No Line on the Horizon

One of the legendary U2’s best creations so far

Are there a lot of people in the world who felt happy when they knew of the U2’s new album release? Naturally this is a rhetorical question. After the longest hiatus in the band’s history, almost five years, its twelfth work No Line On The Horizon has finally seen the light of the day. No doubt this record has proved to be one of this and last years’ most anticipated releases as the buzz of its soon getting in stores and in Internet has been around for quite some time. The thing is that the band started working on the album back in 2006 teaming up with Rick Rubin but then the material was shelved. A year later already together with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois U2 got back to work. The Irish band did not put the final full stop until the most worthy songs had not been picked out of more than half a hundred of them by the time, until their sounding had not been made perfect and until Steve Lillywhite had not made the last strokes in the arrangements. Luckily the day has come at the end of February and we can now evaluate deservedly one of the legendary U2’s best creations so far.

Soft and breathtaking melodies on No Line On The Horizon

On No Line On The Horizon U2 has turned away from the classic rock tendencies present on the last two records as if remembering to have a lot of sensual, soft and breathtaking melodies in its repertoire such as the splendid 1991’s album Achtung Baby can boast. It is worth while noting that Bono’s vocals, faultless as always, has never harmonized and at some points disharmonized successfully with the arrangements so the shivers down your spine are guaranteed when listening to the absolute majority of the tracks. Besides you will not find tough songs likе Discotheque here probably except for the first single Get On Your Boots hidden in the very middle of the record and amazing with its power and the album opener, a most beautiful title composition inspired by a French seascape an analogous picture of which is presented on the album’s cover art. A wonderful song Magnificent is contagious with its impetuousness, inspiration and hospitable positive mood whereas the longest track Moment Of Surrender will by no means bore you as it is an excellent traveling across the depths of consciousness refined with a most soulful cello, keyboards, Bono’s passionate penetrating singing and The Edge’s perfect guitar solo. In fact there is hardly an outstanding song on the album as each of them is good and deserves attention. Compositions I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight and Stand Up Comedy prove to be a bit heavier than the others pleasing with complicated tunes difficult to remember at the first listening whereas Fez – Being Born is interesting for the best introduction on the album. Gentle keyboards and guitars on White As Snow create a beautiful harmony with unforgettable tubes and the closer Cedars Of Lebanon conquers with the softest chorus.

Expectation has been worth it

After the release of 2006’s compilation U218 it was quite clear that the authors had enough new ideas in store, but we had to wait for some other three years to make sure that the Irish team still has something to say. It goes without saying that expectation has been worth it. The album No Line On The Horizon is not just the result of the talented musicians and producers laborious work. Each of the songs breathes with the impressions of traveling, relationships and contains a certain message that only an experienced and open author could make. At the same time one can feel very good listening to No Line On The Horizon that U2 is firstly a band and every instrument here plays an important role so even the voice becomes one of them. As for the arrangements most different shades of style are mixed in them, for example, those of African music, probably because the tracks recording began when the musicians were in a Moroccan town Fez. In the respect of lyrics No Line On The Horizon also deserves praise – some songs are autobiographical here, while the protagonists of others are some imagined personages. Eternally striving for an ideal and serving the one for a great number of fans this time U2 has come to it as close as it is possible.