TWILIGHT

I purchased this cd after reading the reviews on this very site. As a Genesis fan of over thirty years standing, I am always interested in hearing bands that might put me in mind of the originals. Of course, I don't want a clone band, but any band that presents its own material in the style of Genesis would be a welcome addition to my collection. So what do I think of this one? Well...I like it! Yes, there is definitely an early Genesis feel to the music, but, at the same time, you can easily tell this is a totally different band. The music is well written and presented, and Simone Rossetti does manage to sound very close to Peter Gabriel. Interestingly, I took this cd to a mate of mine, who is also a Genesis fan, and played it for him. He thought the vocals were, in some places, closer to Fish. And I think he has a point. The music is nothing like Marillion, however. Each track has its merits. 'My Ivory Soul', 'The Theme', (a short instrumental) and 'The Fisherman' are especially close to the Genesis style, whilst the rest of the album drifts a little away from it. 'Tomorrow Happened' is a little different, and quite loose in parts. The Italian accent is more noticeable here, whilst on the earlier tracks it is negligable, (Except when Rossetti sings 'And The Feesherman returns back' with a strong accent!) but it doesn't detract from the music. 'The Black Cage' is an excellent track, whilst 'A Game With Shifting Mirrors' is a wilder, more Crimsonesque instrumental, which is very good too. The closer, the short 'Flower Of Innocence' is quite stark, and reminds me more of Genesis again. All through the album, it has to be said, the guitar is well utilised, and does indeed, at times, sound as if Mr Hackett were playing it. Keyboards are not so prominent, but they do have a Tony Banks feel occasionally, without being flamboyant. So, Genesis fans, would I recommend this? In a word, yes, although I could never, in all honesty, say 'close your eyes and you would swear it was your heroes', the music is redolent with that early 70's atmosphere, and you could, especially on the first three tracks, imagine Genesis playing these songs. I also have 'Vacuum' by The Watch, the band that Rossetti formed after this one, and, whilst that too is good, it is not up to the standard displayed here, either in songwriting, singing, or in Genesis-likeness. But I would say to fans, yes, buy this; it will help to somewhat fill the hole that the originals left back in 1977.