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Rating: Level 42 is one of those bands that ensures the music scene of the '80s is not considered a mess. They are four highly skilled musicians (five if we consider the "regular guest" Wally Badarou) with a magnificent groove and an ability to write very complicated yet catchy songs. Many remember them for "Lessons In Love," their most famous track, and also one of the worst, which was very successful even here in Italy. In reality, Level 42 goes far beyond a simple catchy pop tune.
"Standing In The Light" is a clear demonstration of what I assert. It is part of the golden period of Level 42, that is, their early albums, when the band was more oriented towards funk than pop (although, I must say, even the following albums are quite good).
The lineup of the album is as follows: Mark King (considered the king of slap, but actually also very skilled in fingerstyle) on bass and vocals, Mike Lindup on keyboards and vocals, Boon Gould on guitar, and Philip Gould (his brother) on drums. Additionally, there's the aforementioned Badarou on keyboards and one of the most sought-after percussionists of the '80s, Paulinho DaCosta (already with Lee Ritenour and Carlos Santana, among others), providing solid support to the band. Now, only King and Lindup remain from this lineup, but Level 42 remains a great band nonetheless.
Regarding the album, the music played is essentially pop, but not classic pop; it is oriented towards funk and pure fusion.
The first track, "Micro-Kid", is a classic example that a catchy and singable song isn't necessarily bad. On the contrary, besides a captivating and engaging rhythm, it contains a good guitar performance by Boon Gould, as well as a solid drum rhythm by Philip. The same goes for the following "The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)", which live will be enhanced by a splendid fusion arrangement with an instrumental insert not included in the studio recording. The excellent "Out Of Sight (Out Of Mind)" is reminiscent of Toto in their glory days, despite containing a rather silly bridge. The following "Dance On Heavy Water" is not entirely convincing (it's curious to note how Mark King sings "Weather" instead of "Water" on the album), as it has a great groove and a good vocal part, but also an annoying chorus ("Take a chance and dance/It's a chance") repeated to exhaustion. Simply killer is the bass line of "A Pharaoh's Dream (Of Endless Time)", one of the tracks where King's presence is most noticeable. In fact, if it weren't for the typical '80s sound, this piece could almost be considered progressive, with its instrumental breaks and chilling virtuosity. It's no coincidence that the track also features a saxophone solo played by the talented Andrew Woolfolk (formerly with Earth, Wind & Fire).
The album's title track, despite the title, is quite dark, but this doesn't make it any less beautiful than other tracks on the album. On the contrary, the bass line of this track is so beautiful and mysterious that, in my opinion, it should be considered among the best lines in their entire discography. The album closes with three simply perfect songs, the best of the album, and probably among Level 42's masterpieces. "I Want Eyes" is a sweet ballad, yet with slightly aggressive parts, with a truly splendid solo by Mike Lindup, in addition to, as usual, a memorable bass line by King! Speaking of Lindup, he is the author of the following piece, "People", a typical example of British pop mixed with some funky ingredients. A beautiful track, very engaging and calm, with a bass solo by King that greatly resembles his mentor Stanley Clarke. The track's message is optimistic and unsettling at the same time ("Find The Time and You'll realize/life isn't too much time and trouble"). Finally, the album closes with the wonderful "The Machine Stops" (perhaps the same "World Machine" they will talk about later?), a typically funky track with, once again, a spine-chilling bass.
Surely you noticed that I focused more on Mark King and Mike Lindup, the group's leaders, than on the others. The reason is simple: they dominate on the album. However, this doesn't mean the Gould brothers are less important; on the contrary, Philip Gould plays in an almost perfect manner, discreet, never intrusive, but with some rolls capable of making you jump out of your seat. Boon Gould, on the other hand, was always a bit cold in the studio, and in some tracks ("The Machine Stops") he almost completely disappears. In reality, the bootlegs from the period show that Boon is also an exceptional musician, capable of giving a lot.
Highly recommended album for bassists, but not only. If you hate the '80s, this album and this band will partly change your mind. A must-have!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Micro-Kid (04:44)
pushing all the buttons
trying to come to something
flying with his feet on the ground
full of dreams and visions
in a world of indecision
he ain't around to be pushed around
been a long time coming on
take a look at him now
and the days of If are gone
'cause he's showing us how
knowledge fuels the mind of the few
in a way that no - one's found
brave new answers screaming the truth
and the techno wins the crown
Chorus
micro-kid with mega-thoughts
he is real, he is here, he is fashionable
micro-kid speaks digitalk
if you hear what he says it's acceptable
generating square waves
while computing new games
finally gets the chips off his back
a smile is on his face
erasing every trace
of doubt that plagues the rest of the pack
and his brain stores memories
no alternatives could come in
he's the living remedy
times are better than they were then
knowledge fuels the mind of the few
in a way that no-one's found
brave new answers screaming the truth
and the techno wins the crown
Chorus (Rpt.)
02 The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up) (04:15)
Though I live in the edge time is on my side
All the doors to my life are open wide
Just as long as the wheels keep on turning round
I will live for the groove 'til the sun goes down
Living it up ... living it up ... I can feel it
Living it up ... is it a crazy notion?
Living it up ... living it up ... I can feel it
Living it up ... I got forward motion
I don't wanna go to war, I don't wanna go to war
I said I know what I want an' I don't wanna go to war
Do you follow me?
I saw a soldier standing in a bar, looked so tired, he'd come so far
He said "I need to love someone before they drop the atom bomb"
There's a girl at the back making eyes at me
And her hair long and black is a sight to see
But I get kind of scared when love's around
I just live for the groove 'til the sun goes down
Living it up ... living it up ... I can feel it
Living it up ... is it a false emotion?
Living it up ... living it up ... I can feel it
Living it up ... I got forward motion
So I'm-a-taking you out but I'm-a-faking
I'm married to the beat
To the music I gave the heart I could have given you-hoo
Still there's something 'bout the way that you move
And the way the people stare, it's the shock of the new
I want my friends to see me standing next to you
The sun goes down
Time is on my side
I don't care what they say, I'll enjoy the ride
But I get kind of scared when I turn around
So I'll stay with the groove 'til the sun goes down
Living it up ... living it up ... I can feel it
Living it up ... I got forward motion
Ooh watch her dance
There must be one like her in every club in every town
But I don't mind if that's the way she wants to be
There something 'bout her that reminds me of me
She's my soulmate - we'll be together 'til the sun goes down
The sun goes down
Living it up ... living it up ... I can feel it
Living it up ... I got forward motion
03 Out of Sight Out of Mind (05:12)
I remember your goodbye
and the late December sky
seems so long ago
you were standing on the quay
and you blew a kiss to me
I was sad to go
the ship began to pull away
then I heard a stranger say
it's sad to see true lovers part
'cause sometimes lovers feel a change of heart
out of sight and out of mind
well the stranger's words came true
and the prophecy went through
I knew it would change my world
'cause when I called your home
a whispered conversation
I overheard
I asked you what was going on
you said that I'd been gone too long
and the rain that fell in West Berlin
was nothing like the rain that fell within
out of sight and out of mind
oh, Regine
here am I
so far away
out of sight, out of mind
love has gone
but I will shine
day after day
I will take what love I find
so I made some other plans
took my life in these two hands
and I know I won't turn around
though I often see your face
when I'm in a crowded place
it doesn't get me down
I met a girl with smiling eyes
full of love and worldly wise
she told me she knows what to do
to help me put the memories of you
out of sight and out of mind
Chorus
04 Dance on Heavy Weather (04:27)
take a chance - and dance
it's a chance - dance
all across the world there's people high on confrontation
and they try to solve their problems burning up the nation
turn the whole world upside down and leave it in confusion
but still we get no answers using yesterday's solutions
we are the ones, keep sight of it
don't have to make a fight of it
dance on heavy weather
learn to live with modern times
you can take the pressure
it's all a state of mind - so we can
dance on heavy weather
raise the heartbeat of the young
if we move together
don't you know that we are the ones
take a chance - and dance
it's a chance - dance
you can try to hide behind a mask of contemplation
say you want to live your life in private isolation
from the east you can't ignore the storm of disillusion
and so it falls on all our shoulders to find a new solution
you've got to make a start of it
you've got to feel a part of it
dance on heavy weather
learn to live with modern times
you can take the pressure
it's all a state of mind - so we can
dance on heavy weather
raise the heartbeat of the young
if we move together
let the soul - take control - we are the ones
take a chance - and dance
it's a chance - dance
hear the sound of the heartbeat of the young
though the rhythm is so unfamiliar
just be sure to be there now the time has come
hear the music that brings us together
dance on heavy weather
hear the sound of the heartbeat of the young
we can take the pressure
we may have a solution, we are the ones
dance on heavy weather
hear the sound of the heartbeat of the young
if we move together
we may have a solution, we are the ones
06 Standing in the Light (03:43)
a summer's day in sixty-eight
sunlight through a window falls across the page
a young boy tries to concentrate
his mind would rather fly beyond the classroom cage
he can take the teacher's voice
turn it into music from another place
all the other kids don't have that choice
hanging on to every word the teacher says
day and night - we will be touched
standing in the light - don't shadow the genius
so out of school he walks alone
soon his thoughts are flowing like a golden stream
an empty house he calls his own
this place becomes a temple to a silent dream
sometimes he will clap and sing
then deep in meditation he will learn to be
and only birds upon the wing
with upward fascination claim to be so free
day and night - we will be touched
standing in the light - don't shadow the genius
your smile, your freedom
comes to you from within
still a child with a reason
you're afraid but it's time to begin
blow the wind of change
though the words are strange - to hear
say what's on your mind
now is not the time - for fear
a summer's day in eight-one
sunlight through a window falls across the page
a young man's fight has just begun
and rising up inside him is a burning rage
they called his dream a fantasy
a song that every child has sung since time began
but just as long as he believes
standing in the light he'll make them understand
07 I Want Eyes (05:00)
it's late I know but I can't sleep
peace of mind is hard to keep
I saw it on the news today
a thousand lives just blown away
I want eyes
I want eyes
another page in history
but the why is still a mystery
won't you come so we can talk this through
do you need me now like I need you
I want eyes
I want eyes
on the beach lies a boy
thrown away like a toy
in the field lies a man
left behind, he was calling, calling
no one saw him die
sitting there you're telling me
that everything is meant to be
but when I say I can't go on
I know I'm not the only one
I just can't live on planet hope
and watch the world go up in smoke
I don't know how to face the facts
when I see a child respond to impact
I want eyes
I want eyes
I want eyes
I want eyes
so I wake every night
with the same dream in mind
in a field there's a man
left behind, he was calling, calling
no one saw me cry
call
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