Someone said the magic words today
What's going on is going wrong again
So how does it feel to be
On the safe side
I fear the walls are closing in around
I'm in the air and falling to the ground
So tell me how does it feel to be
On the safe side
On the safe side
They tell me this is sound security
With just the hint of danger that we need
So tell me how does it feel to be
On the safe side
On the safe side
On the safe side
As the final track on an album we have seen to be superb so far, "The Safe Side" always had a tough job to live up to as the previous 30+ minutes were pretty much aural perfection. As such, I had been strangely thinking of this track as a slight let-down. But playing it (many times) again for the purpose of this review I can now see how wrong I was.
That almost 'slurring' effect right from the off is unusual. Nice, smooth and subtle electric guitar touches. Those acoustic guitars are still there too, but after the intro sit in the background jangling away rather than the more emphasised strumming effect they take on most of the other tracks. That nice 'Ts-Tsss' white noise- like percussive synth effect is utilised, very similar to the one used on the album's first track, "Straight Lines". (A deliberate choice maybe, suggesting the track as a kind of outro? Who knows...)
The lyrics are first rate, and to me describe alienation and insecurity. Not feeling you fit in to society... Anyone who can relate to this will surely find them quite moving; almost like a poem. As always, the lyrics are intelligent and not in-your-face like your typical pop song. Tony delivers his vocals quite straight, and set to the atmosphere of the music is most effective, creating a melancholic (but not depressing) mood. A subtle double vocal technique is used again here in places; this time the secondary vocal Tony delivers more expressively than the main one.
As a closer to the album I think it was a good choice. Instead of going for a lighter tune, "The Safe Side" is more introspective and creates a slightly 'edgy' atmosphere to leave off with.
92/100
(Richard M)
We reach the end of the vinyl album. Not one bad track so far, surely it can't all be great? Well, it can. 'Safe Side' is a peach of a track to end.
Slight melancholy in the vocals and the overall music, the pitch shift moments are genius. A classic Mansfield vocal permeates to perfection. It sounds superficially simplistic, but this is deceptively complex and deep track which leaves the listener wanting more.
From A to B. A sensational debut album. How could they possibly top it?
Well, including a whole host of extra tracks on the Japanese CD is one way!....
(Graham G)