Machines (Or ‘Back to Humans’) ��
A Taylor and May collaboration, ‘Machines’ is a fairly passable
cocktail of synths, computerised vocals and a slightly over-
produced guitar from May. A hard rocking guitar anthem, this one
isn’t particularly spectacular.
I Want to Break Free ����
‘I want to break free, I want to break free, I want to break free
from your lies, You’re so self satisfied I don’t need you.’ Shorter
than the single mix, the album version of ‘I Want to Break Free’ is
an incredible synth-based pop song.
Keep Passing the Open Windows ���
Written for the film version of John Irving’s ‘The Hotel New
Hampshire’, ‘Keep Passing the Open Windows’ is a rocking ballad,
penned by Mercury, with a strong feel good factor to it. Pretty
good.
Hammer to Fall ���
Another rocking Brian May number, ‘Hammer to Fall’ seems to
refer to the Cold War – ‘For we who grew up tall and proud, In
the shadow of the mushroom cloud’ – but also references death
and inevitability – ‘Rich or poor or famous, For your truth it’s all
the same’. High powered, ‘Hammer to Fall’ is a real explosion of
sound.
Is This the World We Created...? ��
‘Is this the world we created? What did we do it for? Is this the
world we invaded, Against the law?’ Acoustic ballad ‘Is This the
World We Created...?’ is a little too reminiscent of the band’s live
version of ‘Love of My Life’ to be anything that special.