Newsgroup: it.arti.musica.rock
Titolo: [Canzone VERAMENTE incredibile] Simon Finn -Jerusalem

The smell of newly-cut corn came sifting through the palm trees
My eyes they were blinded by the sun reflecting on the seas
One hundred dozen mermaids smiled as I passed through the haze
The sound of familiar voices of yonder days
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem oh no no
Jerusalem was made by a guy oh I forget his name
And Jesus was a drop-out a king who bore no crown
Only his long hair flowing and blowing in the wind
And Jesus was a fisherman that's all he had to say
Oh yeah, said "now follow me disciples lead your lives a different way"
And he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey both bedraggled and lame
And his Pharisees cursed his every word
But did not laugh---that made a change
And Jesus was a good guy who lived on figs and wine
A political revolutionary out to let you have good time
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem oh no no
The sun it was rising just to christen his cross of fame
Did he imagine at that moment
two hundred million hypocrites would praise his name?
And were he now to come down those hypocrites would crucify him again
And through the sweating crowds,
tears streaming down my face till I'm going insane
I'm crying:
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem oh no no
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem oh no no
The smell of newly-cut corn came sifting through the palm trees
My eyes they were blinded by the sun reflecting on the seas
Well that same sun was rising just to christen his cross of fame
Did he imagine at that moment
two hundred million hypocrites would praise his name?
And were he now to come down those hypocrites would crucify him again
And through the sweating crowds,
tears streaming down my face till I'm going insane
I'm crying:
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem oh no no
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem oh no no
They're gonna put him inside
And I'm yelling all I can can't you see he's the Christ? oh no no
And they don't understand a single word I say
But I'm crying just the same
Jerusalem Jerusalem, Jerusalem, oh no no Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, oh no no
Gonna put him inside I'm yelling all I can can't you see he's the Christ
Oh the Christ the Christ the Christ
Jerusalem Jerusalem, Jerusalem
--
[Un genio. Simon Finn è un genio]

"stanz"
ne parleresti un po'?
ho visto che ha fatto 2 album :
il pezzo che citi è sul primo "pass the distance"
una rece trovata in rete (in italiano non c'è nulla)
I normally don't review reissues. Other rags insist on giving precious print 
space to Pink Floyd reissues. My problem is not with the fact that I simply 
don't like Pink Floyd. That's fine, I don't like a lot of music. The problem 
I have with an independent music site taking the time to write a review of 
the latest Pink Floyd reissue is that it's a complete waste of time and 
resources. Everyone knows who Pink Floyd is and knows about their records. 
Trust me, they haven't changed in 20 years. Reviewing said reissues takes 
away valuable space from some great, lesser-known band that could actually 
benefit from the press. I shouldn't be surprised. These are the same 'zines 
who seem to only review things they are paid to, which destroys any 
remaining credibility they might have. But I digress...
Simon Finn's "Pass the Distance" has a strange and tumultuous past. It was 
originally issued in 1970 on Mushroom Records, but subsequently deleted 
because of issues with the artwork. Thankfully, Durtro has rescued this 
seminal, acid-soaked masterpiece. Remastered from the original tapes, it's 
been reissued with loads of additional information. I had heard about this 
album for years and managed to track down a few songs, but was not prepared 
for the onslaught of hallucinatory genius that it unleashes.
"Pass the Distance" is the forbearer for all the psych-folk that has been 
proliferating the airwaves over the past few years. All those brilliant Six 
Organs of Admittance and Fursaxa records you love owe a lot to this record. 
Finn was doing all the same things they are now, but he did it 30 years ago. 
That's what makes this album so impressive. Hearing it completely for the 
first time recently, it holds up. This could easily be mistaken for 
something brand new. That's a feat in-and-of itself.
The beauty of this album not only lies in the individual songs, all of which 
are excellent in their own right, but also in how they are pieced together 
to create the perfect flow. It's as if this record could not have been 
sequenced in any other way. Each song moves into the next like an aging 
artist moving through the various stages of his life. As in life, you can't 
change how time passes, and so it goes with "Pass the Distance." It goes 
like this because it has to.
But really, the genius is in the songs. Every one of them is worth 
mentioning, but I don't have the time or space to go through why each track 
is wonderful. Instead, I'll focus on the three most impressive, and let me 
tell you, whittling it down to this trio of songs was not easy. First is the 
short and whimsical "Patrice." It's near the end of the album and offers a 
breath of fresh air after some heavier tracks. It's like the period of time 
right after a midlife crisis where nothing phases you. Life is simply 
beautiful and you are thankful for all the things in it. This song glides 
along under the sun without a care in the world. With a combination of 
acoustic guitar, flutes, and other reed instruments, this has vague hints of 
Nick Drake, but is distinctly Finn's own creation. "My poetry just lives to 
guide you, my songs to start your day," he half-whispers. It's these 
heartfelt and sincere sentiments that make this song great. The overall feel 
is one of someone in love with someone they view as perfect. It's sappy in 
all the right ways and simply makes you feel very, very good.
Contrasting the darker undercurrents present throughout "Pass the Distance" 
with the hopeful hallucinatory anthems it's full of is "Where's Your Master 
Gone." This melodic track is like Bob Dylan on acid. With the meandering 
lead guitar track and minimal percussion accenting Finn's guitar, they 
create an uneasy, somewhat solemn web for him to sing on top of. His words 
are gorgeous, and in this context, powerful. It brings to mind the most 
psychedelic Beatles stuff, but takes it even further. "How do you know when 
you should set someone to go?" Finn asks. "The wizard spoke his piece, the 
person at least was never to be born." His soft voice floats in the air like 
a fine mist spewing from overcast skies. His words evaporate as soon as 
they're released. "You are no more evil now than man was and is and ever 
more will be," he sings. It's a powerful castigation, and his words are 
still relevant today. It's absolutely fantastic.
But on this album, there are nine amazing songs and then there is 
"Jerusalem." I would rate this as one of the ten best songs I've ever heard 
in my life. For a song about Jesus and his impact on the world, Finn's 
lyrics cut like a knife. Brilliant is the understatement of the year. This 
hallucinatory tale is as moving as anything you'll ever hear, and when Finn 
lets go with his acid tongue, even the staunchest cynics will be impressed. 
"And Jesus was a good guy who lived on figs and wine. A political 
revolutionary out to let you have a good time," he wails. This is somebody 
who has a true grasp on Jesus the man, which is oft overlooked by 
Christians. As the church organ drones build in the background, the 
intensity is turned up notch after notch. It's almost intimidating. "Did he 
imagine at that moment that 2 million hypocrites would praise his name? And 
were he now to come down, those hypocrites would crucify him again," he 
screams. It's biting commentary, and paired with this stunning music, it 
will do nothing but blow your fucking mind.
If there ever was an essential record to own, "Pass the Distance" is it. 
This is influential work and for any avid reader of this website, I urge you 
to go out and pick this album up today. Every word I can use to describe it 
doesn't do it justice. You have to hear it. You have to experience it. You 
have to let it run through your veins. Some of these songs are more 
lighthearted than others, and some take you on an emotional tailspin that 
you'll never fully recover from. "Pass the Distance" is an album that should 
have never been in the vaults for 30 years. This is an album that will make 
you see music differently and pay closer attention to the intricacies 
therein. Simon Finn's innovative work will stand up with any of your 
favorite records, and will likely nestle itself comfortably at the top. 
Absolutely essential.- Brad Rose

 il pezzo che citi è sul primo "pass the distance"
Un disco molto strano e originale, che senza Jerusalem
sarebbe passato inosservato. Ma poichè anticipa lo stile
dei Current 93 'folk' di 30 anni, ora bisogna proprio
osservarlo. Tenendo anche presente che dietro alla
forma c'è un contenuto pazzesco del genere.
bye
s