SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND

I have to confess that the first time I ever heard Genesis was here, in this webpage. For which I'm deeply grateful. And the first song I ever heard was "The Cinema Show" it was there when this, my own genesis begun.

Can't you tell me where I should start? In the medieval opening, a pitiful minstrel evocation demanding ears, a lean conscience to contemplates the horror, the disgrace surrounding. Playing with every texture, gracefully orchestrated for every musician to express their skills, "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight".

The theatrical joyous so distinctive from Gabriel, already explored in the band previous works, is welcomed via "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)". The lyrics and music both sarcastically color the scene, somehow painted in the cover of the album.

Banks then shows his classical influence opening "Firth of Fifth" full of complexity in rhythm, chords progressions, even when lyrical simple, the symphonic here is clear since beginning to end.

"More Fool Me" is the more spare song, an equally plain and friendly yet beautiful song from Collins who also sings lead. It's the calm spot in the middle of the road.

Then the stirring, the theatrical the skill the fight returns with a martial flute and drums and marching steps. "The Battle of Epping Forest" in full of superb ingenious lyrics telling the story of two gangs in a fight. With so many tempo changes, a playful story, magisterial instrumentation, pure musical gambling. The drum textures from Collins, the guitar arpeggios from Hackett, the musical keyboard bridges from Banks, the rhythmical bass from Rutherford and Gabriel's lyrics turns this song epic.

"After the Ordeal" came as another musical bridge, a lament afterwards the battle. Hackett tearfully cries trough his instruments. Easily this song could brings the closure, although it's more like an ethereal window opened for the next part. Artistically a beauty, this piece stands alone.

Then, my reason for listening; "The Cinema Show". So complex, so rich, so full of meanings and musical sections denoting every part of this modern myth. Crossing the pentagram with a vast twitter starting with a calm piano intro, lyrical earthly yet with some romantic references. Keep in pace clam, soft still reflecting about the mythical essence of sexes' war and social empowering, finely decorated with a vocal harmony bridge the tempo moves forward to an instrumental section in crescendo more and more vertiginous every time. There are pauses, many chivalrous yields within musicians. The fierce between both forces almost explodes with violence and then the material world brings some peace al the rhythm of the guitar softly stroking those chords that leads to the final piece. "Aisle of Plenty" returns in style like "Dancing..." all stepped over the guitar chords closure from "The Cinema..." The theatrical monologue fades and the lights in the stage turn off.

Share this GENESIS review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to AdaCalegorn
• Report this review (#432968)
• Buy GENESIS music online with PA partners
• Show all GENESIS MP3/Stream
• Go to GENESIS page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Selling England by the Pound page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for GENESIS related discussions