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Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel 3 [Aka: Melt] CD (album) cover

PETER GABRIEL 3 [AKA: MELT]

Peter Gabriel

 

Crossover Prog

4.21 | 1013 ratings

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stefro
Prog Reviewer
4 stars Gabriel's strongest post-Genesis release, album number 3(known by fans as 'Melt'), found the singer moving yet further away from his theatrical prog roots, now weaving a bold, avant-garde- tinged, electric post-pop sound featuring a stew of bleakly ironic lyrics and experimental twists that mined a clever balance between his artistic ambitions and his commercial aspirations. Ably assisted by, amongst others, bassist Tony Levin, Synergy's synth-wizard Larry Fast, guitarist Paul Weller(yes, that one) and former bandmate Phil Collins on drums, '3' starts off with the darkly-paranoid 'Intruder', a song written by Gabriel especially for the slick new 'gated reverb' drum sound that he and Collins had stumbled across during recording sessions (the new sound would be used cunningly by Collins for his mega hit 'In The Air Tonight', as well as by Genesis for their song 'Mama'). Filled with a foreboding sense of dread and wonder, 'Intruder' is a slyly laconic and highly-atmospheric piece, with Gabriel's daunting lyrics undercut by Collins slow, simple, rocksteady drumming and Levin's slithery bass. The effect is both unsettling yet uplifiting, showcasing Gabriel's ability to insert pop hooks into the most avant- garde of material yet still retain popular appeal. Elsewhere on '3' Gabriel conjures up chart- bothering electro-pop('Games Without Frontiers'), retro indie ('I Don't Remember'), and, most memorably, catchy metallic pop with the anthemic 'And Through The Wire', which features blistering rhythm guitar from Weller and some ambitious synth workouts courtesy of Mr Fast. Both original in sound(and technique) and highly inventive, Gabriel's third self-titled album proves a marked improvement on both his slickly-produced debut and it's indulgent, lacklustre follow-up. Miles away from his previous incarnation as the lead singer of Genesis, '3' is the sound of a complex musician in full flow and his finest album to date. Fans of Genesis might not know what to make of it all, though those who admire the likes of Talking Heads, Talk Talk, The Smiths and Silver Apples should certainly investigate. STEFAN TURNER, LONDON, 2010
stefro | 4/5 |

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