germany: and with the subsequent tour, they even manage to become liked in Japan. Year after year, CD after CD, the Swiss grow in popularity and fans: the perfectly chosen mixture of combining hard rock-flavored, gutsy tracks with much calmer ones, true ballads, keeps winning over more and more followers. In two years, 1994 and 1995, Gotthard produces two works, "Dial Hard" and "G," both becoming platinum records after a very short time: in 1999, with the CD "Open," and in 2000, with the release of "Homerun," the group confirms itself as one of the greatest entities in the world rock scene.
ALBUM ANALYSIS
Years go by for everyone, years go by even for Gotthard: and soon 2002 arrives. To celebrate the decade of their career, Leo Leoni & Co. decide to release their first best of, reissued in 2004 with the addition of some tracks from "Human Zoo" of 2003: a monumental work, a double CD for a total of thirty-nine songs, collecting the sum of their brilliant career. The first CD gathers the best of the slow tracks in their repertoire: twenty songs under the heading "Ballads." All in all, this first part earns a well-deserved passing grade: some songs make the listener yawn if they're not accustomed to the group's discography, others are more rhythmic and involve our hypothetical subject's ear more, while still keeping limited paces. And if the greatest hits ended here, one couldn't go beyond a three. But what surely attracts attention is the second part of the best of, nineteen songs labeled as "Rock." And no one was ever so right. Already from the first track, "Sister Moon", it's clear that this is a band that rocks. And it rocks hard. If the beginning may vaguely echo country, the composition in its entirety is simply, wonderfully, sincerely rock. And that says it all. And when inspiration fails, and there's a need to cover, no problem: "Mighty Quinn", a Bob Dylan piece, played by the four becomes a sort of hippie anthem, beautiful and convincing; not to mention the exceptional competence demonstrated in "Hush", a not exactly easy song by Deep Purple, which our heroes manage to interpret genuinely thanks to the exceptional prowess demonstrated once again by Steve Lee's voice. The catchy rhythms never lack, not even in slightly harder instances, where the guitars become more prominent: "Mountain Mama" is a perfect example. The opening is ironclad, free of elaborations, rigid in its simplicity: in the chorus, the song manages to open up a bit, thanks to Lee's falsetto and the softening of the guitars. Phenomenal, simply phenomenal is the opening of "Top Of The World", a track that slightly reflects Bon Jovi's typical atmospheres: Leoni's creeping guitar creates a well-defined rhythm, which remains so even in the similar-pop chorus. Definitely worth mentioning is also "Eagle": an almost new-age style beginning which, needless to say, soon transforms into a great rock song, not as exuberant as the preceding ones, with less marked guitars, but unmistakably rock. One returns to liveliness with songs like "Movin' On" and "Human Zoo": in the first one almost "Sister Act" style atmospheres are felt, with guitars pulling off wild solos, while in the second sporadically emerge odd rhythms, along with vocal parts distorted by synthesizers alternating with the usual Lee, once again able to deliver three and a half minutes of skill. Initially, one wrinkles their nose at the beginning of track no.7, "What I Like": the initial guitar terribly resembles some pieces of Filippo Neviani aka Nek (get thee behind me Satan) and, although this feeling fades as the track progresses, the sense of facing an unfinished work remains permanent. Gotthard remains exceptional even in interludes: "Why Don't We Do It" represents exactly one minute of light guitar in the background leaving space for king Lee, completely free to perform fabulous vocalizations, often resulting in an impressive falsetto. But it's just a small ferry leading to one of the most beautiful pieces of the work: "Make My Day" is indeed a track soaked in hard rock to its very core, with the bass prominently featured and the usual falsetto of Lee marking the song's time. Epic is the opening: noise of tin cans clanged together. To conclude, among the remaining compositions, particularly recommended are "Fire&Ice", with an unsettling intro and gloomy vocals, with guitars often thickened in metal-like tones: "Cheat & Hide", with a whispered voice over a background that only opens in the chorus, characterized by fairly fast syncopated rhythms; and the concluding "Firedance", six minutes and two seconds of damn hard rock, with immediately combusting guitars, dynamite falsettos, and almost tribal drumming, obsessive in its monotony.
It's time to draw conclusions now. Admitting that I never particularly loved best ofs (often just a means to milk money from devoted fans), this time, however, I have to bow in front of this material, which demonstrates all the value of a band too mistreated, too confined, too unknown... too everything in the negative sense, unfortunately. Certainly, this double is an unmissable opportunity for those who wish to delve into the group's characteristics: great musical quality and a desire to rock distinguish this entire release. For those who already know the band (and appreciate them), the CD is essential. Well, this conclusion is a bit too enthusiastic, perhaps: but I love and will love this group forever. There's nothing to be done: love at first sight isn't easily erased. Believe me. Requiem.
P.S. For the first time in DeRecensore's career (and perhaps for the last) I dedicate this writing of mine to Ocram. The reason is simple: this review, which I wrote today, I promised him two and a half months ago. Ocram, sorry. I hope you all like it.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Sister Moon (03:57)
Sister moon, come lead me down
To rest my weary head
Walked a million miles along
The road of no regret
I've been a fool, I've messed around...
A lock without a key
Waiting for the morning sun
To make it shine on me
So long, lonely days
Take me back where I belong
It's all gone, it's all behind
Hope you don't mind
Hope you don't mind
Hope you don't mind
Too many times I lost the grip
Was worn out on the floor
Fallen angel, don't loose your wings
Cuz' you'll never fly no more
So long, lonely days
Take me back where I belong
It's all gone, it's all behind
Hope you don't mind
Hope you don't mind
Hope you don't mind
02 Mighty Quinn (03:17)
Ev'rybody's building
The big ships and boats
Some are building monuments
Others jotting down notes
Ev'rybody's in despair
Ev'ry girl and boy
But when wuinn the eskimo gets here
Ev'rybody's gonna jump for joy
Come all without, come all within
You'll not see nothing like the mighty quinn [2x]
I like to do just like the rest,
I like my sugar sweet
But guarding fumes and making haste
It ain't my cup of meat
Ev'rybody's 'neath the trees
Feeding pigeons on a limb
But when wuinn the eskimo gets here
All the pigeons gonna run to him.
Come all without, come all within
You'll not see nothing like the mighty quinn [2x]
03 Mountain Mama (03:56)
I Was Born In A Cradle Of Stone
Never Thought, I Had To Make It Alone
And What Was Comin' To Me
All Just A Bunch Of Lies
N' I Should Have Known Better
You're The Master Of Disguise
Crazy Mama, You Keep On Comin' My Way
Now It's Over
You Ain't Gonna Make My Day
No, Not Again
Mountain Mama
You Where Feeding My Head
With More Than I Could Take
Always Watching With Your Serious Eyes
Every Move That I Make
Some Times It's Like Heaven
So I Can Tell
Darker Than Coal, Hotter Than Hell
Yeah, That's Right
Feel Like I'm Caught In A Spell
Crazy Mama, You Keep On Comin' My Way
Now It's Over
You Ain't Gonna Steal My Pay
No, Not Again
Mountain Mama
No Never Again, Mountain Mama
Don't Like That Kinda Game, I Don't Wanna
There's Just You To Blame
Mountain Mama
So You Better Forget My Name
Mountain Mama
05 Eagle (05:08)
He was searching for the light
In the silence of the night
Something real, to make him feel alive
Trying hard to find the way
But run out of cards to play
No looking back, he crossed the point of no return
All his life he's been waiting desperately
To wake up in the arms of a new tomorrow
Who has wrote the book of destiny
After all a dream may come alive
Fly eagle fly
On your way back to the sky
Let me be the chosen one
And set me free
Fly eagle fly
N' pretty soon my fears run dry
Take me with you, far away
Come rescue me
So come and rescue me ...now
There's a message on the wall
It says "the good Lord knows you all"...
But it seems that he's forgot this troubled soul
Well there's not much you can do
When you're down and feeling blue
Tired of all this neon world that tastes unreal
Once again it's hurting me to see
Another broken life that cries for sorrow
Who has wrote the book of destiny
After all a dream may come alive
Fly eagle fly
On your way back to the sky
Let me be the chosen one
And set me free
Fly eagle fly
N' pretty soon my fears run dry
Take me with you, far away
Come rescue me
Once again it's hurting me to see
Another broken life that cries for sorrow
Who has wrote the book of destiny
After all a dream may come alive
Fly eagle fly
On your way back to the sky
Let me be the chosen one
And set me free
Fly eagle fly
N' pretty soon my fears run dry
Take me with you, far away
Come rescue me [2x]
Take me far away, come rescue me.
09 Movin' On (03:24)
I got a devil in me
Lord it's hard to make believe
It's shakin' in me babe
I feel it running, kicking,
He's gotta break free
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
Ya know that it's so easy
To loose control
It gets your whole body n'soul
Some would give it
Some would not
I juess I'm just the kinda guy
Who can't stop
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
I got you now
And I'm under your skin
I got you now
Let no other come in
I got you now
I got you now
I got you now, I swear I'll never let go
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
11 Make My Day (03:44)
So you're telling me now all your friends call you honey
There's your name on the wall
And it ain't that funny
Guess you're on the streets
Shakin' legs every night
And the whole world's looking at you
Kinda love at first bite
And the same old song
I hear you play
On and on, again
You gotta make my day
Yeah, you drank all my wine n' you gave all my money away
No more gas in the carand your dog wants me to stay
Darling you know you go a little too far
But I'm sure not a pawn on your chessboard
Baby, no more
Well, you take it all for granted
You got me hypnotized
So who do you think you are, honey
I want you to make my day
Don't need no pretty lies, read my lips
Make my day
13 Fist in Your Face (03:51)
You pushed it to the limit
Now you gotta choose tonight
Tarot woman,
you're all about to loose the fight
Don't need a part time wizard
Who drives me outta my mind
Cuz I'm allright
I gonna live it up tonight
Once upon a time,
Trought the world was mine alone
Had no time to realize,
It came without a warning at all
Like a fist in your face
A fist in your face
And there's a time bomb ticking
Deep inside my head
Must be a black hole attraction
A wrong step n' your dead
Don't know the words surrender
Don't know the rules of the game
I'm ready to go and I swear
You won't forget my name
Once upon a time,
Trought the world was mine alone
Had no time to realize,
It came without a warning at all
Like a fist in your face
A fist in your face
18 Hush (04:06)
I got a certan little girl shes on my mind
No doubt about it she looks so fine
Shes the best girl that I ever had
Sometimes shes gonna make me feel so bad
Hush, hush
I thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush
She broke my heart but I love her just the same now
Hush, hush
Thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush
I need her loving and Im not to blame now
(love, love)
They got it early in the morning
(love, love)
They got it late in the evening
(love, love)
Well, I want that, need it
(love, love)
Oh, I gotta gotta have it
Shes got loving like quicksand
Only took one touch of her hand
To blow my mind and Im in so deep
That I cant eat and I cant sleep
Listen
Hush, hush
Thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush
She broke my heart but I love her just the same now
Hush, hush
Thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush
I need her loving and Im not to blame now
(love, love)
They got it early in the morning
(love, love)
They got it late in the evening
(love, love)
Well, I want that, need it
(love, love)
Oh, I gotta gotta have it
19 Firedance (06:02)
Once again I start to wonder
Sailing thoughts on endless sea
Might be you I see reflected, from afar
Could be just my fantasy
All my love, and emotion
Life is nothing without you
Like a drop finds the ocean
I'm gonna find my way to you
Low thunder rollin'
Take me away, away
There's something callin'
Askin' me to play
Firedance, it's a firedance
Firedance, just a firedance, oh yeah
I'm the wind against the mountains
I'm the fire deep inside
I feel the magic, the rhythm is my soul
I no longer have to hide
Join me now, come on over
There's a place right here for you
Seize the moment and discover
All the things you always knew
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Other reviews
By ilfreddo
Steve Lee’s voice erupts melody at its highest state. Cleanliness and that hint of hoarse tone: salt and spice that enhances everything.
Slowing down, almost stopping to fully savor the small gestures that punctuate life, is a powerful experience that I am happy to know how to appreciate.
