GENESIS REVISITED

Interesting album for all Genesis fans. Hackett's new arrangements of the songs are keeping the prog-rock line, but also daring enough. The best track is probably Fountain Of Salmacis, which is REALLY improved, however unbelieavably it may sound to say so. Dance On A Volcano is quite radical with an atmospheric soundscape at the beginning and Hackett's spoken vocals. Los Endos and Watcher are closer to the original takes, Firth Of Fifth is very nice, but Steve omits the first few notes of his signature solo here, which is kinda strange. The newly recorded Genesis outtake Deja Vu (by Gabriel-Hackett) is a nice song, though not a stunner. The other new track Valley Of The Kings is a new Hackett song thrown in for some reason, it's in Steve's usual style. That was the good part, now comes the worse part: there is a new take of Your Own Special Way, the only track from Wind And Wuthering that I can't stand listening to. Steve obviously likes this one, and if you do too, you'll probably enjoy it, but I do not. Then there is a waltz opera-like version of For Absent Friends. Again not quite my favourite. Waiting Room Only is a re-working of Waiting Room of course and finally the new version of I Know What I Like is done in a bar jam-session band style, which is funny, but that's just all.

So, if you're a deep Genesis fan, get this album, as it's an interesting listen. If you're a Hackett fan, you're probably a Genesis fan as well, so skip to the line above. Eventually, if you're just curious about the music of Genesis or Steve Hackett, better look up their original albums.