Two absolute masterpieces are connected to each other and personify death as an alternative to "life." They are 'Seventeen Seconds' and 'Faith,' represented by the interposition of existence between life and death in the form of an eclipse.
'Seventeen Seconds' (lunar eclipse) where existence (earth) stands between life (the sun) and death (the moon), while in 'Faith' (solar eclipse) where death (the moon) interposes between life (the sun) and existence (the earth). This is the law of nature, and who better than The Cure to embody it?
This Album is the most fertile masterpiece of morbid and paranoid sanguine vision of a perverse yet true and transcendental love. During that period, Robert Smith was profoundly struck by listening to Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures" to the point that he decided it was time to release his tormented soul, in a platonic but real way, describing everything that no one else would dare to touch. He said... why be afraid to talk about death; after all, it also belongs to us, and so he did it in a sublime, ecliptic, and excruciating manner, the evil that will ooze from his pores echoing on the notes of deep synthesizers, keyboards, and bass. The entire Album was born for the troubled, desperate love for Mary (he will dedicate the track “M” to her), the highest expression of true sentiment value, an intrinsic love hindered by everything and everyone that leads Robert to innocent delusion, all concentrated in those final 17 seconds, where either you stay or you leave forever, either life or death for Mary, but a small gesture and a word will be enough to balance existence, because the eclipse will pass quickly and his dream will probably only be realized through death and the hope of a next life, and Robert will await that future where he will be fulfilled with everything that earthly life could not grant him, he and Mary immersed in the misty light of the enchanted forest, will unite forever.
“A Reflection” instrumental track, tormented piano, accompanied by electric guitar and the piercing voice in the dark and incarnate forest “Play For Today” energy of synthesizers, guitars, bass, and voice that invoke the will to do what is right for oneself, the important thing is to act and react without judging future intentions “Secrets” extraordinary track, repetitive bass and guitar in a frenzied run around a piano and distant voices that confide all the secrets to share in intimacy on a deeply dark night “In Your House” track privileged by Gallup’s bass in a sadness that isn’t convincing, not satisfied with the resignation of the impossibility of having one’s love “Three” haunting, Robert's distant voice, frantic instruments begin to run in the woods, but it's all so dark, and there's the fear of falling into a deep pit, sweat runs down the face, eyes are wide open, while the heart is paralyzed “The Final Sound” a very brief harpsichord introduces, as if by challenge, the masterpiece to follow “A Forest” the keyboards, drums, and bass create the nocturnal atmosphere. A beginning of loss and then the run in the forest again, the glances, the voice, the desire, of wanting this love, but realizing it's just a dream of desire. But then, was it Mary or Death? Again Again Again “M” the guitars lead in sadness... maybe you will find a better man than me and leave forever, make the choice you think is best, but if you leave, I die because I love you.
“At Night” the instruments are excellent, they are like calibrated and tormented brushes, energetic track but so sick, it’s the end, desolation, pain, suffering, they have by now penetrated the soul. “Seventeen Seconds” will give the fundamental answer, they are the MEASURE OF A LIFE, the soul in an existential nightmare dream but so immense and vital.
Robert shaper of the very and absolute Self, this is the story of the true love of 'Seventeen Seconds' that will soon continue with Faith, because one day the two bodies will live in a single soul...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Play for Today (03:41)
It's not a case of doing what's right
It's just the way I feel that matters
Tell me I'm wrong
I don't really care
It's not a case of share and share alike
I take what I require
I don't understand...
You say it's not fair
You expect me to act
Like a lover
Consider my moves
And deserve the reward
To hold you in my arms
And wait...
For something to happen
It's not a case of telling the truth
Some lines just fit the situation
You call me a liar
You would anyway
It's not a case of aiming to please
You know you're always crying
It's just your part
In the play for today
03 Secrets (03:20)
Secrets
Share with another girl
Talking all night in a room
All night
Everything slowing down
I wish I was yours...
Strangers
Nobody knows we love
I catch your eyes in the dark
One look relives the memory
Remember me
The way I used to be
04 In Your House (04:07)
I play at night in your house
I live another life
Pretending to swim
In your house
I change the time in your house
The hours I take
Go so slow...
I hear no sound in your house
Silence
In the empty rooms
I drown at night in your house
Pretending to swim
Pretending to swim
07 A Forest (05:55)
Come closer and see
See into the trees
Find the girl
While you can
Come closer and see
See into the dark
Just follow your eyes
Just follow your eyes
I hear her voice
Calling my name
The sound is deep
In the dark
I hear her voice
And start to run
Into the trees
Into the trees
Into the trees
Suddenly I stop
But I know it's too late
I'm lost in a forest
All alone
The girl was never there
It's always the same
I'm running towards nothing
Again and again and again
10 Seventeen Seconds (03:59)
Time slips away
And the light begins to fade
And everything is quiet now
Feeling is gone
And the picture disappears
And everything is cold now
The dream had to end
The wish never came true
And the girl
Starts to sing
Seventeen seconds
A measure of life
Seventeen seconds
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Other reviews
By StefanoHab
"The Cure's third studio album is probably one of the most important in their intense career."
"'A Forest'... truly manage to evoke in the listener the sensation of finding oneself in the dark in a forest, alone and disoriented."
By Rocky Marciano
The Cure with their third album dove into dark atmospheres for the first time crafting their first masterpiece.
The dreamlike and chilling sound of the synthesizers that open 'A Forest' mixes with hypnotic guitar phrases, a cold drum, and a sinister, shadowy guitar line.