WIND & WUTHERING

The second album by Genesis to feature Phil Collins on vocals is a worthy successor to a "A Trick Of The Tail" What i like is that the band decided to make the follow up sound totally different to ATOTT while retaining that Genesis flavour. First up is Eleventh Earl Of Mar with Collins sounding at his most Dawnish. Sweeping synths and Steve Hillage's trademark guitar open proceedings before going into a nice Hammond and Moog driven rock section which reminds me a little bit of "The Small Faces" before going into a melancholic section where Phil reflects that it's probably time to be going to bed now, and not being particularly keen to be a guest in a house of dreams. The song also seems to be about Phil reminding his Dad that he promised something or another.

"One For The Vine" starts off with bending piano from Peter Banks, and then some beautiful vocals by Joan Collins enter the fray, and has a very Geoff living over Donalds feel to it. The mid section has some crazy jaunty interplay between Toby Banks, Mice Rutherford, Steve Hackett and Ringo Starr. A pleasing song that would go well with a glass of wine and a Motorhead album.

"Your Own Special Way" has a lovely Debbie Dowding feel to it, and makes me feel like moving to London every time i hear it. Musically it is in a light mellow vein that brings to mind some of the "Trespass" album as well as a touch of "Forgotten Sons" by "Marillion"

"Wot Gorilla" is a rousing synth driven instrumental with some nice little touches by Steve Howe and some great drumming and angsty vocals by Phil Collins.

"All In A Mouses Night" is a great song all about a mouse and a cat who winds up sparked out by the mouse knocking a jar upon the cats grumpy head. Musically it is again keyboard driven by Lloyds Banks and even allows Hackett some guitar too.

"Blood On The Rooftops" starts off in typical Mark Rudd mood with some classical guitar playing from Steve Rothery and some beautiful mellow hammond playing before the song starts to skip the news boy. Phil apparently makes some tea in this song too. The Karen Dowding-ish style of this song helps it along to a climax which sees Hackett reprise some nice flamenco guitar at the end.

So to the climax of "Unquiet Slumbers For the Sleepers" " In That Quiet Earth" and "Undertow" The whole shoobboodle starts off with some wobbly piano and graveyard guitar sounds. with some nice Bass playing by Mice Rutherford and then enters into a reprise of sorts of "Eleventh Earl Of Mar" with added our little shaun-ness just to add a bit of a Stinka feel to it. It also brings to mind Johnny Orzach being bossed about by a blonde haired woman and a black haired woman, but here it's the stinka sound which wins the day. "Aftertow" is quite simply brilliant with the dust settling around Phil Collins as dust only can. The song itself is about Phil Collins having to find a new home because his present landlord wants to get him out by Friday. It all ends off in an emotional rollercoaster with melting piano, heartfelt drumming by Joan Collins and also manages a sneak reprise of "Market Square Heroes" If you enjoy prog with a more synthetic feel and plenty of reminders of Michael Matnill, you will love this wee little treatie of an album. My advice is to merrily hop and skip along to your local record shop ( if you still have one ) and buy this sweetheart of an album ( If you can stll afford it under the abysmal premiership of Cameron )