Can you remember your intentions
Do you know who you should be
The future rests on someone
Changing
Changing
Changing minds
We're always searching for solution
We need a chance to decide
The future rests on someone
Changing
Changing
Changing minds
We move towards a situation
We take the world as we know
The future rests on someone
Changing
Changing
Changing minds
It's not too late to change opinions
On which this world must rely
The future rests on someone
How to begin? This is definitely one of my favourites. Starting off with a tour de force of an intro! NM's intros are all brilliant, but this must surely be THE best? 1:43 of pure bliss - packing in incredible melody and energy, and effectively summing up the track in its entirety minus vocals.
Top touches of genius are evident from the off: those snippets of choral effects as seen previously on "Churches". And (how to describe them?) those 'scorching' sounds?... Almost like the 'record' is playing up. (And we haven't got to Warp yet). Of course though, the audio clarity and engineering is, as ever, first rate. That bagpipe- like synth... the jangly guitar. And - oh my f***ing lord - those wondrous, deep, buzzing bass synth effects... I'm in heaven!
It could be said this is a repetitive track, but the repetition is used to such wonderful effect. These guys REALLY understand the concept, and how NOT to use it simply as a means of padding out a weak song.
The lyrics to me suggest we should try to keep an open mind about things, otherwise we might be doomed...
We are pretty much at the pinnacle stage of NM's output just now, IMO - mid-way into the second album. Every time I come back to play "Changing Minds" I find I haven't tired of it one little bit.
Far from it - it stands up now at least as well as it did many years back.
100/100
Better than life itself...
(Richard M)
After a completely awesome "side 1" can the standard be maintained? Well, if 'Changing Minds' is anything to go by, not only will it be maintained - it may well be taken to even greater heights! The first thing to note on this track is that it takes a full 1 min 44 secs for Tony's vocals to appear. The instrumental intro on this track is nothing short of stunning. This is basically "trademark NM ground zero". Metronomic beats, submarine sounds, rasping synth bass which would level mountains, and *that* strumming guitar.
Can it get any better?
Tony's vocals are superb. The ease with which he can vocally embellish a track is extraordinary. The counterpoint synth melodics which weave around each word are brilliant. Choral synths are thrown into the mix for good measure.
This is a sensational track. So sensational, the repetition becomes an art form. The definitive NM sound. And a bass synth has never sounded so good.
NM at their imperious best?
(Graham G)
I think this could be the best intro ever. However, the rest of the song doesn't quite live up to the great intro. Don't get me wrong, I do like Changing Minds, but the intro builds up to a crescendo and then loses its power once the singing starts. I'd still give it 9/10.
(Rich E)