This album should be reviewing me rather than the other way around...
So I will try not so much to write a review, but more to tell, more than I usually try to, an emotion... the emotion that fills me when I put on the record and lose myself in the melodies of the Alan Parsons Project.
Every time I listen to it, I embark on a journey from which I never want to return.
However, this journey is more like a story, a story that begins with an imperial, majestic opening theme, "Sirius".
"Sirius" introduces us to the main setting, a deserted island, lost in the void, on which I find myself living under mysterious circumstances.
"Eye in the Sky" presents this island to us, illustrating the landscape, the valleys, the hills, and its splendid and warm summer days. It tells us about the unspoiled landscape and the beauty of its lakes and rivers, the clouds that occasionally cover the highest peaks, and the beaches that host me in the evening to gaze at the equally untouched August starry sky.
When the chorus starts, I'm there, lying on the sand, naked, looking at the stars under the relaxing rustle of the wind and the waves lapping the shore.
I find myself thinking how wonderful it would be to be an eye in the sky... to fully know the beauty of nature and the secrets of every remote corner of the earth; but it also makes me think how wonderful it would be to be a dot among the stars, unreachable but surprisingly close.
What fascinates me the most is that feeling of anguish, nostalgia, melancholy, and happiness that this song and this image evoke in me, as if I were dreaming of both, as if I felt the need for them and the consequent absence when they're not there, it's like crying with a smile on my face (something that's happened before).
I think there's no doubt that it's a masterpiece, but there's no need for me, the newcomer, to say so...
The daily life on the island doesn't have a precise space-time connotation; it's a confusing mix of information I don't give much importance to. I remain particularly focused on the starry sky, thinking that, in the end, I am a dot on a tiny planet immersed in the infinity of space... so the stars will always be unreachable.
I sleep with this thought, lulled by the notes of "Gemini," or rather, dreaming of having my soulmate beside me on this dull island.
I see its shadow, I look, I turn, I listen, I hope, I identify it in a thousand words, but I always find myself alone.
Until "Silence and I" arrives... the Dawn.
Dawn is as both physical and spiritual.
Still lying on the cold sand, I open my eyes and am overwhelmed by the first light of the day, feeling the very first delicate rays of the sun gently caress my skin, welcoming me into this new revealing day. My chest opens and emits a new light while I levitate towards the now vanished stars. My head falls backward, and I rise parallel to the ground, unconscious, only immersed in a blur of light beams until... I fall back to the ground, awake, and decide to escape from this deserted island.
So, at the third minute of "Silence and I," I frantically try to build a raft to escape, to reach that impressive orange sphere standing on the horizon line, and I search for branches, beams, ropes, to create the hope of my coming days.
A rebirth in the silence of dawn.
(Beyond the images and emotions, how beautiful is the guitar in this track, second only to Jimmy Page)
Thus with "You're Gonna Get Your Finger Burned," the journey towards the orange horizon begins, continuing until "Mammagamma".
I didn't live those years, but I imagine "Mammagamma" as an '80s disco hit; I think if they played it today, I might enjoy going to clubs.
In any case, I experience this track as a storm that endangers my journey towards the horizon.
After a day of sailing, clouds cover the sky, lightning starts to fall, and thunder rumbles; the waves destroy my raft in a confusing mix of light and darkness in succession.
This frantic alternation of light, darkness, wind, and water, fortunately, lasts only 3.33 minutes, enough, however, to disturb my tranquility and tragically interrupt the journey towards the orange horizon.
The sea then calms, becoming flat with a few gentle, cautious waves, careful not to hurt me.
"Old and Wise" has arrived.
Now it's night, the journey has stopped, I'm lying in tears on what's left of my raft, howling at the moon, asking why I suffer so much while being lulled by the gentle waves trying to put me to sleep like an innocent child in his mother's arms, who wants to protect him from the cruelty of this world.
So I remain still, with torn clothes, to look once again at the stars, with big tears on my cheeks blending with the salty water of hope. Still. Howling softly at the Moon, cradled by the gentle waves.
What melancholy.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Eye in the Sky (04:35)
(Lead vocal - Eric Woolfson)
Don't think sorry's easily said
Don't try turning tables instead
You've taken lots of Chances before
But I'm not gonna give anymore
Don't ask me
That's how it goes
Cause part of me knows what you're thinkin'
Don't say words you're gonna regret
Don't let the fire rush to your head
I've heard the accusation before
And I ain't gonna take any more
Believe me
The sun in your Eyes
Made some of the lies worth believing
Chorus:
I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
And I don't need to see any more
To know that
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind (looking at you)
Don't leave false illusions behind
Don't Cry cause I ain't changing my mind
So find another fool like before
Cause I ain't gonna live anymore believing
Some of the lies while all of the Signs are deceiving
(chorus)
03 Children of the Moon (04:49)
(Lead vocal - David Paton)
Pay no attention to the writing on the wall
The words seem Empty cause there's nothing there at all
We let the wise men beat the Drums too soon
We were just children of the moon
No one to turn to
Nowhere to Run to even if we could
Too late to save us but try to understand
The seas were empty there was hunger in the land
We let the blind man lead the Way too long
Easy to see where we went wrong
Nothing to live for
Nothing to die for
We're Lost in the middle of a hopeless world
Lost in the Middle of a hopeless world
Children children of the moon watch the world go by
Children children of the moon are hiding from the sun and the sky
Children Children of the moon watch it all go by
Children children of the moon are Blinded by the light in their eyes
No one to turn to
Nowhere to run to even if we could
Follow the pilgrim to the Temple of the dawn
The altar's empty and the sacrifice is gone
We let the Madmen write the golden rules
We were no more than mortal fools
Nothing to live for
Nothing to die for
We're lost in the middel of a hopeless world
Lost in the Middle of a hopeless world
Children children of the moon watch the world go by
Children children of the Moon hiding from the sky
04 Gemini (02:10)
(Lead vocal - Chris Rainbow)
Watching waiting rising falling
Listening calling Drifting
Touching feeling seeing believing
Hoping sending leaving
I couldn't say why you and I are gemini
If I tried to write a Million words a day
I see your shadow coming closer
Then watch you drifting away
Watching Waiting rising falling
Listening calling Drifting
Touching feeling seeing believing
Hoping Sending leaving
I couldn't say why you and I are gemini
We are travelling a million worlds away
I see your Shadow coming closer
Then watch you drifting away
05 Silence and I (07:05)
(Lead vocal - Eric Woolfson)
If I cried out loud
all the sorrows I've Known
And the secrets I've heard
It would ease my mind
Someone sharing the load
But I won't breathe a word
We're two of a kind
Silence and I
We need a chance to talk things over
Two of a kind
Silence and I
We'll find a way to work it out
While the children laughed
I was always afraid
of the smile of the clown
So I close my eyes
Till I can't see the light
And I hide from the sound
We're two of a kind
Silence and I
We need a chance to talk things over
Two of a kind
Silence and I
We'll find a way to work it out
I can hear the cry
Of the leaf on a tree
As it falls to the ground
I can hear the call
of an echoing voice
And there's no one around
We're two of a kind
Silence and I
We need a chance to talk things over
Two of a kind
Silence and I
We'll find a way to work it out
06 You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned (04:21)
(Lead vocal - Lenny Zakatek)
Watch me closely catch my eye
If you do I Beg you to remind me
Who is stronger who is Weak of those who seek
And don't know where to find me
Ask me why, I don't know
You ask Me why and I say
Now you see me now you don't
I thought by now you'd learned
You're gonna get your Fingers burned
Watch me closely understand
That what you see is only an illusion
If I'm wrong and you are right
Then I will Light your darkness with confusion
Ask me why I don't know
You Ask me why and I say
Chances are you're playing with fire
I thought by now you'd learned
You're gonna get your fingers burned
Watch me closely be aware
That All I do is only to surprise you
Every move is Sleight of hand
And every word is planned to mystify you
You ask me why I don't know
You ask me why and I say
Don't get fooled a second time
I thought By now you'd understand
You're gonna get your fingers burned
07 Psychobabble (04:49)
(Lead vocal - Elmer Gantry)
Tell you 'bout a dream
That I have every night
Tell you 'bout a dream
That I have every night
It ain't Kodachrome and
It isn't black and white
Take me for a fool
If you feel that's right
Well, I'm never on my own
But there's nobody in sight
I don't know why
I'm scared of the lightning
Trying to reach me
I can't turn to the
Left or the right
I'm too scared to run
And I'm too weak to fight
But I don't care it's all
Psychobabble rap to me
Psychobabble
Tell you 'bout a dream
That I have every night
It's in Dolby stereo
But I never hear it right
Take me for a fool
Well, that's all right
Well, I see the way to go
But there isn't any light
I don't know why
I'm scared of the lightning
Trying to reach me
Help me to find
What I don't wanna know
You're taking me there
But I don't wanna go
I don't care it's all
Psychobabble rap to me
Psychobabble
All psychobabble
Psychobabble
All psychobabble
I don't care it's all
Psychobabble rap to me
You're readin' my mind
You won't look in my eyes
You say I do things
That I don't realize
But I don't care it's all
Psychobabble rap to me
Psychobabble
All psychobabble
Psychobabble
All psychobabble
You're lighting a scene
that's faded to black
I threw it away 'cause
I don't want it back
But I don't care it's all
Psychobabble rap
09 Step by Step (03:52)
(Lead vocal - Lenny Zakatek)
I was just a joker in a serious game
I Didn't have the Heart to play
But sooner or later
I'll find a reason to throw it away
Risin' on the crest of a natural wave
That Never seems to break my way
I'm livin' without it
But I got to Do something about it
Step by step little by little
Step by step take it line by line
Move move move, move a Little closer
I was Just a runner in a one horse race
Livin' on the don't pass line
Sooner or later
I Got to lose cause I'm wasting my time
Lady luck must have been a wonderful girl
She's never been a Friend of mine
I'm living without her
But I still got that mountain to climb
Step by step little by little
Step by step rake it line by line
Move move move, move a little closer
Step by step the Deal is mine
10 Old and Wise (04:46)
As far as my eyes can see
There are shadows approaching me
And to those I left behind
I wanted you to know
You've always shared my deepest thoughts
You follow where I go
And oh when I'm old and wise
Bitter words mean little to me
Autumn winds will blow right through me
And someday in the mist of time
When they asked me if I knew you
I'd smile and say you were a friend of mine
And the sadness would be lifted from my eyes
Oh when I'm old and wise
As far as my eyes can see
There are shadows surrounding me
And to those I leave behind
I want you all to know
You've always shared my darkest hours
I'll miss you when I go
And oh, when I'm old and wise
Heavy words that tossed and blew me
Like autumn winds will blow right through me
And someday in the mist of time
When they ask you if you knew me
Remember that you were a friend of mine
As the final curtain falls before my eyes
Oh when I'm old and wise
As far as my eyes can see
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