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Rating:
It is undeniable that, one way or another, everyone succumbs to the allure of Led Zeppelin. The success that grows with each album release, the endless rehearsals for ever more massive tours they undertake, and the magazines that sell in huge numbers every time they dedicate a cover to the group: the Zeps had the world at their feet!
1976 also brings troubles to the Zeppelin camp, as Jimmy Page is accused by Kenneth Anger of neglecting the work on the soundtrack for his movie, producing no more than 28 minutes of valid music, defining the guitarist as unable to withstand the drug to which he is entirely a slave. Those that could be defined as the real dangers of life were real constants that began to wear down - as in the case of Bonham with alcohol - those who had chosen the unlikely path of risk. But the event that hindered the recordings of "Presence" was Plant's car accident in Greece on August 4, 1975, which forced the singer to convalesce for several weeks on the island of Jersey, also for tax reasons. Page's ideas for the album began to take shape as early as September 1975, and were then materialized with the work of Jones and Bonham by the end of the following October. The rehearsals took place at S.I.R. studios in Hollywood, while for the recordings, the Musicland in Munich was chosen, to dodge the American taxes once again.
"Achilles Last Stand" throws us with the power of a tornado into this sonic monument where Page's heroic guitar leads the rest, building with Plant's vocal impetus a barrage of melodies and instrumental overdubs that do not diminish the overall result even compared to a masterpiece of the past like "No Quarter." The epic climax reached in the instrumental finale elevates the lyrics clearly inspired by travels in Africa (Seek a man whose pointing hand a giant step unfolds - Guiding us from the burning path that churns up into stone - If one bell should ring celebration for a king - So hard that should be again = Cerca un uomo la cui mano indica svelando l'orma di un gigante - Guidaci fuori dal sentiero di fuoco che crea pietre - Se una campana dovesse suonare a festa per un re - Sarebbe così difficile ancora). In "For Your Life," it is predominantly the coexisting dialogue between guitar and drums that dominates the scene, while the executed verses shine with their own light, mainly due to their pleasant catchiness, with lyrics intensely dedicated to a drug story (Oh and she said: don’t you wannit? - Don’t you want coca coca cocaine, - Hadn’t planned to - Could not stand try it, friend, yeah! = Oh, she said: do you want? - Don’t you want coca coca cocaine, - It wasn’t planned - Couldn’t resist trying it, friend, yeah!). When moving on to "Royal Orleans," one realizes the funk spirit (a taste of which we had already received with "The Crunge" from "Houses Of The Holy") perfectly incarnated by the four Zeps, making the song a decent conduit that leads us straight to another highlight of this album: "Nobody's Fault But Mine." The guitar introduction leaves no room for doubt, once heard it imprints in your brain and won't leave, making the mutual influence between the winning Bonham/Jones rhythm duo and Page’s majestic performance favorable to the completion ring represented by Plant’s restless but decisive performance. If we wanted to fully dive into the 50s and the good they brought, there is nothing left but to let yourself be transported by the rolling "Candy Store Rock," a piece where Elvis's spirit naturally comes out without necessarily crying out to authentic reproduction. With "Hots On For Nowhere," one cannot but acknowledge that the band seized the opportunity to unleash that measured and extemporaneous lightness reproduced - by lively vocalizations mixed with pleasant swing flavors - of which even a Zeppelin-branded album needs. The terminal stop of this album is "Tea For One," a very slow blues that listens very well, albeit wanting to unequivocally evoke the glories of the grandiose "Since I've Been Loving You," but resulting simply as a well-executed and updated reissue for the times.
An album whose production lasted 18 days and was initially thought of as titled "Thanksgiving" and then "Obelisk": the idea was to put on the cover photographs depicting life from the 50s with an obelisk in the center representing the band's strength. In Great Britain, the gold record target was achieved on the day of its release, but the not-so-distant publication of the first live album "The Song Remains The Same" also prevented it from becoming a must-buy.
The seven tracks of "Presence" reflect a period far from happy for the band (Plant’s presence in the studio in a wheelchair confirms its difficult gestation), failing to transform with that continuity that had distinguished their recent past, the efforts and trials that had made them dare to go beyond.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Achilles Last Stand (10:28)
It was an April morning when they told us we should go.
As I turned to you, you smiled at me; how could we say no?
Whoa, the fun to have! To live the dreams we always had.
Whoa, the songs to sing! When we at last return again.
Sending off a glancing kiss to those who claim they know
Below the streets that steam and hiss, the devil's in his home.
Whoa, to sail away! Sandy lands and other days.
Whoa, to touch the dream! That hides inside and is never seen, yeah.
Into the sun of south and north at last the birds have flown.
The shackles of commitment fell in pieces on the ground.
Whoa, to ride the wind! To tread the air above the din.
Whoa, to laugh aloud! Dancing high above the crowd.
Seek the man whose pointing hand the giant step unfolds.
With guidance from the curving path that churns up into stone!
If one bell should ring, celebration for a king.
So fast the heart should beat, as proud the head with heavy feet, yeah.
[Solo]
Days went by when you and I made an eternal summer's glow
As far away and distant, our mutual time to grow.
Whoa, the sweet refrain! It soothes the soul and calms the pain.
Oh, Albion remains! Sleeping now to rise again.
Wandering the wanderings. What place to rest the search?
Where the mighty arms of Atlas hold the heavens from the earth!
Where the mighty arms of Atlas hold the heavens from the earth!
From the earth!
I know the way, know the way, know the way, know the way.
I know the way, know the way, know the way, know the way.
Where the mighty arms of Atlas hold the heavens from the earth!
02 For Your Life (06:24)
Well, well, oh, hoh, hoh
You said I was the only, with my lemon in your hand
Uh-oh, uh-oh-hoh
Exhibition is your habit, emotion second-hand
Uh-oh, uh-oh
Had to pull away to save me
Well, maybe next time around-a, oh
And she said
"Don'tcha want, a-don'tcha want cocaine, cocaine, cocaine"
Hadn't planned to, could not stand'a try it, fry it, ow
Now, now, now, now, yeah
Wooo-oooh-oooh-oooh-ooh-ooh
Heard a cry for mercy, uh, in the city of the damned-a
Uh-oh, baby, damn...
In the pits you go no lower, the next stop's underground
A-ho, how low underground
You wanna know, is it quite over
To fame it deals a losin' hand
And I said, "Didn't mean to, did not a-mean to fluff it
You didn't plan it, you overran it, aah-ha-ha-how, yeah"
Do you wanna, do you want, do ya, d-do
Do you, would you wanna
Do you wanna, do you wanna, do you, d-do
Do you, would you wanna
When you blow it, babe, you got to blow it right
Baby, if you fake it, mama, baby, fake with all your might
When you fake it, mama
please-a, a-fake it right for yourself, babe
When ya fa-fa-fa-fake it, baby
You're fakin' it for your life, for your life
for your life, for your life
Do you, do you, do you, do you, do you
Do you, would you wanna
Do you, do you, do you, do you, do you
Do you, would you wanna
Oh, like to help ya, baby
but I don't know what to do-ooh-ooh, yeah
Sometime, baby
Nothin' I can do-ooh-ooh, yeah
With the fine lines of the crystal payin' through your nose
And when they couldn't resist ya
I said, "Just go with the flow"
And now your stage is empty
Pull down the curtain, baby, please
Fold up your show
Hadn't planned to, could not stand to fry in it
I hadn't planned it, I overran it
Fry it for your life, for your life
03 Royal Orleans (02:59)
One time love, take care how you use it
Try to make it last all night, And if you take your pick
Be careful how you choose it, Sometimes its hard to feel it bite
Feel it bite.
A man I know, went down to Louisiana,
had himself a bad, bad fight
And when the sun peeked through
John Cameron with Suzanna,
He kissed the whiskers, left & right
Whiskers!
Now, now, now, fright subsides
Out at a hotel in the quarter, our friends check in to pass the night
Now love gets hot, but fire preceded water
Poor whiskers set the room alight.
Whiskers!
Down on Bourbon street, You know it's right
You can see my friend, they run around all through the night
Most everywhere, Until the closet's bare
Run for the razor, Doin' up my hair
New Orleans queens, Sure know how to schmooze it
Maybe for some that seems alright
When I step out, strut down with my sugar
She'd best not talk like Barry White!
One time love, take care how you use it
Try to make it last all night, And if you take your pick
Be careful how you choose it, Sometimes its hard to feel it bite
Feel it bite.
07 Tea for One (09:23)
How come twenty four hours, Baby sometimes seem to slip into days?
Oh twenty-four hours, Baby sometimes seem to slip into days
A minute seems like a lifetime, baby when I feel this way
Sittin, lookin at the clock, time moves so slow
I've been watchin for the hands to move
Until I just can't look no more
How come twenty four hours, Baby sometimes seems to slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime, Baby when I feel this way.
To sing a song for you, I recall you used to say
"Oh baby this one's for we two", Which in the end is you anyway
How come twenty four hours, Baby sometimes slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime, baby when I feel this way.
There was a time that I stood tall, In the eyes of other men
But by my own choice I left you woman, And now I can't get back again
How come twenty-four hours, sometimes slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime, Baby when I feel this way
A minute seems like a lifetime
When I feel this way...I feel this way
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Other reviews
By Antonino91
'Achilles Last Stand' is a masterpiece with perfectly balanced instruments and breathtaking drumming.
'Candy Store Rock' is the most negligible episode of the album, almost nauseating.
By Miki Page
'Achilles Last Stand' is a phenomenal hard-rock track that hits with intensity and power.
'Presence' is a good album, but not a masterpiece like the group’s previous 6 works.
By Cimbarello132
'Achilles Last Stand' surpasses 'Stairway to Heaven' but remains hidden in its shadow.
One of the many reasons why Led are my absolute favorite band.
By vellutogrigio
"Achilles Last Stand is one of the best tracks in the career of the four, with Page's guitar architecture supporting Plant's declamatory singing."
"Never had a Zeppelin track in the '70s been so straightforward, almost like an attack on the listener’s hearing, until it seemed the work of a debut group, well masked by veteran competence and craft."
By Rax
"There will never be another album like this. Here it’s me facing despair and telling it: I am stronger than you."
If 'Presence' is the funeral of the Zeppelin, the terrible next album will be its tomb.
