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Rating: Those old, gnarled hands come towards me, gradually blocking my view. I am the tiny moon, those arthritic crooked branches the sun; a sun that approaches with rough sweetness, an agonizing slowness that even now moves me as I recall it. It offers me the palm and while a slight smile blooms among the deep wrinkles, at the same time, a fistful of candy materializes: those zebra-striped treats. Then that rough and ungraceful hand rises and, with a caress over hair and scalp, reveals to me all the goodness in the world. In those gnarled, stubby hands.
Sometimes this happens to me daily, almost with regular frequency, other times even weeks can pass. But sooner or later that moment arrives. The air at five-thirty on this Sunday morning was magnetic and refreshing. I like this hour: it seems as though a relay runner is about to pass the baton. Between the champions of the night and the early risers. In this phase of transition, all falls silent. For a while. The goldfinch hops on the freshly cut grass that smells fresh and in a lake of green dew pecks, pecks again, in a persistent search for a worm. It hears the click of my camera and flies away. The small noises, almost imperceptible, in this peace are able to bring me pleasure and physical well-being like the light wind blowing and lashing the leaves. I set the cup down with disarming slowness; I want to savor the tac it makes on the table, the clinking of the spoon, and walk down the stairs turning into a clumsy cat trying not to make noise. In the daily frenzy, slow actions often struggle to find space; I am convinced that 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. Occasionally. These hours give me a feeling of intense, soft, and fulfilling pleasure. A bit like those aforementioned candies whose filling I never wanted to end.
I take the mp3 player and walk without the usual heavy electric guitars to keep me company. I talk to you about a CD: the second of the "One Time One Spirit" collection by Gotthard, composed of sweet ballads, slow and touching where Steve Lee's voice erupts melody at its highest state. Cleanliness and that hint of hoarse tone: salt and spice that enhances everything. Without haste I savour every passage, arpeggio, and chorus as the steps turn into kilometers and "Have a Little Faith" and the somber "Reason To Live" pass the baton. Two lovers, in a corner of the square, hold hands; they hardly look at each other's faces: they can't. They are about to become exes while they caress and kiss each other. It seems like a climber on a cliff holding onto a grip with all the strength he has, well aware he is about to fall. Maybe they'll get back together, I think to myself as I leave them to their intimacy, and the airy chorus of "One Team One World" arrives. Two boys push each other: maybe they’re joking, maybe not. Their fast gestures, their fake tough-guy grimaces, their deliberately loud voices nevertheless can't tarnish the melodic lines rising in "Heaven". A song that in its genre, more than just a set of notes on a score, takes on the characteristics of a jackpot that who knows how many couples have united, reunited. A thin arpeggio gains strength and "Love Soul Matter" creates a cheerful atmosphere while a 3-year-old child runs uncertainly and tries to chase away the pigeons: he succeeds and that smile of real and complete happiness if you really look at it, is something that has the power to positively change your day. Nervous steps are in symbiosis with the rhythmic riff and drums of "Let It Be". I can see the tension of an important meeting: he is early and keeps looking at the clock while playing with the phone. Silent. Scattered thoughts from the warm wind of "Janie's Not Alone" fall on the cobblestones and accompany the restless and absent walks of heads that wander: puppets thinking about everything except what they are doing. If there was a lamppost, they'd hit it; one can see they are with their minds somewhere else while a violin gently caresses my ears.
I pay, turn off the player, and so I return to running my frenetic life like everyone. Until the next stop.
Ilfreddo
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 Bisius
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.
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.
