Originally posted by yeahSomeone over on u2achtung claims that he had the chance to listen to some new songs while the groupe celebrated Edge's birthday in Eze. He describes one track as a mixture of Vertigo and Lady with the spinning head, 'Moment of Surrender' as a ballad with similarities to Stuck and the songs in general as pretty similar to the last 2 albums.
Up to you to judge it.
Here's the full translation from Interference:
" - Poster’s first post: “Blimey! Well i don’t know about the album but the single pretty much blows your head off! They cranked up the cd at 10.30pm for The Edge’s bday in Eze, followed by fireworks over the water. Those who want rock (without clochettes ??) [translator’s note: “little bells”?? not sure i’m missing something here?? but havent got time to check properly] will love this song, a mixture of vertigo in terms of rhythm and Lady with the spinning head in terms of main guitar sound (with a hint of Acrobat). i'm not saying it sounds exactly like all that, but it's just the vibe. Just listened once but it's looking good!”
-In response to question re. innovation: “I can’t really say if it’s innovative, I’m not so sure, but it was only the single.”
-In another post by same poster: “4th listening... title... Sexy Boots, which Bono keeps saying over and over.”
-Another post by same poster: “another song now, the one with Surrender i think in the title. Superb ballad. Really! A bolt from the blue/bombshell [translator's note: poster says “une bombe” but i havent got time to think too hard or check properly so sorry if my translation doesnt make sense!]! Quite innovative.Sorry i havent got a recording device.”
-Another post by same poster: “4 songs, and not a hint of clochettes [translator's note: these damn “little bells” again...?]. But good guitar parts just how we love them.”
-Another post by same poster: “And a 5th song! "if i don't go crazy" in the lyrics. I think the title might be the one with "change of heart".”
-Same poster again: “heard 7 tracks and quick snippets from 2 others tonight. Moment of surrender starts like Stuck but ends 1000 times better. The tracks we heard really sound good.”
-Last post: “will come back to this point when i’ve got more time. But re. “innovation”, i wanted to say what we heard wasnt over-revolutionary but there were new sounds for a U2 album...”
All credit to Interference member MamaCass for the above translation.
Further comments on u2achtung, translated by Interference member Oceane:
"Another poster who also heard the songs said the following:
'Really too good what we had the luck of hearing tonight, the album is looking really good! Hard to describe because I am on my mobile. But really (to the person who was complaining) wait until you hear it before reacting like that because tonight 4 fans had an amazing time! Personally I was hooked by every song I heard!'
Then 'fredo' came back and said this:
'More details on the evening:
Since we had only heard a few recording sessions and seeing that The Edge's birthday party was being organised at Bono's house (decorated Mexican Hacienda style), we thought this was a good time to have a chance to hear something more 'complete'. So we decided to do a little pic-nic on the beach
Around 10:30pm, there was only 4 of us on the beach, and all of a sudden the music started blasting out and we recognised right away the 'U2 touch', a mix of familiar sounds ('Pop' for the bass, 'Vertigo' for Bono's signing/pronounciation, Lady with the Spinning Head for the guitar, etc.) We could hear perfectly well, the sea was calm, the crickets were not singning and the sound was very clear.
At the end of the song there was a firework from a small boat on the water. The Edge came on the patio (wearing a sombrero) with Morleigh. At the end of the firework, we couldn't help but to sing him Happy Birthday, and he thanked us.
Then nothing for a little while.
Then the music started blasting again, the same song. We noted that 'Sexy Boots' comes back a lot in the lyrics. We heard it 5 times during the evening. I can't really describe it precisely. All I can say is that it's a mix of traditional rock with quite a modern sound.
We heard Moment of Surrender (I am guessing it is that one because the word surrender comes back a few times). We heard it twice. Like I said it starts a little bit like Stuck but less cheasy/poppy. But the end of this song is truly magnificent with long, beautiful guitar parts.
We also heard 5 other songs, one time each. Hard to remember all of it, the only thing I can recall is that there were keyboard and synth sounds that I have never heard from U2, and one song starts with a slightly african sounding rythm. Actually I remember from time to time Larry's playing was quite at the forefront.
So of course, it seems like U2's new album might not create a revolution in rock history. But they seem to have moved away from what they had been doing since 2000.
Another thing is there was lots of guitars in what we heard, and that without being radically different (you have to keep the U2 style) there is a freshness in the songwriting.
The sound of the songs is quite stripped down and it is not overproduced like HTDAAB. The sound is more 'rough'.
But us, out little priviledged group, only heard 7 songs and 2 short bits of other songs. Only U2 knows what the album will really be like...'
Someone asked if what they heard sounded like the Beach Clips 2006, and the answer was:
'It had nothing to do with what we heard from the Beach Clips.'"
All credit to both Interference members for the translations.
If it's not official news, at least it's something!