Sometimes
The sleeping
Wake
In the night
And the silence
Is broken
Guitars
Softly sigh
They don't care or understand
They just play guitars and
They don't worry any more
They're all waiting and the light
Shines so brightly through the night
There's no worry playing guitars
Always
Remember
Times
Days gone by
While there in
The distance
Guitars
Softly sigh
They don't care or understand
They just play guitars and
They don't worry any more
They're all waiting and the light
Shines so brightly through the night
There's no worry playing guitars
They don't care or understand
They just play guitars and
They don't worry any more
They're all waiting and the light
Shines so brightly through the night
There's no worry playing guitars
Guitars
Play guitars
Just play guitars
They just play guitars
Discovered by myself in 1994 upon the chance discovery of the just-released Anywhere CD, was this great B-side.
It has all the classic ingredients of the Anywhere era tracks. So that means solid songwriting and structure, catchiness, hooks, energy and mood. It's a sound typified by the unmistakable fast 'rhythm box' percussion and strums, and there can be no doubt which stage the band were at when this was recorded.
From the off there's the typical NM touch of an irresistible, mysterious sounding intro which draws the listener in. The classic 12- string acoustic then strums away throughout, and Tony's vocal is on form, with some neat echo (and pre-echo?) effects. The chorus is especially good; I particularly like Tony's (apparently spoken) second vocal under his sung one. Simple and effective, as ever, but no one else could have delivered it the same way.
Maybe it isn't the very best of NM's tunes, but it sure makes you realise just how good their songs were when this was an example of their B-side.
92/100
(Richard M)
What you've got to remember is that the first time of hearing was on the 7" single. Still breathless from the excellence of the 'Kingdom's snippet and the superb 'From the Village' I was propelled headlong into 'Guitars'. It felt almost like a mini album!
Tony's vocals really soar on this one. "Sometimes. The sleeping." really explodes onto the soundstage.
Metronomic drumming. Check.
Melodic synths. Check.
Strummed guitar. Check.
Trademark electronic blips. Check.
This is, at the risk of repeating myself for the umpteenth time, a classic NM track. Very catchy, very enjoyable. Another one of my faves.
And if you "CD lubbers" are wondering about the abrupt ending, it's because the "white noise" ran right onto the vinyl run-out groove hence lasted as long as you wanted it to until the pickup arm was raised!
It's a fantastic way to end an epic album. The best synthpop album of the 80's IMHO, perhaps the best ever.
So. I've got the feeling. It's begun to Warp...
(Graham G)