Ok I’ve listened to
la leyenda del tiempo eight or nine times now. However, I usually played it as background music while doing other stuff. This morning, I gave it my first ACTIVE listen, paying only attention to the music and lyric book. I need to do that two more times to really nail down my thoughts, but my initial notes are (and keep in mind this is all still fresh and after only one real listen, so all of this is probably wrong):
The Legend of Time: it comes fast and intense, with a shifting time signature, then the singer’s voice is isolated, then after another “wall of sound”, there’s a guitar solo that’s
. The song gives me an almost 60s psych vibe, with some wild...is that an organ? Keyboard?...playing. The dreamy lyrics, instrument combos, sudden changes in tempo, all add up to a pretty wild ride. It’s a faster, upbeat song that I would enjoy listening to while sitting around a fire on a cool evening.
The Bitter One’s Romance: Slower and darker than the first song. The singer’s voice is soooo intense, as if his voice is pure emotion. The clapping speed changes throughout the song, highlighting the emotions.
Homage to Federico: there is so much beautiful, poetic, colorful imagery: the orange tree, green eyes, violet voice. And the ending! So unexpected. The music changes and really punctuates the abrupt change in the last few lines.
My girl went to the sea: I feel like there may be a deeper political or social meaning to the lyrics of this song I don’t have the historical or cultural knowledge to fully appreciate. The music itself feels very...how to phrase this....when I think of medieval “Spanish music” (warped as though those thoughts may be by Renaissance fairies and movies), this is the kind of music I think of.
The Tarara: this song starts kind of sexy/poppy. The guitar is awesome! And is there kind of a funky thing happening in the back third of the song? At the end, I feel like the keyboard picks up where the singer’s voice leaves off, as if his soul is going higher and wilder, and the singer’s body is left spent.
Flying I Go: I thought “hey this song sounds tropical.” And then I read the lyrics and thought “yep!” Is that a freaking flute? What’s especially neat is the little hint of darkness in what otherwise could be a light party song. “It’s don’t know who I am nor do I intend to” feels like there’s a recognition that something is missing but he will continue to ignore that and indulge in pleasure. Also the guitar is again
.
Cadiz Bay: Flying I Go mentions Cadiz, so I applaud the album composition. I like it when songs flow into each other. This song starts happy and...proud..,but it feels like by the end it has rolled up its sleeves and has gotten serious.
Old World: it feels like the beginning to this song and the first one are similar, but I’ll have to check that out on a relisten. I really dug the lyrics to this song. Lyrics-wise, it was probably my favorite.
Tangos of the Sultana: this might be the most intense, complicated song (on the surface) about “stop teasing me” that I’ve ever heard.
Big Horse Lullaby: this song has the most Middle Eastern/Indian sounds on the record. There are some heavy, heavy organ (?) tones throughout the song. Unlike the other songs, the tempo doesn’t change. It just all feels oppressive! To end the album with such a dark song and the line “the horse begins to cry” is bold!
I’m so glad this was a selection of the month and I look forward to giving the album many more listens. I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of this album. And it’s made me aware of a genre I want to explore more!
- I’m holding out hope that just the limited color vinyl was deleted. They already have the plates - hopefully they press more on black vinyl.
