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Rating: Jon Crosby sourced the material for the release of "Nude," Vast's third work dating back to 2004, through a selection of tracks from two unofficial albums, "Turquoise" and "Crimson," initially available only online.
In 2006, the two albums were published in full, and if the operation might seem redundant or purely commercial, the value of the "double album" ensures that "Nude" is entirely reevaluated. The third album, although containing some memorable episodes and an enviable overall quality, seemed to lack that "something" that made "Visual Audio Sensory Theater" and "Music For People" unique. The deeply melancholic and intimate nature of that album seemed indicative of a departure from the more aggressive sounds that characterized Crosby's early work.
This "Turquoise & Crimson" returns to us a band, and an artist, at the height of their potential and diverse personality. Clearly, "Nude" was intended as a double album, and having to discard tracks made it imperfect. It is also true that Crosby’s choice favored sad and musically subdued songs, with only a few more aggressive tracks included. In the two albums, besides hearing demo versions of known tracks, you can also listen to unreleased pieces, some of which are splendid, causing us to wonder why they were rejected in favor of others. The first album, "Turquoise," opens with the track from which it takes its title, a nearly faithful rendition of the very energetic one that opened "Nude." This is followed by "Ecstasy" and "Be With Me", produced slightly differently from that album. The known version of "Thrown Away" is preferred here, with acoustic parts more in the foreground, and its splendid instrumental beginning still appears in an approximate guise. "Don't Take Your Love Away" is identical to what was already heard on "Nude," and being a perfectly crafted track, it would have been a travesty to alter it (I will never tire of saying how beautiful this song is). With "Falling From The Sky" the novelties begin, and they are certainly not unwelcome: the roughness of the guitars introduces us to a powerful piece that explodes in an epic and vigorous chorus. So, Crosby’s rougher edge was not lost, he just kept it hidden from us!
"Candle" is slightly different from the version we know, but its "Cure-like" flavor remains intact. "I Woke Up LA" is another intense track, with a very industrial aesthetic, that is compelling to listen to. And then there is Crosby's voice, which never stops moving us. "I Can't Say No To You" is supported by an even more powerful bass, while the concluding "Desert Garden," although remaining an acoustic and sparse track, benefits here from a hint of production that makes it more velvety. "Turquoise" contains nearly all the significant episodes from "Nude," opening and closing in the same way. It is thus a sort of proto-version with some modifications.
"Crimson," on the other hand, offers the most enticing novelties. It opens with a much more electronic version of "I Need To Say Goodbye", which sounds more aggressive, continuing with some still somewhat sketched-out versions of "Lost" and "Winter In My Heart". "All I Found Was You" is instead a transformation of "Japanese Fantasy", where the electronics become massive and steadily batter the listener's ear. Certainly, an interesting variant compared to the original. "That’s My Boy" is the first entirely unreleased track of this second album, and we find in our ears one of the best pieces in Vast's entire discography. A melodic and melancholic intro, progressive musical evolution, vocal and instrumental power of the chorus, white choirs wavering throughout the track: we've been transported back to 1998, to milestones like "Here" and "Pretty When You Cry". A song that was really unfortunate to neglect for "Nude". "Evil Little Girl" is instead a very delicate piece, with strings and an instrumental accompaniment treading lightly, but slowly filling our hearts with its wonderful notes. "Beautiful" is one of the closest things to "pop" that Crosby has ever conceived, always using this three-letter expletive in its noblest sense. But perhaps the most interesting novelty is "Senorita": a continuous and cutting progression of violins accompanies a syncopated rhythm over which Crosby disserts his verses with energetic nonchalance. "Where It Never Rains" is the most painful and heartfelt moment of the entire work and manages to move us after having rejoiced previously. The farewell is entrusted to a splendid semi-instrumental track, using only some choirs for the vocal parts: "Goodbye", yet another masterpiece.
A remarkable double work draws to a close that, probably, if it had been released when it should have been in the complete version, would not have gone unnoticed. For stylistic and tonal variety, "Turquoise & Crimson" rejuvenates the glory of "Visual Audio Sensory Theater," even if through two albums instead of one. Maintaining a high standard in a double album is not easy, but Crosby has fully succeeded in it. The only problem is that listening to this album after becoming familiar with "Nude" certainly deprives it of some of its charm.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Turquoise (03:20)
Looking for a penny on an empty beach
Ive been looking for a lover who has eyes to see
While Im here I wanna walk with you
Hold your hand
In the sun
In the sun
In the sun
Turquoise is the color I need to get clean
The forest burns and with it
Something inside me
Looking for a way to leave the world today
But the world is gonna leave us all anyway
While Im here I wanna walk with you
And hold your hand
In the sun
In the sun
Turquoise is the color I need to get clean
The forest burns and with it
Something inside me
Together, together, together
In the sun
I need to get clean
I need, I need, I need
Turquoise is the color I need to get clean
The forest burns and with it
Something inside me
04 Thrown Away (04:00)
There's a sun, there's a ground under my feet
There is almost nothing in between
Now I'm left like a flag atop a moon
Precious one, you have abandoned me
Oooh, so let me in
Because I'm out
I know that I am someone
No one said I was, no one said I was
Should I call you
Should I reach out?
It feels like chasing shadows in the night
Yeah let me in
Because I'm out
I know that I am someone
No one said I was, no one said I was, no one said I was
Thrown away, have I been thrown away?
Thrown away, have I been thrown away?
There's a sun, there's a ground under my feet
There is almost nothing in between
Now I'm left like a flag atop a moon
Precious one, you have abandoned me
Oooh, so let me in
Because I'm out
I know that I am someone
No one said I was, no one said I was, no one said I was
Thrown away, have I been thrown away?
Thrown away, have I been thrown away?
06 Falling From The Sky (03:05)
I found the cure and no one cares
It's just another thing to sell
I found a church, and no one's there
It's just another thing that failed
(I'll bring you down) I got inside my pickup truck to take a ride
(I'll bring you down) Forgot what I was looking for and they arrived
(I'll bring you down) I'm lucky I'm not a slave that’s going down
(I'll bring you down)
Down from the sky (falling)
Down from the sky (falling)
Down from the sky (falling)
Falling from the sky
Got some love, yes I dared
I didn't find it anywhere
Found some sex, another world
Sometimes it seems like you don't care
(I'll bring you down) I got inside my pickup truck to take a ride
(I'll bring you down) The psychics gathered all around and said I lied
(I'll bring you down) And I'm lucky I'm not a slave that’s going down
(I'll bring you down)
Down from the sky (falling)
Down from the sky (falling)
Down from the sky (falling)
Falling from the sky
(oooh)
(oooh)
(oooh)
(oooh)
(oooh)
(oooh)
(oooh)
(oooh)
07 Candle (04:01)
Just take this candle, it's the one you gave to me
It has enough light, just enough to torture me
Just take this candle, it's the one you gave to me
I left you crying at the altar of your mind
Before you let the world mess up your soul
Oooooooh, oooooooooooooh, ooh
I lit the candle used to light your hair on fire
I left you dying in the shelter of your mind
Before you let the world mess up your soul
Try to be the girl you once were
Oooooooh, ooooooooooooh
Oooooooh, ooooooooooooh, Ooh
10 Desert Garden (03:17)
do, you feel like i do
tired of everything
can, you feel what i can
almost everything
i want to leave today
the sky is big and my life is small
i want to leave with you
so we can build a perfect garden
the stars are far away
i can see them with my eyes
we wash our fears away
like the moments of our lives
i want to leave today
sky is big and my life is small
i want to leave with you
so we can build a desert garden
strange how the houses look
exactually all the same
and your just a slave like me
atleast i know its true
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