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Genesis - Wind & Wuthering CD (album) cover

WIND & WUTHERING

Genesis

 

Symphonic Prog

4.11 | 2232 ratings

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Queen By-Tor
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Wot Gabriel?

With A Trick Of The Tail Genesis established themself as a band that could do without their previous leading force, Peter Gabriel who recently left to pursue a solo career. It was on tis album, though that they forged themselves once more into the progressive genre as a band who could deliver excellent material no matter what (although with the ability of hindsight we see that those hopes would soon be destroyed by the proverbial jackhammer that is pop). The four piece here puts forth some very nice, pleasant music that still has a progressive punch to it. The cover art describes the mood of the album very well -- solemn and tranquil, yet beautiful.

Opening with the serene riff that starts The Eleventh Earl Of Mar we get a song that quickly takes life as it picks up speed to be a Genesis so familiar, and yet still innovative in their own scope. This is further enforced by the wonderful masterpiece One For The Vine which sees the band venture into the double digit track time as they've always done so well. More excellent guitar from Hackett along with other excellent performances during the song turn the song into one of the best since Firth Of Fifth.

Another very nice thing about the album is the instrumentals which inhabit the tracks. Each unique with a kind of Brand X feel to them as they power along in a way similar (but not too close) to something like Los Endos. Slighly heavy and very fast, instrumentals like Wot Gorilla and ...In That Quiet Earth provide a nice listening session to the band's skill with their respective instruments.

Other songs on the album include the comic relief of All In A Mouse's Night which tells the tale of a mouse trying to get along while living in a house inhabited by humans. Blood On The Rooftops is an incredible standout on the album as Hackett struts his stuff and the rest of the band provide a very nice and emotional feel to the song as it treks along.

However, the album is not perfect. This is the track where we get to see the band explore that pop territory (not for the first time, though) on songs like Afterglow which doesn't turn out so bad in the end... but it's Your Own Special Way which shows the band approach that sappy pop area which is oh so unbearable. Poison to progfans, really. It still has it's charm and is much better than some of the later pop songs, but this is the first time, really, that the listener pulls off his headphones and exclaims a surprised WOT!?

An excellent album that really should not be missed by prog fans. One or two missteps should not discourage people from seeking out this album for some of it's moments of pure genius. Good job boys! 4 stars!

Queen By-Tor | 4/5 |

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