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But then this slipped past you!!!!! I can't believe it, did you all really forget about the Boo Radleys? Let me remind you, it's 1993, and in a record store, my friend/owner lets me listen to an album that calling strange would be an understatement; the album is called "Giant Steps" and for the time it's astonishing.
It should be a Brit Pop album, because the seventeen tracks (almost an hour of music) are full of catchy melodies, but the psychedelic lesson is clearly present and the singer's voice is uniquely feeble and often filtered; there are dissonances, and often they resort to brass, with never boring arrangements that at times verge into "noise," "dub," and even "orchestral." I buy it and take it home for the joy of my friend, who probably despaired of selling even a single copy.
Instead, astonishingly, after some time, I discover that this trend-defying album, in England, "hit the big time" and was even voted album of the year by the prestigious magazine New Musical Express. Meanwhile, I fell in love with it, and to this day, the Boo Radleys continue, from my iPod, to accompany my days. They were the creation of Martin Carr, who wrote all the songs, in addition to playing guitars and keyboards and also being present as a vocalist. Around Martin Carr, at least a dozen highly skilled instrumentalists rotated (but the rhythm section is clearly Brit Pop, don't expect particular virtuosity), including an entire brass section used in some tracks.
The Boo Radleys project began in Liverpool in the early '90s; Martin Carr gathered some session musicians from the underground scene around him, "expanded" his vocal abilities with the help of a singer (the liner notes say he's called Since) and landed a contract with an independent label, Creation in London. The tracks are already ready and go on to form two albums, the first, unobtainable, is called "Everything's Alright Forever," the second, extraordinary, is this one, "Giant Steps."
Unfortunately, after this album, there will be a senseless easy listening album, "Wake Up," which perhaps sought an unattainable commercial success, and another couple of recordings, certainly better but unable to come close to the creative genius of Giant Steps. Then the inevitable breakup in 1998, which preludes the birth of Martin Carr's new creation, the Brave Captain, who, in the 2000s, never managed to warm the hearts of the public and critics.
The opening track "I Hang Suspended" starts with a repetitive keyboard and a sound that seems to come from an old gramophone, then the band kicks in and it's crystalline and catchy English pop, but the dissonances are just around the corner and accompany the vocals (the vocal blend is excellent). "Upon 9th And Fairchild" is a distorted guitar and a shiver-inducing filtered voice, "Wish I Was Skinny" is a track that would have made the XTC of Partridge happy, at first it’s just a cute little song, but then keyboards and an orchestral arrangement with repetitive dissonance closing and applause in the background. "Leaves And Sand" is a psychedelic chorus with a distorted guitar and a pounding rhythm tearing apart the peace, a masterpiece... and so it goes on for the other tracks that, at least until track thirteen, always leave you pleasantly amazed.
Unfortunately, this time I can't give you good news about the price, you can find it on the internet, but at a hefty 22 euros, and I can't even tell you the website because I've been accused of advertising (I apologize, it wasn't my intention, they were just innocent "tips," anyway, it's the most famous site). If you've never listened to it, it's worth a listen.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 I Hang Suspended (03:57)
(...700 hertz)
Ain't that just you
you know the facts, but you
haven't got a clue
about me or my life, why don't
you try and take the time
till then what am I supposed
to do? but then that's just
like you to leave me
I hang suspended on your
words, yeah you leave me
I hang suspended on your words
don't you care? I don't read
minds and I did I'd be
elsewhere, tell me what's on
your mind so I can rectify in
time, or else I won't know
what I'm to do, but then that's
just like you to leave me
I hang suspended on your words
06 Rodney King (Song for Lenny Bruce) (02:46)
Do you know my name before you
tear me apart?
Do you care who I am?
07 Thinking of Ways (03:49)
Just drop me here I can find my way clear back to my house, I’m finding
it hard trying to stay on my feet on
my own i’m thinking of ways I can
get out of things just like always
with a head full of beer I will try
and tell someone tonight
I gotta get away step on the gas
go giles! (go, go)
... later
I’ll just have one more then I’ll have
to be going, someone’s waiting
I’ll just have one more, it can’t do
any harm anymore, I’m thinking
of ways I can get out of things
just like always with a head full of beer
I will try and tell someone tonight
08 Barney (...and Me) (04:42)
Now it’s getting colder my hands chilled to the bone I watch you breath and trace it’s steps as it mingles with my own. The lake is almost frozen the grass is silver air the wind is high in the blue sky I wish that I could care. I recall when we were younger we shared the streets of home spoke of our dreams and soaring schemes and places we would go, if I stay much longer I’ll never leave again, I have to move I cannot stay, believe the voice that tells me leave it all behind me, I know that I know that I am wrong, I’ll never leave now it has been so long and now I’m getting older, I still can’t find the words to empathise with what’s inside, express the way I feel and now I’m getting older It’s easier to hide, to run away day after day betray the voice that tells me leave it all behind me, I know that I know that I am wrong, I’ll never leave now it has been so long
11 Best Lose the Fear (04:12)
The pure lights beckon
and the music calls
but you're trapped inside
those four walls
it's not your fault that
she has changed
it's not her fault
you're still the same
you both work hard
and you feel the pace
but you're the one who
knows it's not a race
to be won
and I know you'd like to disappear
you'd like to lose the fear
you dream the love you had
is near
you feel so down cos you
haven't been out
your ears are still sore
from the latest bout
something's gonna have to change
arrangements must be re-arranged
and I know you'd like to disappear
you'd like to lose the fear
you dream the love you had
is near
you know you must go
but you're frightened to leave
you'd love to stay but
you're too scared to breathe
13 Lazarus (04:38)
I must be losing my mind
I keep on trying to find a way out
but it’s ok you don’t lock the door anymore
I, you know I never go out
and you know that I start to forget things
but it’s ok they weren’t essential anyway
I, and when I start to look back
I feel like I’ve spent my whole life just kicking round
and not getting in the way
and now, and maybe now I should change
because I’m starting to lose all my faith
while those around me are beaten down each day.
14 One Is For (01:36)
One is for
Man is god
god is now
end is near pain
is good time is
dear
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By temi
The album adopts melodies and arrangements more original than those of classic Britpop… so it deserves praise for its compositional brilliance.
An awful track is “Rodney King,” unlistenable, with a synthesizer as annoying as nails on a chalkboard.
