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The mixture of influences that often characterizes a band is never completely identifiable. First of all, because a band that is "influenced," unless it is merely imitating, seeks to reinterpret the sound through the spirit of "its time." Secondly, because it is not easy to navigate the historical landscape of rock, as it is often a vast graveyard of unexpressed potential and misunderstood attempts. Especially the new-wave, which contains so many variables and nuances, makes the work of "recognition" even more difficult.
Today, in the midst of the '80s revival, both in the realm of the deleterious and insubstantial electro-wave and in the more serious recovery of rock stylistic features, it's fascinating to rediscover bands that have marked a sound and an attitude, contrary to the sometimes nonexistent recognition in history books.
Among these, the Chameleons must certainly be mentioned. Hailing from the gray Manchester, they infused their debut work with the desolate atmosphere of their city, forging a dark sound, filled with desperate melodrama but, above all, an epic "mood" which, speaking of influences, contributed significantly to inspiring the masterpiece "Turn On The Bright Lights" by Interpol. The latter also borrowed from the Chameleons a sense of rhythm, that breathless drumming and those gasping bass drum hits, as well as the sharp and minimal guitar figures, which play a leading role in their sound.
Undoubtedly, you can hear the "dated" imprint of "Script Of The Bridge." The production, in particular, is influenced by the echo that was so fashionable in the English dark-wave of that time. It is undeniable that spiritually the Chameleons belonged to that movement, at least on this album. A track like "View From A Hill" cannot help but bring to mind, for example, the desolate visions of the more laid-back Cure, with those liquid guitars and that singing wrapped in spirals of melancholy.
But the solemnity of compositions like "Thursday Child," with that galloping rhythm over precious minimal sparks of guitar, or the opening "Don't Fall," with that martial pace enveloped by incendiary patterns of minor notes signaled the quintessence of their "anthemic" style, so resembling some of the things that their neighbors U2 would do in the future, who were certainly much more fortunate.
In between, there are the stentorian pace of "Here Today," the restrained strength of "Monkeyland," very close to the pseudo-psychedelia of Love And Rockets, "Pleasure And Pain," which seems like a "human" version of "Doctor Avalanche" by Sisters Of Mercy, and the glimmer of light in "Thursday Child," a ballad disguised as a peremptory rhythm.
Above all, an uncommon quality of arrangements, a sense of melody, and elegance.
So, ultimately, if you have not yet had the fortune to encounter this album, do so without hesitation, because not many have been able to combine all these qualities so convincingly. The fact remains that, as often happens, the band did not receive the recognition it deserved. But this matters little in light of the enjoyment of their music.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Here Today (03:58)
Don't know what happened
But somebody lost their mind tonight
Not sure what happened
But I don't think I got home tonight
And there's blood on my shirt
The clap of thunder
And I see my life go flashing by
The smell of sulphur
And I weep as I embrace the sky
I heard somebody scream
My chest is burning
I think someone set my soul alight
Don't know what happened
But I don't think I got home tonight
I wonder why
I wonder why
Ahhhh, there's madness here today
Ahhhh, I think I'll go away
Where is my wife?
Where is my wife?
I'm draining away
I'm draining away
(Draining away)
Here today
03 Monkeyland (05:17)
I shake my head and shiver
They smile
And then stab my back as they shake my hand
Send out an SOS plea
Come quickly
I'm marooned in monkeyland.
Is there anyone there
Who understands me
Anyone at all
I'm idly staring at the sky
Did anybody hear me sigh
A million stars are a moving sight
To all you out there
Reading this tonight
It's just a trick of the light
I have to know what is real
And what is illusion
Tell me how does it feel
Beyond this confusion
Is there anyone there
Do I dismiss this with a sigh
Suppose I must from time to time
And let the answers pass me by
To questions set to bend the mind
Is my creator a God or a man
Does someone somewhere
Care or understand
It's just a trick of the light
I have to know what is real
And what is illusion
Tell me how does it feel
Beyond this confusion
Is there anyone there
Life's an optical illusion
Like other optical illusions
Beware
If there's anyone there
04 Second Skin (06:51)
One cold damp evening
The world stood still
I watched as i held my breath
A sillhouette i thought i knew
Came through,someone spoke to me
Whispered in my ear
This fantasy's for you
Fantasy's are in this year
My whole life flashed,before my eyes
I thought,what they say is true
I've shed my skin,and my disguise
And cold on the naked eye
Emerged from my cocoon
And a half remebered tune played softly in my head
He said
He turns smiling...and said
I realise a miracle,is due
I dedicate this melody,to you
I realise a miracle,is due
I dedicate this melody,to you
But is this the stuff dreams are made of?
If this is the stuff dreams are made of
No wonder i feel like i'm floating on air
No wonder i feel like i'm floating on air
I realise a miracle,is due
I dedicate this melody,to you
But is this the stuff dreams are made of?
If this is the stuff dreams are made of
No wonder i feel like i'm floating on air
No wonder i feel like i'm floating on air
No wonder i feel like i'm floating on air
Everywhere
Oh, it feels like i'm everywhere
Like when you fail to make the connection,you know vital it is
Oh when something slips through your fingers you know precious it is
And you reach the point when you know
It's only your second skin
It's only your second skin
Someone's banging on my door
05 Up the Down Escalator (03:58)
I'm gazing at faces
Staring blankly at me
I suppose it's just a sign of the times
They tell me tomorrow will never arrive
But I've seen it end a million times
I lost my direction while dodging the flak
Oh give me a hint or something
Now they can erase us
At the flick of a switch
How long will they wait
No!
There must be something wrong boys
Obnoxious actions
Obnoxious results
Teachers who refuse to be taught
Distorted pictures
And dizzy, dizzy people
Rush by me at the speed of thought
They Sit at the tables
And throw us the scraps
For Christ's' sake leave me something
Now they can erase us
At the flick of a switch
Will they hesitate
No!
There must be something wrong boys
They're dragging me down
Eden
There's no Eden, anyway.
They're dragging me down
You either swim or you drown
06 Less Than Human (04:12)
Must have died a thousand times
I must have died a thousand times
I must have died a thousand times
Feeling less than human
I surmise I'm less than human
In Gods' eyes
Time he's on my side, she said
Time he's on my side, she said
He may be on your side I said
But it makes no difference in the end
He's coming after you my friend
Must have cried a thousand times
Must have cried a thousand times
I must have cried a thousand times
Feeling less than human
I surmise I'm less than human
In Gods' eyes
I must have died a thousand times
I must have died a thousand times
And I must have cried a thousand times
I must have cried a thousand times
Wao-oo-oo Wao-oo-oo Wao-oo-oo Wao-oo-oo
07 Pleasure and Pain (05:11)
White as a cotton cloud
Silence, sea and sky
Innocent as the child
Always asking why
I can take you there
I can show you
I can take you there
I'll be there gently catching you as you fall
Hearing you when you call
Smiling as we climb
Oh, smiling crocodilic
As certainly as the sun
Bakes a Sahara day
Ancient as the hills
Crumbling into clay
I can take you there
I can show you
I can take you there
I'll be there gently catching you as you fall
Hearing you when you call
Smiling as we climb
Smiling as we climb
It's pleasure and pain
No loss, no gain
Pleasure and pain
Again and again
Pleasure and pain
I can take you there
I can show you
I can take you there
I'll be there
As you fall
This madness, this laughter
Outward feelings i can't control
Those coloured lights are leading me
Is it you?, is it me?
09 As High as You Can Go (03:35)
Out of tune boys, out of tune boys
Signposts to the sun
Single file boys, single file boys
Signposts to the sun
High as you can go
Lennon to Munroe
Claw their way to the stars
High as you can go
Lennon to Munroe
Clawed their way to the stars
I think they knew.
And I don't care who you are
Just sign the line
And away you fly.
Unexpectedly rejected
Safety for the few
Same excuses resurrected
None of them are true.
High as you can go
Grace Kelly to Garbo
Clawed their way to the stars
High as you can go
Grace Kelly to Garbo
Clawed their way to the stars
I think they knew.
No I don't care who you are
Just sign the line and away you fly.
Take a chance and join the dance
And you can make the sound
Take a chance and join the dance
And we can go to ground
Go to ground.
And I don't care who you are
Just sign the line and away you fly.
11 Paper Tigers (04:17)
Too much makes me lazy
Not enough and it makes me crazy
Too much makes me crazy
Not enough and it makes me lazy
Time stops just for a moment
Then again it's only an instant
Time stops just for an instant
Then again it's only a moment
They always keep themselves clean
Know what I mean?
You have to face them sooner or later
These tigers made of paper
Don't pay now
You have to pay later
Confront your tigers made of paper
They always keep themselves clean
I can't shake this feeling
Something's going to happen
12 View From a Hill (06:39)
Feel myself falling to the ground
Solitary silence there's no sound
Open my eyes and look around
Colours and concepts that confound
All around
Pick myself up and take the air
The fragrance of children everywhere
Slowly absorbed into my square
Debating what is and isn't there
Who cares.
You wait until your time comes round again
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