"Marks" (1972), their first release, is mostly instrumental with a highly jazzy feel. Quite versatile, it features snippets of calypso, circus music, Dixieland and (of all things!) country music. Their best progressive effort, however, is their second album "Mountain Queen" (1973) which features long instrumental passages with prominent lead guitar, whirling Hammond organ, dual saxophones, electric violin and catchy choruses in a slightly Canterbury style. With the release of "Nobody Can Wait Forever" (1975) and "Best Kept Secret" (1976), however, the band went for a more hard rock sound with shorter, more accessible tunes. Two live albums as well as six compilation cd's of their material were subsequently released by Polydor and various other record labels.With the band's cameback in 2003 they released "Blue Planet" (2005) and "Sailors & Sinners" (2009).
The symphonic style of "Mountain Queen" should appeal to progsters; "Nobody Can Wait Forever" is recommended if you like a more bluesy/funky approach.
--
www.progarchives.com
New Guinea Sunrise
Alquin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn me down
You make me feel a clown
Turn me on
Keep me cool
You treat me like a fool
Looking back won't, looking back won't do me good
Turn me on
Keep me cool
You treat me like a fool
Kick my ass
Slow me down
You turn me round and round
Looking back won't, looking back won't do me good
Looking back won't, looking back won't do me good
Wake me up
Keep me cool
You treat me like a fool
Kick my ass
Slow me down
You turn me round and round
Looking back won't, looking back won't do me good
Looking back won't, looking back won't do me good
The lyrics to Alquin's song "New Guinea Sunrise" speak to a tumultuous and emotionally charged relationship. The singer is pleading with their partner to wake them up and turn them down, to somehow balance the extremes of their emotions. The partner makes the singer feel like a clown and treats them like a fool, sending them in circles with their mixed messages. The singer acknowledges that looking back on the relationship won't do any good, but they still feel the pull of their partner's actions.
Throughout the song, the singer repeats the lines "turn me on, keep me cool" as though asking for their partner to simultaneously excite and calm them. The partner also has the ability to kick the singer's ass and slow them down, indicating a power dynamic in the relationship. Despite the tumult, the singer wants to be kept cool and pleads with their partner to treat them with more respect.
Altogether, "New Guinea Sunrise" is a powerful portrayal of a relationship that is both exhilarating and exhausting. It reflects the push and pull nature of intense emotions and the ongoing struggle to balance them.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake me up
I need your help to become alert and active
Turn me down
I require you to dampen my enthusiasm
You make me feel a clown
I sense that you are mocking me and making a fool of me
Turn me on
I desire your stimulation to feel excited and energized
Keep me cool
I need you to remain calm and collected in order to not escalate the situation
You treat me like a fool
I believe that you are taking advantage of me and treating me unfairly
Looking back won't, looking back won't do me good
Reflecting on the past will not benefit me in any way or solve my current issues
Kick my ass
I am requesting a forceful boost or push to get me going
Slow me down
I require you to decelerate or stop my momentum for my own good
You turn me round and round
I feel like you are spinning me around and making me dizzy
Wake me up
I need your help to become alert and active
Keep me cool
I need you to remain calm and collected in order to not escalate the situation
You treat me like a fool
I believe that you are taking advantage of me and treating me unfairly
Kick my ass
I am requesting a forceful boost or push to get me going
Slow me down
I require you to decelerate or stop my momentum for my own good
You turn me round and round
I feel like you are spinning me around and making me dizzy
Looking back won't, looking back won't do me good
Reflecting on the past will not benefit me in any way or solve my current issues
Looking back won't, looking back won't do me good
Reflecting on the past will not benefit me in any way or solve my current issues
Contributed by Colin H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thunderground Samurai
One of the best albums, and one of the best album covers as well. Waiting for the train to America. ;) Had it when it came out, and still play it. Stood the test of time.
lrh1966
Thanks for listening and have a great day from Lloyd.
charles watkins
I bought this classic album when it was released back in '74. Back then you could judge an album by its cover & the back of it. Had never heard of Alquin until I played it. Not a bad song on the album from a very underrated band. Thank you for sharing the whole album.
lrh1966
Thanks Charles for checking it out and very sad that classic rock radio overlooks this groups music.
erikpberg
One of my top 10 favorites of all time. What a great discovery back then, and still timeless today.
lrh1966
It is too bad that classic rock FM radio where I live does not play it much now. Thanks for listening to Alquin on original LP album and Happy Holiday's.
foggy4180
Saw them live in Amsterdam in '75, great band! There were many good progressive bands in Holland in the early seventies; Focus, Kayak, Solution, Finch, Earth and Fire just to name a few.
lrh1966
Have a great day and thanks for listening from Lloyd :)
FRANK QPO
I've seen them all in those day's....But that's easy....I'm from Amsterdam...
foggy4180
@FRANK QPO Ik zag Alquin op zaterdagochtend in alle vroegte in Buitenveldert tijdens luilak, dan zou de jeugd minder herrie schoppen als ze van de straat waren ;-)