PETER GABRIEL 3 [AKA: MELT]

With a range of talents old and new in the backing group - old hands like Robert Fripp and Phil Collins, and new stars like Paul Weller and Kate Bush - Peter Gabriel delivered his first true solo masterpiece with this third solo album. Tracks range from dark, neurotic songs such as I Don't Remember, Intruder, No Self Control and Family Snapshot - the latter of which shows the most of the old Genesis theatricality of any of the songs of this collection - to the thoughtful and allegorical like Games Without Frontiers and the steadfastly political like the closing Biko. With world music influences creeping in on the closing number hinting at Gabriel's future direction and a masterful fusion of art rock sophistication and new wave menace, the album is a perfect showcase for Gabriel's dramatic, emotive vocal delivery.