•
Rating: The UNKLE, who rose to prominence in the mid-90s, are among the pioneers of trip-hop. The London trio consists of James Lavelle, the main architect of the UNKLE project, Tim Goldsworthy, and producer Kudo.
The new album, which was released just a few days ago, takes a powerful turn towards more rock sounds. Despite this, the electronic and experimental sound that has so far characterized this group persists in the album, titled "War Stories".
Many guests have given voice and body to the tracks of the album, including Josh Homme of Queens of The Stone Age, Ian Astbury of the Cult, and 3D of Massive Attack.
The 14 tracks of the album are excellent, immediately showcasing the grand talent of Lavelle & Co. in creating visceral music that hammers the brain and sparks a myriad of emotions.
Josh Homme's performance is good, as he gives his best in "Restless", transforming the song into a hypnotic chant, like the musical base that accompanies him. Then come the guitars (which appear halfway through the song) to make the track psychedelic and even more hypnotic.
The first single taken from the album is track number seven, "Burn My Shadow", sung by Ian Astbury. The track (accompanied by a video that induces panic from the outset to reach an unexpected finale) is dark and mean. The voice of the Cult's leader almost resembles that of the legendary Jim Morrison, deep and inspired. The rhythm is powerful and engaging throughout the song, worthy of a true rock track, although it is the presence of a faint piano that makes this one of the most interesting episodes in the entire album. It strikes fear, disturbs the soul, and enchants us. Magnificent!
"Persons And Machinery", performed by Autolux, has a rhythm that almost resembles a house record, but once again the three Londoners have managed to transform this song into a true masterpiece with a mystical flavor, made intimidating by the sound of a music box (which vaguely reminds me of "No Surprises" by Radiohead).
"Twilight", written and sung by 3D of Massive Attack, makes us dream and fly away with an incredibly relaxing and dreamy ambient atmosphere. Thus, another diamond is added to this UNKLE jewel.
The last two tracks of the album (excluding a hidden track) are "Broken" and "When Things Explode".
The first, featuring the voice of Gavin Clark, is the most positive of all, with a vague '80s vibe that takes us back to the atmospheres of Depeche Mode and Joy Division (with a little extra modernity).
The second, where Ian Astbury returns, is the track closest to the trip-hop sounds of UNKLE's previous works, a spectacular closure that infuses deep melancholy and an immense sense of sadness.
Note the phrase that opens and closes the album (all is forgiven), which alludes to the album title, perhaps meaning that the "war stories," despite everything, should be forgiven.
Great result then for UNKLE, who with some changes (besides the sounds, producer and record label have changed) have managed to create a real masterpiece, which insinuates itself in the heart and releases the strongest emotions, without ever falling into repetitiveness. An album that I strongly recommend to everyone to listen to. You won't regret it.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Hold My Hand (05:01)
Hold my hand
I need you now
Slow me down
I don’t know how
Hold my hand
I need you now
Slow me down
I don’t know how
Are you living the feeling
The highs are they worth seeking
Nothing like believing
Are your drugs healing
Hold my hand
I need you now
Slow me down
I don’t know how
Hold my hand
I need you now
Slow me down
I don’t know how
Are you really living
Or do you seek loving
Are you happy being
Or do you search for meaning
Are you ever asking
Questions they need answering
You’re not really hearing
You really need releasing
A million pieces broken
A million secrets unspoken
A million pieces broken
A million secrets unspoken
Hold my hand
I need you now
Slow me down
I don’t know how
Hold my hand
I need you now
Slow me down
I don’t know how
Secrets everywhere
Secrets everywhere
Secrets everywhere
Secrets everywhere
07 Burn My Shadow (04:59)
I’ll burn my tomorrows
And I’ll stand inside today
At the edge of the future
And my dreams all fade away
I’ll burn my tomorrows
And I’ll stand inside today
At the edge of the future
And my dreams all fade away
I’ll burn my shadow away
I’ll burn my shadow away
Face my destroyer
I was ambushed by a lie
And he judged me once for falling
His wounded heart will rise
I’ll burn my shadow away
I’ll burn my shadow away
Burn my shadow
Burn
Burn my shadow away
I’ll burn my shadow away
I’ll burn my shadow away
Oh, I loved you
10 Twilight (05:23)
It's wild idol lifestyle
It's wild idol lifestyle
It's wild idol lifestyle
It's wild idol lifestyle
Look at us
Look at this
Take a look
Person you see
Danny is my name
Painted a train
Once happy planets
Revolving again
It's wild idol lifestyle
It's wild idol lifestyle
It's wild idol lifestyle
It's wild idol lifestyle
Look at me
Look at this
Take a look
Person you see
Danny is my name
Painted a train
Once happy planets
Revolving again
It's wild idol lifestyle
It's wild idol lifestyle
It's wild idol lifestyle
It's wild idol lifestyle
Look that it's pretty
Picture that if you will
The crossroads
Drunken person you can touch
It's wild idol lifestyle
It's wild idol lifestyle
Look at me
Look at this
Take a look
The person you see
Danny is my name
Painted a train
Once happy planets
Revolving again
11 Morning Rage (05:17)
Something burns inside me, man
Can't explain, won't understand
Anger, rage and war crime
Fear, fate and lullabies
And wake up, and wake up
And wake up, and wake up
Something burns inside me, man
Won't explain, can't understand
Seeking truth for someone's eyes
Crowed lows and lonely highs
And wake up, and wake up
And wake up, and wake up
What was that all about
Somethings turned me inside out
So I put myself around
Cause you pull me in then turn me out
What was that all about
Somethings turned me inside out
So I put myself around
Cause you pull me in then turn me out
Something burns inside me, man
Don't explain, won't understand
Darling please don't walk away
Frozen hearts don't like to say
And wake up, and wake up
And wake up, and wake up
And wake up, and wake up
And wake up, and wake up
What was that all about
Something's turned me inside out
So I put myself around
Cause you pull me in then turn me out
What was that all about
Something's turned me inside out
So I put myself around
Cause you pull me in then turn me out
Nothing lasts forever, man
Nothing lasts forever and
Nothing lasts forever, man
Nothing lasts forever and
And wake up, and wake up
And wake up, and wake up
And wake up, and wake up
And wake up, and wake up
12 Lawless (02:38)
In the dead of night
I become someone else
Cut all my ties
Blow my mind off the shelf
We're a lawless brigade
Up all night, up all night
We're a lawless brigade
Up all night, no restraint
Let it rise
Way out of control
You can't disguise
What's inevitable
We're a lawless brigade
Up all night, up all night
We're a lawless brigade
Up all night, no restraint
In the dead of night
I become someone else
Cut all my ties
Blow my mind off the shelf
We're a lawless brigade
Up all night, up all night
We're a lawless brigade
Up all night, no restraint
We're a lawless brigade
Up all night, up all night
We're a lawless brigade
Up all night, no restraint
Loading comments slowly
