GENESIS FILES

2CD Genesis Files = Genesis Revisited + tracks from other Hackett albums, as stated in the track list. There is nothing older than two pieces from '83 acoustic guitar album Bay of Kings (except 'Horizons' from it appeared originally in Foxtrot, and 'Steppes' from Tokyo Tapes live album in Defector '80). Each song is served with liner notes and thus clearing the 'Genesis' concept also in tracks that at first seem to have nothing to do with it. To be honest, some don't. Two instrumental tracks from '99 Darktown? As well or better could have been some (new versions perhaps) from earliest solo albums that are closer in style to Genesis. But this kind of limited compiling principle suits well. The sense of compilation is almost absent if you haven't heard all the source albums. It's principally just an extended version of "Watcher of the Skies - Genesis Revisited" (96) and it works as that. ...Sorry such lecturing: call it The Premiere Review Syndrome.

Genesis revisitations were made with a large amount of guests. John Wetton in 'Firth of Fifth' and 'Watcher of the Skies', wow! Colin Bluntstone's tender 'For Absent Friends' accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic is dangerously close to oversweetness. 'Your Own Special Way' as a Rutherford tune has Paul Carrack from Mike+Mechanics, and I must say the nature of the song fits better to that polished style than to Wind & Wuthering. 'Fountain of Salmacis' sung by Steve is a good example how he manages to add new excitement even to such dramatic classics. It's almost TOO full. 'Waiting Room Only' is an atonal curiosity based on the Lamb track. The Tokyo concert with a superb all-stars lineup seems really great.

Here and there this music feels a bit overproduced & highly strung, and makes me miss the more peaceful side of Hackett's music. But worth getting if you missed Genesis Revisited.

Review Nº 340

"Genesis Files" is a compilation of Steve Hackett and was released in 2002. "Genesis Files" chronicles a short span of Steve Hackett's solo career with excerpts from selected projects from the mid of the 80's through the late of the 90's, culling material from the albums "Genesis Revisited", "The Tokyo Tapes", "DarkTown", "Feedback '86" and "Bay Of Kings". For a real collector fan, the set does offer one previously rare track, the studio version of "Riding The Colossus", which was only available on the Japanese edition of "Genesis Revisited". While the double disc set makes a nice introduction to some of Steve Hackett's more recent projects, the collection focuses heavily on his own versions of Genesis' era material, as the title might suggests. So, eleven of the twenty tunes featured on "Genesis Files" are material written with Genesis while Steve Hackett was in the band, which means that they belong to their golden era.

So, "Genesis Files" has twenty tracks. "Firth Of Fifth" is from "Selling England By The Pound" of Genesis and is the version of "Genesis Revisited". "Watcher Of The Skies" is from "Foxtrot" of Genesis and is the version of "Genesis Revisited". "Riding The Colossus" is from "Genesis Revisited" but only appeared on the Japanese edition. "Rise Again" is from "Darktown" of Hackett. "Valley Of The Kings" is from "Genesis Revisited" of Hackett. "Time Lapse At Milton Keynes" is from "Bay Of Kings" of Hackett. "Your Own Special Way" is from "Wind And Wuthering" from Genesis and is the version of "Genesis Revisited". "The Fountain Of The Salmacis" is from "Nursery Cryme" of Genesis and is the version of "Genesis Revisited". "For Absent Friends" is from "Nursery Cryme" of Genesis and is the version of "Genesis Revisited". "Twice Around The Sun" is from "Darktown". "Horizons" is from "Bay Of Kings" of Hackett. "Prizefighters" is from "Feedback '86" of Hackett. "Camino Royal" is from "Highly Strung" of Hackett and is the version of "The Tokyo Tapes" of Hackett. "I know What I Like" is from "Selling England By The Pound" of Genesis and is the version of "Genesis Revisited". "Déjà Vu" isn't a Genesis' or Hackett's song. The song was started by Peter Gabriel and was finished by Hackett and is the version of "Genesis Revisited". "Waiting Room Only" is from "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" of Genesis and is the version of "Genesis Revisited". "Dance On A Volcano" is from "A Trick Of The Tail" of Genesis and is the version of "Genesis Revisited". "The Steppes" is from "Defector" of Hackett and is the version of "The Tokyo Tapes". "In That Quiet Earth" is from "Wind And Wuthering" of Genesis and is the version of "The Tokyo Tapes". "Los Endos" is from "A Trick Of The Tail" of Genesis and is the version of "The Tokyo Tapes".

Maybe you're a bit confused with the title of this compilation of Hackett. As you'd expect by the title, maybe you can think this compilation should be a collection of Hackett's best work with Genesis. Instead it draws almost exclusively from two 90's Hackett's albums featuring, mostly, re-worked and re-interpreted Genesis' tracks and an all-star roster of artists, including John Wetton, Bill Bruford, Tony Levin, Paul Carrack, Ian McDonald, Chester Thompson, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, a true amazing list of great prog artists on the same album. Then "Genesis Files" randomly throws in a handful of other tracks from some other solo material from some other works of Steve Hackett.

As all we know, Hackett is an extremely talented and versatile guitarist, and unless you count Anthony Phillips, he is the only ex-member of Genesis who has remained really true to their 70's prog style and sound, while also exploring new musical horizons. Therefore, fans of early Genesis will find much to savor here. So, "Genesis Files" is a great way to reexperience the old classics, unless you are pining for exact reproductions, through different lens, the lens of Steve.

Conclusion: Like "Genesis Revisited", "Genesis Files" isn't a true Genesis' revisited album. "Genesis Files" is also a compilation with some songs taken from several solo musical works of Hackett. And as I wrote before when I reviewed "Genesis Revisited", we can always question the need of revisit some of the old Genesis' songs, but especially the need of introduction some songs of his personal musical catalogue on a compilation that should supposedly be only of Genesis' songs. However and despite some controversial options taken by him, I think "Genesis Files" is globally a fantastic collection of great songs. It represents practically the entire "Genesis Revisited" album and it has also some other great songs, especially the songs performed on his excellent live album "The Tokyo Tapes", which I also have reviewed some time ago. However and despite all I said before, this isn't for me an essential musical compilation of Hackett's music. Sincerely, what is absolutely essential and that in no way this compilation can replace, is "Genesis Revisited" and "The Tokyo Tapes". Yes, these are two albums absolutely indispensable, especially "The Tokyo Tapes" which is, in my humble opinion, one of the best live albums I've ever heard. So, the only advice I can give you is that if you don't have yet those two albums, you may go buy urgently these two fantastic pieces of music. Sincerely, this is for me a better and more logical option, instead of spending money on this compilation, despite being a good compilation.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)