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Rating: Many artists base their success on a single insight, and continue to stay afloat by exploiting every possible variation on the theme.
Others have a sensitivity that drives them to always seek new solutions. Xtc belong to the latter category.
Between the release of "The Big Express" and the gestation of what "Skylarking" will be considered by many as their masterpiece, our guys had such a happy inspiration that they had to give life to another band to express it.
The Dukes of Stratosphear were for Mr. Partridge & Co. the expedient to go back to the times when creativity was in power and escape those eighties that did not know how to appreciate their talent.
"Chips from the Chocolate Fireball" collects in a single CD the two works of the Dukes: the EP "25 O' Clock" (1985), and the album "Psonic Psunspot" (1987). Before and after "Skylarking", a fact that makes the collection somewhat stylistically uneven.
"25 O' Clock" and "Bike Ride to the Moon", evoke the atmospheres of the early Pink Floyd, the Barrett era to be clear; with a hypnotic pace the first, more lively the second, but both seasoned with Farfisa organs, fuzzy bass, and strange effects that come and go from the mix.
The brilliant "My Love Explodes" is a pleasant surprise, while "What in the World??"... by Moulding could be a "Making Plans for Nigel" in "Revolver" style.
"Your Gold Dress" is a bizarre encounter between early Roger Waters and Brian Wilson, but before you can process it, you hit the peak of the record: that the Mole From the Ministry which would not have looked out of place on "Magical Mystery Tour", and which closed the original EP, and the darker and more obsessive part of the collection. With "Vanishing Girl" the music becomes more playful and in pastel shades.
The song itself gives the idea of the Beatles trying to mimic the Byrds while singing "The Lion Sleep Tonight".
The record proceeds with its ups and downs from the masterful "Collideascope" to the refined "The Affiliated", almost mentioning all the sacred monsters of the psychedelic era, from the Byrds (You're my Drug), to Traffic, passing through the McCartney-esque "Brainiac's Daughter".
The concluding note is a heartfelt tribute to Brian Wilson of Pet Sounds, with the sweet "Pale and Precious".
A bit of a trick, a bit of a tribute to the music loved by the authors, this record is a hidden gem; not an absolute masterpiece, but a work that is enjoyable to listen to, also to uncover all the references to a mythical era for Rock music.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 25 O'Clock (00:00)
The urge to take you grows more strong
For time had made me wait too long
Each watch I smash apart
Just adding to my power
Each watch I smash apart
Just bringing near the hour of 25 o'clock That's when you're going to be mine
25 o'clock, we'll be together
'Til the end of time
At 25 o'clock
The ticking seconds hear them call
My spell of hours will make you fall
Each timer that I break
Will halt the flowing sands
Each timer that I break
Will put you in my hands
At 25 o'clock, that's when
You're going to be mine
25 o'clock, we'll be together
'Til the end of time
At 25 o'clock
Each watch I smash apart
Just adding to my power
Each watch I smash apart
Just bringing near the hour
of 25 o'clock
03 25 O'Clock (05:03)
The urge to take you grows more strong
For time had made me wait too long
Each watch I smash apart
Just adding to my power
Each watch I smash apart
Just bringing near the hour of 25 o'clock That's when you're going to be mine
25 o'clock, we'll be together
'Til the end of time
At 25 o'clock
The ticking seconds hear them call
My spell of hours will make you fall
Each timer that I break
Will halt the flowing sands
Each timer that I break
Will put you in my hands
At 25 o'clock, that's when
You're going to be mine
25 o'clock, we'll be together
'Til the end of time
At 25 o'clock
Each watch I smash apart
Just adding to my power
Each watch I smash apart
Just bringing near the hour
of 25 o'clock
06 You're My Drug (03:19)
You take me to heaven
From deeper than hell ever dug
And you fly me higher
Than a trip on a magical rug
Confessions unravel
You bang with your gavel
And here I stand guilty
In a court where you are the judge
You're the drug
You've got to come on round
And pick me up
You've my drug
And I don't ever know
If I can give you up
Well you bring me color
Where once I had just black and white
Now I have rainbows appearing
Round here in the night
Our true loving is growing
And passion is flowing
Well I don't need any cigarettes
Or beer from a jug
You're my drug
You've got to come on round
And pick me up
You're my drug
Well you can slow me down
Or quick me up
You're my drug
Well you can spill me down
And lick me up
You're my drug
And I don't ever know
If I can give you up
07 Shiny Cage (03:17)
Hiding faces turning pages
Still they read and read
Double deckers full of smokers
Look who's gone to seed
Well the sun's getting higher
Think I'll take a flyer
The thought of it's causing me pain
Ooh! Shiny Cage
Talk a walk under the subway
See an old school chum
Window shopping for a short while
Then we'll have some fun
Well the shops closing early
Everywhere's deserted
Hello and down comes the rain
Oooh! Shiny Cage
We'll do the town tonight
I know some girls then stop off for a bite
No strings to tie my kite
Well living for the night
No way to spend a life -- Ooh!
08 Brainiac's Daughter (03:59)
Brainiac's daughter
Made me a suit of bricks and mortar
And a matching stove pipe hat, oh yes
Brainiac's daughter
Took me on a sleigh ride underwater
And I'm crazy for girls like that
Oh yes Sir, yes Sir
Three bags full Sir
All across the land the bells ring out
It's night, sun shines bright
So I reach to hold
Her frozen hand in flight
As we alight in
The bottle city of Kandor
Brainiac's daughter
Talks like a Daily Planet Reporter
Sitting cross legged
There on the mat, oh yes
Brainiac's daughter
Swallowed the pocket watch I bought her
And I'm crazy for girls like that
Oh yes Sir, Yes Sir
All fall down Sir
And I love the lights that blink on and off
All around her head
And I love the clothes
That she tries on and off
Landing on the bed
Yes Sir, Yes Sir
Three bags full Sir
09 The Affiliated (02:31)
Pubs and clubs
And opening hours
Was all he knew
One arm bandits
And Affiliated members
Women taboo
Had his own tankard
And the evening Standard
And a trophy from darts
That he kept over the bar
He'd nothing to fear
He had his beer
B-E-E-R!
Then came her
Through the blur
Then came she
Made him see
He saw the light
Before he'd finished his pint
She saved him from
The biggest crime in life
They hated her
They said you'll never see him again
Got a mortgage 'round his neck
And eight screaming kids
But his seat's always here if he wants it
16 Vanishing Girl (02:59)
Someone's knocking in the Distance
But I'm deaf and blind
She's not expected home this evening
So I leave the world behind
for the Vanishing Girl
The Vanishing Girl
Yes she'd give you a twirl
But she vanishes from my world
So burn my letters and you'd better leave
Just one pint a day
The whole street's talking about my
White shirts looking so grey
People gossip on the doorstep
Think they know the score
She's giving him the runaround
The man from number four
Has a Vanishing Girl
a Vanishing Girl
Yes she'd give you a twirl
But she vanishes from my world
Yes the paint is peeling and my
Garden is overgrown
I got no enthusiasm to even answer the phone
When she's here it makes up for the time she's
not and it's all forgotten
But when she goes I'm putting on the pose for
the Vanishing Girl
The Vanishing Girl
Yes she'd give you a twirl
But she vanishes from my world
So burn my letters and you'd better leave
Just one pint a day
The whole street's talking about my
White shirts looking so grey
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