Review Summary: A collection of sounds, a whisper in the wind, a reflection of a sensation, different aspects of the same, a layer of silence that goes across your very self, a note floating in thin air, a sound that wasn't meant to be the same
Some say that Three Imaginary Boys is the only album by The Cure, others, in the other hand, say that Seventeen Seconds is actually their first LP, so, how can this be explained? Well, for that, we must go deeper into a band that would define the word "Gothic" and would leave a big mark in the history of Britain's music.
It was 1980, and Three Imaginary Boys and Boys don't Cry were getting critical acclamation, and a moderate, yet important success in the post punk scene, but still, that wasn't what for the band, and Michael Dempsey, a fairly decent bassist was kicked out, The Cure recruited bassist Simon Gallup (which would be crucial for the band success) and added a short lived keyboard player, Mathieu Hartley, and so, just like that, The Cure changed, for the better or the worst? No one can tell,but the fact is, that it changed, and lead single "A Forest" showed the world how far this kids can go.
Seventeen Seconds true nature is the silence, the quiet night filled with your deepest fears, a nightmarish reality, a decadent life, a grayish and lonely landscape, an empty, all white room, with you, and you alone, that's the true Seventeen Seconds, a dreamy, dark and haunting album, that recreates itself in the art of the minimal, quiet guitars, a classic bass, mechanical and repetitive drums, a spacious, almost unnoticed keyboard, and distant, angst filled vocals.
Seventeen Seconds sounds like nothing you've ever heard, Seventeen Seconds feels like nothing you've ever felt, it's a life experience, just waiting for you to dare and step in, a quiet lake of cold black water, waiting for you to uncover the treasures hidden deep beneath, that's Seventeen Seconds, and, when the first, timid notes of "A Reflection" appears floating in the air, you already know that something's different, that something's changed, and it's just the beginning.
"A Reflection" puts everything in place, the melancholic riff, the piano in the background, the minimalism showed gives every single note even more strength, as the ghostly melody goes on, in the very first trip of misery that The Cure offers to you, and, suddenly, the clean bass and the potent riff of "Play for Today" salutes you, shaking the album with a Cure classic and a fan favorite; as the song moves on, with fuzzy and distorted echoes in the background and Smith whining in the mic,The Cure reminds you that, yes, they still got it, but that's not the goal, this isn't Three Imaginary Boys or a pop record, and the quiet despair of "Secrets" shows you, that the real Cure is behind the hits and behind the hype
"Secrets" goes on, drived by a beautiful bass, which is soon joined by the keyboards and drums, the guitar appears sporadically, and Smith murmurs the lyrics of a doomed love, as he sings "I wish I was yours". A gorgeous song, "Secrets" manages to converge the minimalist and dark sound of Seventeen Seconds Cure with Smith's laconic singing and outstanding songwriting, after a remarkable bass and guitar play, "Secrets" retreats to the dark alleys of Seventeen Seconds, and a distant drumming precedes a true Cure classic, and hands down, one of their best songs ever, the beautifully crafted, classical and genuinely elegant "In your House", the guitar and the bass harmonizes to create the melody and the keyboards and Smith's voice gives it that feel that only the truly great songs can give, again singing of lost love, "In you House" takes the desperation of "Secrets" to a whole new level, as the singer "Drown at night in your house" and "pretends to swim" in the dark lakes of this cold hearted masterpiece
"Three" kicks in with a strange bassline (if that could be called bassline) and quiet vocals in the background, when the drumming surges, the sound intensifies as the bass takes off in full strength and Smith sings a undecipherable mantra, "Three" proposes one of the most interesting listen in The Cure career, as it can be despairing, sort of attractive, dreamy, angsty, all that at the same time, at about 2 minutes and a half, a ghostly drum/bass closes the song, and "The Final Sound" appears, intended to be an introduction to "A Forest" (also intended to be much longer) it stands as the lowest point in the album, primarily because it's so short and feels so superfluous that it is out of place.
But The Cure recovers, and in what form!
"A Forest" stands at the Cure classic per excellence, proyecting it's shadow not only in this LP, but in the whole discography, a unforgettable melody, a despairing journey to the center of the human being, the classic riff, the simplistic bass, the distant drums, the landscapes of the keyboards, the distortion, the oppressive feeling, the epic singing, everything perfect, and as the sounds create an inmersive world that surrounds you, and drowns you in the dark night of the somber forest, Smith reveals the tragic and terrific true, that you're running towards nothing, again and again and again and again...
As the song closes, with the languid laments of the dying bass, "M", just like "Play for Today", shakes the album a bit, with the trademark distortion and the guitar (with a little help from the keyboard) taking a central role for the first time, as always, the lyrics are cryptic, and the song itself, while shadowed and overlooked for "Play for Today" stands as a high point on it's own.
In "At Night" things change, the instruments become more aggressive, and the gorgeous classic bass reveals a distorted and angry one, while being a tad too long, "At Night" genius intro, great lyrics and good handling overall makes up for a great song, and the title track, "Seventeen Seconds" is the one that closes the curtain...
Smith, until this point, showed interesting lyrics, but in Seventeen Seconds he showed that he transcended mere songwriting, being able to create amazing lyrics and blend them with the song itself, in Seventeen Seconds, he declares that "the dream has to end" and "wishes never came true" while the instruments escort the singing, fading into the dark night in one last beat of Lol
So, why not a classic?
Well, for instance, sometimes it gets too long and repetitive, sometimes it just doesn't feel right, it's not accessible, it's not easy to digest, but Seventeen Seconds stands as one of the most creative and artistic albums ever created, and represents the base of the dark wave and gothic movemente
In the end, Seventeen Seconds it's an unique experience to everyone, and a life experience to the ones willing to, there it stands, waiting for you, inviting you, seducing you, pointing the skies of a moonless night.
The big question is, will you do it? Will you dare?
It's just Seventeen Seconds, a measure of life
Standout Tracks
A Forest
In your House
Play for Today
For the dedicated fan
Secrets
Three
M
Seventeen Seconds
