FOXTROT

It's almost impossible to add something original to all the reviews of this album so I won't try. Yet there is something that strikes me. Many reviewers focus on the unbelievable 'Supper's ready' and right they are. It is, also for me, the best epic that has ever been written and performed, albeit that it is not my favourite Genesis track (although it comes close!). Yet this album offers so much more. There is simply no weak moment. The classic opening of 'Watcher of the skies' still gives me the shivers. The different moods in that song are still great, from expressive just following the intro towards very soft and mellow in the middle section. Absolutely devastating. 'Time table' seems more simple and it is. And that is probably one of teh reasons why this track is also outstanding. The only small criticism may be that it should not have faded out after only 4:40. It should have lasted another two or three minutes but I assume that it wasn't possible given the limitations of vinyl. For me 'Get 'm out by Friday' is the weakest track of the album. The music is not that appealing to me but I find the lyrics simply great and arty. It has a totally different mood from the preceding song which strengthens the variety of the album. 'Can-Utility' is probably the most underrated song Genesis ever recorded. It has such a romantic melody and such a superb atmosphere in the song that I can not imagine that anyone can dislike this song. Why it has not become one of their classic tracks is a big puzzle to me. And then: who dares to precede an epic by such a small instrumental track as 'Horizons' is? That's what I call 'genius'. It works and it works perfectly. The fact that Steve Hackett still performs it live is the best illustration that this little piece of acoustic guitar music is absolutely a classic. About 'Supper's ready' everything has already been said: it was never any better and it would never be improved.

A masterpiece from beginning till the end.