WIND & WUTHERING

Steve Hackett's last album with the band, yet dominated more by Tony Banks and Phil Collins, and still just a great album. They continue their tradition of great album openers and closers, with 'Eleventh Earl of Mars' and the stunning closing combo of the dynamic instrumental 'Into This Quiet Earth' and the transcendent 'Afterglow', perhaps their greatest soaring ballad (and bringing the power reminiscent of the finale sections of 'Supper's Ready'). 'One for the Vine' ranks among their greatest epic tracks and Hackett's 'Blood on the Rooftops' is beautifully sublime. If they would have included Hackett's wonderful 'Inside and Out' in place of the relatively weak 'All in a Mouse's Night' this could have ranked even higher ('Inside and Out' was relegated to the little-heard EP Spot The Pigeon). As it is this is a very strong album, generally quite under-rated, that ranks in the upper tier of Genesis albums. I would rate it as 4.5 stars, but since can't enter that here, I have to round up to 5 stars, as just can't go down to 4 for this mostly excellent album.