NTSMS - Non Therion Society Members Society
Main Forum => About Therion => Topic started by: Markus on August 19, 2010, 06:32:52 pm
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Hey folks,
I'll post some news about the first reviews of "Sitra Ahra" on the official homepage tonight - with the link to a highly enthusiastic review of the album. :wOOt:
Stay tuned and cheers!
Markus
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Posted! :nosweat:
See here (http://mrstu616.blogspot.com/2010/07/therion-sitra-ahra-cd-review.html), but also here (http://www.metal-discovery.com/CD/cd_review_therion_sitraahra.htm) and here (http://sonicshocks.com/THERION--Sitra-Ahra.php).
Cheers!
Markus
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Waiting for a second and more awake read of these reviews... I WANT TO HEAR ALL THE ALBUM RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! :ninja:
Arg! I'll try to sleep... perhaps I'll discover I'm already dreaming, and I can do what I wish. Like playing Sitra Ahra in that precise moment! :nana: ).
Btw... Thanks Markus. You're and will ever be our Only and High Priest :pop:
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Your'e welcome, my queen!
This enthusiastic review has fueled my curiosity, too. Also I'm especially looking forward to "Din" as I was, admittedly, missing some hardness in GK.
Oh well, the countdown is running.
Cheers!
Markus
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Heya Markus,
Thanks for the links. I must say that the reviews look great, and now I'm pretty eager to hear the whole thing myself. Words like "speed metal territory", "welsh male choir" and "furious double-peddling and blast beats" had sky-risen my expectations. The clock is counting down but not as fast as I would like :ninja:
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I´m totally excited with the review! I want to hear every song many times as possible with headphones, with high speakers and in everywhere. I´m excited with the description of Cu Chulain and the probably sound like Thin Lizzy, cause i´m a big fan of Lizzy ;D. By the way Land of Canaan is just fucking amazing!. I will probably add at the review the soundlike Supertramp in the middle part of the keyboards and the male solo voice, and also the influence of Neil Young with the folky harmonica part feels in the air.
Land of Lavaan! ::)
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So finally I hear the Sitra Ahra track too. :) I like it a lot. I have to say. Sometimes the guitars remind me of Secret of the Runes album (which is one of my favs :D ).
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Hello, I am working night shifts and having exams don't have much time but just wanted to inform you that Sitra Ahra leaked and I have a MASTER PLAN!!! I will order it from Therion Store and in case I don't get in soon enough I will buy another one from one CD shop in Zagreb, will probably try to find someone to buy it for me and send it by bus so I get it as soon as possible. I already found a buyer for 2nd Sitra Ahra that I get :D
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That's indeed what I call a plan! Enjoy and let us know how you like it. :)
Cheers!
Markus
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I got answer from Therion Store, my CD has been shipped :D I hope I'll enjoy in it as you are enjoying! Been reading a lot of reviews and opinions so I have a feeling I know everything about the album, songs I will like and similar even though I have only one song.
And one thing that bother me most is the last song. If you check Sitra Ahra topic on TS you can see that I asked Chris about that song once before and he told me that the correct is After the Inquisition: Children of The Stone and now you are saying that it's written otherwise on booklet and back cover so I am wondering if Nuclear Blast messed up again. Can you judge by the lyrics and the song if the Children of The Stone is first or second part? Cause those songs were supposed to be two different songs but were merged into one.
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4th spin.. it grows on me. I am starting to love it more and more. First time was like.. :unsure: than..omg this is awesome! Right now Sitra Ahra and Kali Yuga III, 2012, Unguentum Sabbati own me. I don't judge and compare. I just try to feel it and these ones got to me first. :D
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I listened to it and it's definitely not my cup of tea, I like Land of Canaan and Kali Yuga III, but that's about it. I don't know, maybe my expectations after Theli, Deggial and SoTR were too high.
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My personal ranking
1.- Sitra Ahra: An easy one with nice voices and heavy horsey guitars. It fits quite well to play it after Adulruna. 8/10
2.- Kings of Edom: I love the voices, specially in the beggining and the females one. The last changes in the song I would avoid them, but they are ok. 8.5 /10
3.- Unguentum Sabbati: I felt the Castaneda reading feeling when i hear this song, very groovy heavy psychedeillc stuff. I like pretty much the Phanton Of the Opera style at the middle. 9.3/10
4.- Land of Canaan: Very brave to use harmonicca and accordeon. I really like the folkish part and the voice of Snawy. 9.7/10
5.- Hellequin: I really like it, it is very epic and funny (i specially like the voices when they do Hellequiiiiin ). 9.5/10
6.- 2012: Tsss what a groovy song man. The drunky violin is just amazing. I really enjoy this kind of rythms and voices. 9.2/10
7.- Cu Chulainn : Pure heavy metal, and I really enjoy the male chorus a la Era style. 9/10
8.- Kali Yuga III: Very heavy, very rude, very psychedellic and specially a very chaotic and dark atmosphere. 11/10
9.- The Shells are Open: Definitley the introduction is very sick and fits very well in what it is telling the song. The bass voices are just wow, i can not describe them but I get the atmosphera of being in a jungle with Toad Lords or Cococdriles Prayers, I feel very reptilian this song. 9.2 / 10
10.- Din: I really expected something more when I read the review. 7/10
11.- Children of the Stone: What a nice intro, it feel the country side of an esoteric farm. Very nice melancholic feeling i get. This is a song for a cold day and maybe rain. 9/10
Total: 9.03
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I said after hearing it only once (in the car) that it dissappointed me. Now I've heard twice more, with my iPod (I think that it's absolutelly different to play music with earphones), and it has grown on me. I still don't think it's a masterpiece as it has been said, I still feel there are other Therion albums I'll enjoy a lot more. But I'm sure I have to give a second chance to the album... Who knows? I'll write here later, after some plays more :lol3:
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Heya guys!
First of all a confession: I couldn't resist it and simply had to donwload the thingy :blush: ... but I'm gonna buy it as soon as it is available here in TenochMetal, anyway.
I'm currently giving it its second spin, and my first thoughts are far more positive than those I had when hearing GK for the first time. The guitars are a bit heavier and the choruses remind me of Vovin at some places, and that's definitively a big plus for SA.
So far, the first three songs are my favourites. Land of Canaan is not bad, but it gave me some problems with the first 2-3 minutes, then it turned out to be a quiet enjoyable song.
Hellequin, 2012 and Cu Chulainn are simply too strange to fully enjoy right now, but they are very complex and have some pretty interesting changes and twists. So, I think that they will grow as I discover all the intricate details they have. :)
Kali Yuga III is simply good. No surprise there, given that I already heard its live version on June and I liked it a lot. I still have to play it back to back with the two other KYs just to see how they mesh.
The shells are open and Children of the Stone enter into the cryptic category too, but somehow I could enjoy them more easily than Hellequin or 2012... may be, it's because they are at the end of the record and I was already used to its style.
Well, and finally there is Din. This song really tore me apart. On one hand, I found it refreshing: nice riffs, blast beats, heavy growls and so many elements I miss from the old Therion. However, it is so different from the rest of the album that I still have to check if I'm not playing something else by mistake. Soo..... :wacko:
All in all, I think the album is good... even far better than GK, but it's still quiet far away from the era that spanned from LK to SotR and which is still my favourite Therion. However, after reading what Thomas wrote on the official forum I only have to agree. If you take this album open-minded and don't think at is as strictly metal, but only as music, you are gonna have a very good time listening to it.
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Hey there,
Heya guys!
First of all a confession: I couldn't resist it and simply had to donwload the thingy :blush: ... but I'm gonna buy it as soon as it is available here in TenochMetal, anyway.
:pop: Ego te absinthum. -_- :pop:
Hehe, I think I felt like you when I first heard "Land of Canaan", but then it grew hugely on me. "Hellequin" is one one my favourites, too... "La lallalaaa, la lallalalaa :nana: :evil2:" - isn't that what you'd expect a Hellequin to say? But perhaps my border between music and strange music has shifted vastly when I grew fond of the Fire Requiem.
I also feel different about "Din". To me somehow all the songs of "Sitra Ahra" sound related. No matter how different their musical styles may be, I hear a common sound there.
Anyway, enjoy!
Cheers!
Markus
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:pop: Ego te absinthum. -_- :pop:
:roll:
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For those who don´t understand quite well the intention of the music new direction I suggest some 70s albums that may be will help you to understand some things of the sitra ahra album.
Uriah Heep - Look at yourself (1971)
Grobschnitt - Grobschnitt (1972)
Uriah Heep - Demons and Wizards (1972)
Eloy - Floating (1974)
Eloy - Dawn (1976)
Klaatu - Hope (1977)
Scorpions - Taken by force (1977)
Supertramp - Breakfast in America (1979)
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And for understanding the 2012 direction try Ministry's - Scarecrow... I still think it's some kind of ripoff :cht:
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With the years i ve learnt not to expect anything from the band, and it has worked out just fine for me, Christofer always surprises me with very good pieces of work.
Sitra was not the exeption, me and me mates just finished all the tracks and found it very good, actually i liked it a lot. Very Sirius B'ish and ....well i couldnt say.
Bottom line, Christofer did it again.
yo yo yo
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I have to say I... :unsure:
Well, the evolution of my "relationship" to SA is something like this:
1 - Nah, what can they create after SotR? Leave me alone with that new album. ¬¬
2 - I've heard much better ones already. -_-
3 - Okay, there are some pretty good riffs here and there. :)
4 - This song is great. :blink:
5 - Listens to some choir part enchanted
6 - Cats begin to purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-rrrrr-rrrrr
7 - I started to be afraid where this evolution may lead me. :unsure:
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I can't believe I am finally playing it!
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Lucy, that's a great review! :D May I read from this that you're therionising your kittens?
OFFy, big congrats! So, how does it sound to you?
Cheers!
Markus
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OFFy, big congrats! So, how does it sound to you?
WOW!
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I'm glad that it met your expectations, OFFy! :)
Sounds like your first listening was much like mine. :biggrin:
Cheers!
Markus
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I'm glad that it met your expectations, OFFy! :)
Sounds like your first listening was much like mine. :biggrin:
Seems so Markus, more info tomorrow! I am still playing it :D
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Lucy, that's a great review! :D May I read from this that you're therionising your kittens?
Haha, I think they are re-Therionizing me. :D
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I don´t know if you can feel this cold chill waves in the last song when the children choir starts singing. I felt very very rare electric waves in my skin, and i like it :)
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Hey folks,
my parents don't like it that much. Well, they're approaching their 70s but I gave them a copy so they know what I'm so excited about.
My mum told me there were two or three very beautiful songs (gotta find out which ones) but she's not fond of the rest because - there's too much soprano in it. :blink: Not a word about the music being too weird or too hard but it has too much operatic soprano for her taste.
I'm a bit scared of her now... :unsure:
Cheers!
Markus
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Maybe it was too sharp, high-pitched for her? The rest is more or less harmonic and melodious, even slow sometimes. It's great that they gave it a try! :)
Oh and the women usually like deep, velvety male-voice. -_-
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I said I'll write something about the album but I still don't know what. At first play I was stunned but then I was undecided, I somehow got into every song so fast, it usually takes many plays for me to realize if I like an album or not. That's why I was scared I will get bored of it very soon and I had problems at college and was too busy so I didn't enjoy in playing it that much. What I can confirm is that there is no bad song on the album but that is of course not enough when talking about Therion.
Sitra Ahra - sounds great but I wish there are more parts like the one from 0:36
Kings of Edom - wow, amazing, whole sons, Thomas' vocals, guitars, changes, lyrics!!!
Unguentum Sabbati - wow again, 10 seconds from the beginning I said:"They have to play this one on tour!" Only bad is that Phantom of the Opera part at the end, at first it's ok but at the end it's just too much.
Land of Canaan - I played it's 152 times already and that says it all. I probably got so easy in other songs cause I had trouble with this one, had to play it 10 times until I realized that this is one of the best songs ever, just every part is awesome and nothing repeats. My favorite is probably that piano in the middle, just can't stop hearing it.
Hellequin - it seems I really hate Petter (he wrote it), I mean I hate his songs on Gothic Kabbalah and I think this one is the worst on the album but not bad like those from GK that I hate. :P
2012 - yeah, Petter's vocals ruins it but really great choir, great melody
Cú Chulainn - second worst imo, still not bad but nothig special.
Kali Yuga Part 3 - I was so disappointed at first because of that "Om Krim Kali, Om Krim Kali, Om Krim Kali, Kali Ma" which Lori sings live and on the record its choir and imo Lori alone sounds so much better and Snowy at the beginning sounds much better live. Now I got used to the record version and I love it.
The Shells are Open - wow, the biggest surprise cause nobody was talking about this songs and it's just pure choir, just listen to that deep male voice, that's what I wanted to hear!
Din - I love this one, the choir is amazing, love the growling part but I still think Chris' growls would bee much better.
Children of the Stone: After the Inquisition - nothing special but nice ending
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Tell us, Xinyue, please, how do you like Sitra Ahra so far? :)
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I found out that I really adore Thomas' vocals on Sitra Ahra :)
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Tell us, Xinyue, please, how do you like Sitra Ahra so far? :)
Reading your feeling above, I need to admit that new fan's feeling is quit another thing. Without a general view ( I wonder I can't feel the little disappointment some of you feel at the first indeed, and the surprise some you found later.), I have some knowledge of them, but all in all, Therion is brand new for me.
Oh, I'm just jealous. :cht2:
1.Introduction/Sitra Ahra - 5:24
Fall in love with it at first sight. The orchestral music is such a surprise.
Chorus is brainwashing, it loop in my head for a few days.
2.Kings of Edom - 8:51
(Maybe because I like Lori's performance on Live too much, I still can't get used with Therion's soprano in studio version. That was relievef later but has been still not with this song...)
I like the melody. I prefer the middle part most. Talk about the latter half, I was waved between "What'this?!" and "That's great!"
I can't decide, I need to play it again...
3.Unguentum Sabbati - 5:09
I like it! No explanation!
4.Land of Canaan - 10:32
A long song, I doubt if I can write as long as it is.
Some twists made me think the following is another song...But no, it better to be one song.
Thomas Karlsson's lyrics always make me congratulate myself on the knowledge of all kinds of religions at first, then feel my shortage - No, that's far from enough!
5.Hellequin - 5:18
There is omething difference from existed Therion's impression on me at the beginning part.
Both on lyrics and the music arrange are wonderful. I like it!
6.2012 - 4:16
I should say I like the feeling of hysteria Peter sang in this song very much.
7.Cú Chulainn - 4:16
The rhyme in beginning part is an echo with Hellequin I think?
8.Kali Yuga Part 3 - 3:41
Remind me of some parts in Secret of Runes.
I hadn't listen to the part 1 and 2 yet(oh...)
I like it.
[The first sentence"Kali Ma, Queen of Aeons"
Wow in fact my English name is Aeon...(I'm serious! I mean, even I chose it as my English name for fun, I truly use this name in all kinds of applications! )
Maybe I should change my English name to Hail directly? ]
9.The Shells Are Open - 3:44
I love the rhyme soooooooooo much!
One of favorite songs in this album. :wub:
10.Din - 2:37
A little closed to death metal I think? I didn't listen to their early years songs yet.(I still have much to learn... :idea: I feel happy about that.)
Stoped too suddenly, but still a nice arrangement to connect later song.
11.Children of the Stone: After the Inquisition - 7:22
Another one of my favourite songs in this album. When lyrics which has a little cruel feel is sang by children's voice, I always feel trill.
"Walk upon, the fields
When you´re reborn
You are the Children of the Stone
You cannot live on bread alone
You need the spirit too
We bring the founding stone
<<<This part, a little...I don't know how to express it but this part like the OST in the late '90s Chinese TV series...The first time I heard that I burst into laugh...a bit of weird.
But ask about the whole song, I like it very much.
And, as I judge an album by if there are more than 4 songs I like very much. I like Sitra Ahra :wub:
Wow,expressing these in English streessed me out, my Diamond Lady!
I even haven't written so much about music feeling in Chinese,
WOW!
So I'm sorry that I wrote a so looooooong post again!
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O, don't worry, the longer the better, hehe.
I still haven't made up my mind, but I'd say that I don't really like it apart from listening to Thomas in the studio, the only songs I find myself humming are Sitra Ahra and Kali Yuga III.
I don't like the new line-up either, the drumming is dead boring, and I miss the lovely guitar solos. Production-wise they made Lori sound thin and bad, I honestly don't know how they've done it. Yoy wouldn't be able to do a Miskolc show from such material... :/
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O, don't worry, the longer the better, hehe.
And I think I need to post more in this About Therion section,(well, I has kept posting looong posts in off-topic forum Ooops! :P) since there is NTSMS anyway :nosweat: :roll-eyes: :nana:
Since there seemed to be a lot of albums I need to track back, and Sitra Ahra is still loop in my earphone, maybe I will plus additional feeling later. :hop:
And I must say, after I updating my audio I found how much different Therion's songs could be in different equalizer settings. :idea: I tried to decide a more suitable setting but ended up feeling to do mix by myself :wacko:
Now I just wonder how Lennart Östlund and Christofer think the music should be :unsure:
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Man... I still haven't listened to the new album :ninja:
Ah, this summer inshallah....
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Thank you for your thoughts, Aeon! :wOOt: And never apologize for writing a long post. You're not that kind we are used to execute because of this. -_-
Hail would be a nice name too, as for a male name. Somehow Aeon makes me think more of a female name. :)
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2.Kings of Edom - 8:51
(Maybe because I like Lori's performance on Live too much, I still can't get used with Therion's soprano in studio version.
But Lori is the soprano in studio version!
btw I am still playing Sitra Ahra every day, not whole albums but different songs, depends on my mood.
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2.Kings of Edom - 8:51
(Maybe because I like Lori's performance on Live too much, I still can't get used with Therion's soprano in studio version.
But Lori is the soprano in studio version!
btw I am still playing Sitra Ahra every day, not whole albums but different songs, depends on my mood.
Yes I know, however it took me some time to recogniz it. :blink:
I meant the way Therion handling the soprano part in the post-production. Oh I must improve my expression... :unsure:
I have been play Therion albums for some months, including Sitra Ahra and their past works. Many new feelings appeared I need post my whole review some time later :biggrin:
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I have been play Therion albums for some months, including Sitra Ahra and their past works. Many new feelings appeared I need post my whole review some time later :biggrin:
Sure, do that once your feelings cool down :D
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Hi everyone,
I would like to try to put down in words some sensations about Sitra Ahra...
First of all, I normally force myself not to go too high on expectations about new albums as I think one has to respect the artists freedom and needs. What I am saying for exmaple is that I try not to demand from (lets say) Iron Maiden another Seventh Son of a Seventh Son or get upset with them for not doing it. Fortunately, Therion always delyvers "da shit" as the kids say today. High quality albums in wich you easilly perceive so much dedication, care and a will to continue pushing the horizons. This values made IMO the core of all Therion works.
Still, I tried to aproach Sitra Ahra with and open and clear mind. An effort that soon proved to be unnecessary because the album inmediatly caught my soul or what's left of it.
One of the things I love from this album is that kind of "arcane" feeling it injects. I like specially the "theatrical" touchs (Phantom of the Opera influence in Unguentum Sabbati anyone?) and as always that middle-east and exotic arrangements in the melodies. I cannot review each song or pick a few as favourites becasue everytime I want to listen to one in particular I end up listening the whole disc again and again. In fact, I think the disc is better apreciated playing it from start to finish.
I've found in Sitra Ahra an excellent album and a very representative piece of Therion's works.
Thanks Lord Chtulhu for Therion :cht:
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Hey Ignacio,
I think an open mind is the only way to approach a new Therion album because each album is so very different from the others. Just as you, I found Sitra Ahra catching from the very first spin.
On "Unguentum Sabbati" there is definitely a big cameo of the Phantom of the Opera! I wouldn't even call that an influence, in my eyes (or ears) it's a quotation. I love that song very much, btw, and especially enjoy the outro. Makes you see the witches riding on the storm ecstatically, tumbling down, down, down endlessly and still enjoying themselves like mad. :)
Cheers!
Markus
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Hey Ignacio,
On "Unguentum Sabbati" there is definitely a big cameo of the Phantom of the Opera! I wouldn't even call that an influence, in my eyes (or ears) it's a quotation.
Absolutly, its a straight quotation. Quite a pleasant one certainly.
Makes you see the witches riding on the storm ecstatically, tumbling down, down, down endlessly and still enjoying themselves like mad
I "saw" a different picture in mind the first time I listened the song, like some kind of mountains crambling down and dark hellish rituals. Anyway, it changes after you try to catch up the lyrics or read them rigth away. This makes me think about a nice idea for a topic: "What do you see while listening -insert a Therion song here-...".
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I see, Ignacio!
Well, my first spin was with the booklet open, reading the lyrics right along. I think I even knew what the title meant before I got the album. :)
That's a nice topic idea! :wOOt: Go ahead and open it. :)
Cheers!
Markus