WIND & WUTHERING

This music just makes me feel better! Album titled "Wind and Wuthering". Genesis recorded their second album without Peter Gabriel in 1977. In general, it was an ambiguous time in the life of progressive bands, but in my opinion it was almost the best year, after 68, since the formation of such bands as Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, Van der Graaf Generator. 77, the decline of the punk revolution, the crisis of trade unions in England, the growth of nationalism, unemployment, Indira Gandhi arrives in the USSR, a pact is signed between the USA and the USSR to ban nuclear tests with warheads larger than 150 kt, and another 77 is the atomic number of Iridium. In short, the time is not easy, not easy in the musical life. But at the same time it was very fruitful: Pink Floyd releases "Animals", Yes has a rather strong "Going For The One", well, Genesis has "Wind And Wuthering", Peter Hаmmill records his "Over" - this is not a complete list . The albums are very strong and thoughtful, probably the deepest and the thoroughgoing of all their work (I'm not afraid of this). Back to Genesis, this is the second album without Peter Gabriel, the second album with Phil Collins on vocals (respectively), turned out to be much better and richer (musically) than its predecessor Trick Of The Tail. The album is permeated with autumn mood, the spirit of rain and nostalgia, looking at the cover you feel a cold wind blowing on you, great, top class. It's fair to say that after the first listening, I did not think that this album would become my favorite from the Genesis repertoire. It took a lot of time to figure it out. Only the flute disappeared, for which the listener received the vocals of Phil Collins, which is much deeper and more emotional than Gabriel's. This album also is leader in the number of instrumentals (there are as many as 3!). 1. Eleventh Earl of Mar. Genesis, as usual, starts powerfully, the drums in combination with the keys set a simply crazy atmosphere. In the center of the composition is a colorful acoustic guitar solo, which is instantly replaced by the sounds of the keys and Phil's nervous vocals - just a masterpiece, amazing energy, incomparable to anything else. Magnificent lyrics.

2. One for the Vine. This is a 'whole lotta history', now probably my favorite opus by Genesis, a great measured beginning, slow drums and Phil's melancholy vocals contribute to the appropriate perception of the composition; in the center of the composition there is a slow piano interpolation and Collins' voice; but soon a phone call interrupts the quiet measured atmosphere and there is just creepy drum psychedelia, with all sorts of deviations and excesses; all this "spooky" cacophony is interrupted by Rutherford's cheerful rhythm guitar, under which Phil begins to sing.. "They leave me no choice

I must lead them to glory or most likely to death

They traveled across the plateau of ice, up to its edge

Then they crossed a mountain range and saw the final plain

Still he urged the people on ............."

it's just unforgettable, a whole whirlwind of emotions; the composition again returns to a measured pace and ends with a hurricane finale, smoothly ending with slow keyboard performances. 10 minutes of pure pleasure.

3. Your Own Special Way. It starts as a pure art-rock thing with a simple arrangement, but soon a very hard and loaded chorus starts, very tense and unsettling in essence. Author Mike Rutherford, a great songwriter, guitarist and arranger, as well as a permanent member of the band since 67! Probably this is the most melodic thing of the Genesis, and one of the strongest ones.

4. Wot Gorilla. It is one of the instrumentals, very bright, a whole extravaganza of unique color, everything rumbles and explodes, all this outrage in combination with an electric guitar and keys is simply mesmerizing.

5. All in a Mouse's Night. Another interesting little thing, it takes us back to the days of "giant weeds" and "Harrold the Barrel". Row in one word (that's what the composition itself is about). It is difficult to describe it, I won't do it better, at the end there is a slow and piercing solo by Hackett on guitar (which is not often found in Genesis's music), the whole action ends with a quiet, fading drum roll, strongly reminiscent of a military band going into the distance ...

6. Blood on the Rooftops. At the beginning of the song, Steve plays the acoustic guitar, in a classical manner; the spirit of the renaissance and the autumn mood permeate this composition; this opus is just a leitmotif to the album.

7. Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers' The instrumental begins quite quietly, the keyboards pump up the atmosphere, the feeling of the wind and the impending storm, or some other violent force.

8............In That Quiet Earth. This is continuation, but rather the completion of the previous opus. The storm has come and now the listeners cannot hide from the hurricane of sound, frenzied expression flowing into a slow riff in combination with keyboards and guitars, amazing harmony and expression.

9. Afterglow. Great ending to a great album, slow composition with heavy drums and transparent arrangements. The atmospheres of alienation and hope are intertwined with each other, creating an amazing "schizophrenic effect" of joy and despair, all at once. The opus is executed in the spirit of the Beatles.