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Rating:
The "project" of Alan Parsons is at its penultimate official work. The partner Eric Woolfson will be present until "Gaudi" in 1987. The subsequent "Freudiana" in 1990 is a gathering of affiliated musicians, where the last traces of his voice can be found, one of the group's calling cards.
"Stereotomy" comes immediately after "Vulture Culture," which is perhaps the least noteworthy work up to that moment. The Project churns out an album every year with clockwork regularity, and this does not always benefit the quality and expectations of the audience, often with very discerning ears. In the schedule of their career, it is unique. In terms of sound and technology.
It seems they have completely emptied the studio of traditional instrumentation, using more modern ones. The recording is impeccably done, recorded for the first time completely digitally. We are in 1985, and Alan Parsons does not want to lag behind. He is still the king of the mixer and the technology applied to arrangements.
The title track is perhaps the best track. Rock sound like few other times, almost progressive. Bairnson's guitar adds spikes and cuts the notes in a cold but effective way. That great drummer Stuart Elliott is the usual human metronome, a guarantee of precision. The powerful and masculine voice of John Miles is the most suitable for the situation, with Woolfson enriching it all in the middle. It's almost impossible not to move at least a limb to the rhythm of this track. "Beaujolais" is a nice, well-rhythmed tune. Nothing more. "Urbania" is instrumental. It begins with the starting of a gasoline engine and the honking of traffic. Quite cold in sounds like the rest of the album. It can be defined as "fusion" in execution, abandoning the sacred 4/4. A bit for connoisseurs. It showcases the musicians of the formation, if ever there was a need.
"Limelight" is sung by Gary Brooker, former Procol Harum. A nice slow song with a somewhat obvious cadence but which sold well. The official single of the work, it became one of the group's evergreen hits. Everyone knows it. Blame it also on the Margherita Ariston washing machine. "In the Real World" is the classic rock of the Project, again with Miles's voice. "Where's the Walrus?" is the other instrumental, very long with further display of synth and electric rock. Great for testing an audio system. It is loved by electronic enthusiasts. Nothing new, but pleasant and powerful.
"Light of the World" is the most inspired with a wonderful intro. The melody is successful, with typical British melancholic emotions. Great piece. Beautiful guitar solo. Dreamlike. "Chinese whispers" is a curious oriental parenthesis with Bairnson's usual acoustic guitar, which immediately gives way to "Stereotomy Two", a perhaps a bit unnecessary reprise. Giving the whole a sensation that it is a concept album with a metropolitan flavor, with less personality than a "Pyramyid."
We have the typical work of the Alan Parsons Project but with technical-aesthetic innovations that slightly renew their music. I give it four stars, precisely for that diversity that distinguishes it. They always do something excellent in every work. Maybe that’s enough.
Joe Cavalli
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Stereotomy (07:15)
Lead vocal - John Miles
Diamond eyes
That burn me and turn me to stone
Crystalise
And freeze me in clear monochrome
Turn me to stone; do anything you want with me
Turn me to stone; do anything you want
Stereotomy
We can make it together
Do anything you want with me
Do anything you want
Scarlet minds
Possess me and I feel no shame
Silent knives
Dissect me and I feel no pain
Stereotomy
We can make it together
Do anything you want with me
Do anything you want
Stereotomy
We can make it forever
Do anything you want with me
Do anything you want
Starlight beams
Project me in red blue and green
Velvet dreams
Protect me when I hit the screen
Stereotomy
We can make it together
Do anything you want with me, do anything you want
Stereotomy
We can make it forever
It's always the same, it's always the same
Stereotomy, we can make it
We can make it, do anything you want
Turn me to stone
Do anything you want with me
Cover my eyes
There's nothing more they need to see
Turn me to stone
Before there's nothing left of me
Make me a rock
And not what I appear to be
Turn me to stone
Turn me to stone
02 Beaujolais (04:27)
Lead vocal - Chris Rainbow
No clock beside my bed
Don't try to wake me
No phone upon my wall
Who's going to call
No knock upon my door
No news to shake me
Nights like the one before
I can't take no more
Beaujolais goes straight to my head
Beaujolais puts me to shame
And I don't know why I'm in this place or how I came
Beaujolais and I go crazy
Beaujolais I can't explain
But it helps me to forget the past and ease the pain
One race that I can't win
With an alter ego
One chance to sink or swim
What am I to do
One tail that I can't shake
Wherever I go he go
One circuit I can't break
It's a catch twenty two
Beaujolais goes straight to my head
Beaujolais the one to blame
And I don't know why I'm in this place or how I came
Beaujolais will be my ruin
Beaujolais I can't complain
Cause it helps me to forget the past and ease the pain
04 Limelight (04:39)
I can see the glow of a distant sun
I can feel it inside
Maybe this day could be the one
I can hear the roar of a distant crowd
They are waiting for me
Calling my name
Shouting out loud
Holding on isn't always easy
I ain't gonna change my mind
Limelight you were all I ever wanted
Since it all began
Limelight shining on me
Telling the world who I am
Limelight don't let me slip right through your
fingers
There's a long way to fall
After ALL the years of waiting
I'm gonna show them all
I can see the world in a different light
Now it's easy to say
Where I went wrong
What I did right
I can hear the beat of a different drum
Take it all in my stride
Hold my head high
Second to none
Holding on wasn't always easy
Nothing can change my mind
Limelight you were all I ever wanted since it all
began
Limelight shining on me telling the world who I am
Limelight don't let me slip right through your
fingers
There's a long way to fall
After ALL the years of waiting I'm gonna show them
all
Maybe the role's not easy, maybe the prize is small
After ALL the years of waiting I'm gonna show them
all
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