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Rating: An always underrated album, perhaps more difficult to digest compared to the "major" works. But Relayer is absolutely not an album to avoid; on the contrary, anyone who enjoyed Close To The Edge and Fragile should not miss out on this gem of skill and also of imagination.
The CD starts with a long suite (almost 22 minutes), The Gates Of Delirium, majestic and largely instrumental. The piece is introduced with delicate acoustic guitar arpeggios accompanied by very delicate bells. After about a couple of minutes, the instruments leave the center stage to Anderson's celestial voice, which together with guitar and drums gives us a few minutes of pleasant listening. Then we reach the true 'heart' of the song, a long instrumental piece which is grand, energetic, and engaging. When listening to it, it's impossible not to stop all other activities to attentively follow these splendid instrumental evolutions.
It seems unnecessary to emphasize that the technical skill of the quartet is astonishing (and the band will give us further proof in the second song, Sound Chaser). Moraz and White have nothing to envy from Wakeman and Bruford. After this instrumental sequence, the composition takes on more 'heavenly' tones and moves towards the end of this masterpiece.
As already mentioned, the second track, Sound Chaser, is a rather agitated piece where the quartet does their best. Each of the four pushes their abilities to the maximum to gift us a jewel of technique. At the beginning and end of the track, there's a frenetic repetition of the same basic rhythm, played gradually with increasing speed. In the central part, however, there's room for a beautiful guitar solo, a calm sung piece, and a short keyboard solo, which leads back into the initial rhythm and, after being interrupted by a chorus, concludes the track. All of this happens over nine minutes. Of the same length is the third (and last) song, To Be Over, a not exceptional, but pleasant and 'relaxed' piece, with calmer tones.
In conclusion, maybe Relayer is not up to the standard of some previous albums, but I assure you, it's worth buying.
p.s. That 4 is actually 4.5
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The Gates of Delirium (21:54)
Stand and fight, we do consider
Reminded of an inner pact between us, that's seen as we go
And ride there, in motion
To fields in depth of honour, defending
Stand the marchers soaring talons
Peaceful lives will not deliver freedom, fighting we know
Destroy oppression, the point to reaction
As leaders look to you, attacking
Choose and renounce, throwing chains to the floor
Kill or be killing, faster sins correct the flow
Casting giant shadows off fast penetrating force
To alter via the war that's seen, as friction spans the spirits wrath ascending to redeem
Wars that shout in screams of anguish
Power spent passion bespoils our soul receiver, surely we know
In glory we rise to offer
Create our freedom, a word we utter
A word
Words cause our banner, victorious our day
Will silence be promised as violence displays
The curse increased, we fight the power and live by it by day
Our gods awake in thunderous roars and guide the Leader's hand in paths of glory to the cause
Listen, should we fight forever
Knowing as we do know, fear destroys
Listen, should we leave our children
Listen, our lives stare in silence
Help us now
Listen, your friends have been broken
They tell us of your poison, now we know
Kill them, give them as they give us
Slay them, burn their children's laughter
On to hell
The fist will run, grasp metal to gun
The spirit sings in crashing tones, we gain the battle drum
Our cries will shrill, the air will moan and crash into the dawn
The pen won't stay the demon's wings
The hour approaches, pounding out the Devil's sermon
Soon, oh soon the light
Pass within and soothe this endless night
And wait here for you
Our reason to be here
Soon, oh soon the time
All we move to gain will reach and calm
Our heart is open
Our reason to be here
Long ago, set into rhyme
Soon, oh soon the light
Ours to shape for all time, ours the right
The sun will lead us
Our reason to be here
Soon, oh soon the light
Ours to shape for all time, ours the right
The sun will lead us
Our reason to be here
02 Sound Chaser (09:30)
Faster moments spent spread tales of change within the sound
Counting form through rhythm electric freedom
Moves to counter-balance stars expound our conscience
All to know and see the look in your eyes
Passing time will reach as nature relays to set the scene
New encounters spark a true fruition
Guiding lines we touch them, our bodies balance out the waves
As we accelerate our days to the look in your eyes
From the moment I reached out to hold, I felt a sound
And what touches our soul slowly moves as touch rebounds
And to know that tempo will continue
Lost in trance of dances as rhythm takes another turn
As is my want, I only reach to look in your eyes
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