¿Cómo explicar que Lindsey Buckingham nunca se fue, pero ha vuelto? Acostumbrado a una trayectoria vital más que intensa, los últimos tiempos vividos por el californiano son tan excitantes, turbulentos y cinematográficos como la historia de la banda madre, unos Fleetwood Mac que (en mi opinión) viven en un sinsentido girando con Mike Campbell y Neil Finn, dos cracks en sus respectivas bandas pero que no pintan nada encima del escenario y emanan un feeling más que gélido.
It’s tricky to say that Lindsey Buckingham is back, when he was really never gone in the first place… He’s always been rather habituated to an intensely animate existence and recently, the California native’s doings are just as exciting, troubled and cinematic as the nonsensical touring of his fellow cohorts of the crux of his musical existence – Fleetwood Mac. Don’t get me wrong, Mike Campbell and Neil Finn were great in their own, respective bands. However, in my humble opinion, they have no business being on stage together and I can’t seem to dodge this bleak feeling I get from it all.
Despedido del grupo en 2018, al año siguiente lo operaron a corazón abierto, y un par de meses antes de sacar al mercado este esplendido álbum homónimo su esposa le pidió el divorcio. No trata esta reseña de glosar la figura de Buckingham, sin duda uno de los guitarristas más infravalorados de la historia del rock, poseedor de una discografía en solitario que raramente baja del notable, sino de comentar un álbum que supone un auténtico puñetazo en la mesa, una reivindicación de modernidad y puesta al día solo al alcance de un puñado de mitos.
Buckingham was fired from the group in 2018 and only one year later, he had to undergo open-heart surgery. Then, a couple of months before he put out this incredible self-titled album, his wife filed for divorce. This article doesn’t intend to give an account of the life of undoubtedly one of the most underrated guitarists in rock history who boasts a solo back catalogue that is rarely less than remarkable, but rather to reflect on an album that is a real knuckle sandwich – an exhibition of the here and now, of innovation: something beyond the reach of all but just a handful of legends.
Grabado íntegramente en el estudio de su casa, ha sabido fusionar perfectamente su vertiente más 70’s con un sonido más contemporáneo. “Scream” abre el LP mostrándonos (otra vez, of course) su maestría con la guitarra acústica y las armonías vocales. “I Don’t Mind” podría estar en cualquier disco clásico de los Mac, y “On The Wrong Side” suena a puro “Tango in the Night”.
Recorded entirely in his home studio, he has managed to perfectly marriage his fundamentally 70’s style with a more contemporary sound. The LP opens with “Scream”, a track that (once again) displays his expert command of the acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies. “I Don’t Mind” could be a track from basically any classic Mac album, and “On The Wrong Side” conjures up “Tango in the Night” in all its splendor.
Canciones como “Swan Song” o “Power Down” despistan por sus bases programadas, pero el subliminal y apasionante mensaje acaba siendo el mismo. Que Lindsey está de vuelta de todo lo demuestra la inclusión de “Blind Love” y “Time”, dos deliciosas anacronías con ecos de los 50’s, “Blue Light” y “Santa Rosa” son perfecta encarnación de la música FM de extrema calidad y se despide con una balada tan suave como minimalista, “Dancing”.
Songs like “Swan Song” or “Power Down” throw you off a bit with their bass-laden programmed beats, but the subliminal, feverish message is still the same. Lindsey proves he’s back to stay with the addition of “Blind Love” and “Time” – two succulent anachronisms with a 50’s hue. And then we have “Blue Light” and “Santa Rosa”, the perfect embodiment of high-bar radio music, before bidding farewell with “Dancing”, a ballad that is as smooth as it minimalist.
Imprescindible protagonista de una de las sagas más emocionantes de la historia de la música, Lindsey Buckingham ha parido un vibrante álbum repleto de sentimientos, alteraciones y conmociones. Sonidos atemporales de un artesano (por suerte) lejos de la retirada, otra muesca en un repertorio tan infinito como ya crepuscular. Y es que aunque ellos y ellas se empeñen, la cadena siempre los mantendrá unidos…
A pivotal character from one of the most exciting sagas in the history of music, Lindsey Buckingham has given birth to a vibrant album full of feelings, contrasts and commotion. The timeless sounds of this craftsman who is (fortunately) far from retreat are just another notch on his endless, albeit somewhat subsiding, musical belt as he keeps running in the shadow. No matter how hard they try to break it, the chain will always keep them together…
Translation by Jessica Jacobsen
