PETER GABRIEL 3 [AKA: MELT]

Peter Gabriel's third self titled solo album was a major break in his career. He finally found his own sound and the msuic is much more focused here than on all of his post Genesis effords. He found his voice and his style finally had come of age. It is a strange and beautiful soundscape combining the primitive (tribal percussion, punk guitars courtesy of Paul Welle of The Jam and Dave Gregory from XTC) with the modern (synths provided by the ingenious Larry Fast and Tony Levin's Chapman-Stick). The lyrics are disturbing, inteligent and inspired: he talks about racism, prejudice, war, psychopathology and general disajustments. Elaborated, complex and accessible at the same time A truly work of art.

The highlight of this very important and unique work is maybe Family Snapshot. I have never seen such deep and insightful look into a murder's life and crime in just 4 minutes and 27 seconds. The music sorounding those fantastic words matches perfectly the crime scene (and later the character's past in the last verse). Simply a unique little masterpiece. But there are really many other great moments in this CD (although none as powerful and brilliant as this particular track, but that would be asking for too much). Songs like the opener Intruder (with Phil Collins fantastic and dramatic drumming), Games Without Fronties, I Don't Remember, Biko and Not One Of Us are among his greatest ones ever.

Although Gabriel made excellent works before and after this one, this is surely his most satisfying, interesting and groundbreaking record in my opinion. Maybe his best as a whole. I don't have much more to say. Just listen and judge for yourselves. to me it is a masterpiece of prog music. An essential CD for any prog lover. 5 stars.