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It was a day that started in the best possible way. I had just confirmed that I had escaped an English debt. This led me to one conclusion: I would reward myself with 1 CD. Incidentally, it had been since 'Made in Japan' by Deep Purple that I hadn't bought anything else (so almost a week).
Another factor in my favor was that, extraordinarily, I still had some money in my wallet, thus avoiding the humiliating loan my friends would have had to grant me. I head to my trusted shop (in my town there are only 2 CD stores and therefore not much possibility of choice) with the intention of buying one by Simple Minds.
I had intended to get one of theirs for quite some time. I was undecided between "Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call" and "Life in a Day." But in the end, the choice fell on the latter. The cover attracted me a lot (and it was also cheaper). I pay my 8 euros and head home. I will not regret the choice…
"Life in a Day" is the first album by the Scottish Simple Minds, released in 1979 by a tiny label (Zoom). The group has its roots in punk but immediately moves away from it for a decadent electronic rock with extraordinary melody. Strong influences, according to the admissions of the group members, of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, and Kraftwerk. Thus, an experimental music for the period, characterized by baroque arrangements and the magnificent voice of Kerr.
Later they would produce duds like "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and, in the 90s, return to anonymity. But here you can still feel a carefree atmosphere. "Life in a Day" is very different from the claustrophobic (also stunning) sounds of the two following albums. There is a perfect blend of keyboards and guitar riffs. The tracks are all around 3-4 minutes, except "Pleasantly Disturbed" which lasts 8 minutes, characterized by a singular use of strings, and "Murder Story" which is 6 minutes long, and as the title suggests, is a dark and decadent story in the style of Roxy Music.
All the lyrics are very dark and fatalistic. "Someone" reminds of some songs from Bowie's Berlin Trilogy. "No Cure" instead is unique because it is much more carefree and cheerful compared to the rest of the album.
I have tried to describe each track on the album, but unfortunately, I can't. Sensations like those experienced in "Someone, Life in a Day, Pleasantly Disturbed" (with a particular use of strings) and "Chelsea Girl" (a track that will be chosen as a single) I can't describe. I can only say that it is a wonderful album. The first thing that comes to mind when listening to the record is the red of the lakes on the cover.
A comforting landscape to dive into for 43 minutes of tranquility.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
06 No Cure (03:34)
I see them walking
You know theyre walking at night
Ohh in the dark you know
Theyre shining out so bright
Your sarky voices are gonna come on so near
As every picture becomes so clear
You
You come on so sharp
Yet be so nice
Tell me that youre so hot
But youre as cold as ice
There is no cure
Youre so blind cant you see?
There is no cure
Cant buy no immunity
There is no cure
So keep your evil from me
There is no cure.
They like to stay
Ooh come on
Come on and stay up so late
You gonna talk of all the things you just wanna hate
You wanna come on
Come on
And make me so mad
Inside your heart
I know it feels so bad
You
You come on so sharp
Yet be so nice
Tell me that youre so hot
But youre as cold as ice
There is no cure
Youre so blind cant you see?
There is no cure
Cant buy immunity
There is no cure
So keep your evil from me
There is no cure
Come on and do it
Just what to do it
Theyre going to do it
Just want to do it
There is no cure...
07 Chelsea Girl (04:35)
And now the sound of time is getting fast
It's getting late
Don't know if I can take much more
The way you talk I often wondered
If I heard the words somewhere
Someplace before
I got so nervous when I called
And found that lately
You had gone and changed your name
But I've got something on my mind
I want you here
I want you now
You better explain
Is it true you're running round
Now is it true they're calling you
The Chelsea Girl
Is it true you're running round
Now is it true they're calling you
The Chelsea Girl
Your best friend never calls you up
But you don't mind
'Cause lately things are all the same
Ain't it strange how peope always seem
To know your face
But just don't know your name
Well I don't care there's no-one there
That even turn around and say get out of this place
Last night I saw a shooting star
When morning comes
She hides away
A real disgrace
Is it true you're running round
Now is it true they're calling you
The Chelsea Girl
Is it true you're running round
Now is it true they're calling you
The Chelsea Girl
Oh Chelsea Girl
You got me caught up in a whirl
I want you here now Chelsea Girl
Lyrics : J Kerr Music : Burchill/Kerr (C) EMI Publishing Ltd Reproduced without permission
08 Wasteland (03:46)
Can you see us now we're on our own
And every chance has just come and just gone
Now it looks so dark and so cold
Think of the minds we sold
We'd better speak now
We'd better speak now
We'd better speak now
We'd better speak now
I can remember things that looked so bright
And I could talk to you without all this spite
Can you picture all that's past
Does your face deform so fast
We'd better speak now
We'd better speak now
We'd better speak now
We'd better speak now
`Cause when I stop and look into your head
I think of all the things that you said
When I look up into your eyes
I see the creature that I despise
Kill now
Kill now
Kill now
Kill now
Can you see us now we're on our own
And every chance has just come and gone
I've been wrong but you've been unkind
There's so much more that I can't find
Wasteland
Wasteland
Wasteland...
Lyrics : J Kerr Music : Burchill/Kerr (C) EMI Publishing Ltd Reproduced without permission
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