GENESIS 1970 -75

Mmmmmm... This is not exactly what I would expect. There are many improvements to the originals in terms of clarity and crispy sound. Also you would find lots of small or big details from the different instruments and voices that were hidden or simply muted at the original mixes. Very interesting for the fans. The "Jackson" tittles are also of great interest to good fans, as they show how some songs were written with Ant at the time they were at the McPhail's cottage in 1970. You can hear what the individual players do much better that ever... So, is this then a better or definitive version for all these classics? Mmmmmm... Genesis was a band with a very distinctive sound and approach than the other big names in 70's british progressive. They were not virtuous mega-stars trying to to put their playing in front of the others. They were a band: Genesis. They made an orchestral sound effectively using layered sounds. They sounded and wanted to sound all together, like one piece band. The sound of the recordings could be dark, but that was their trademark. So, what to expect when someone gots the chance to use the old tapes and the newest technology to make a new mix and remaster? I would say: To improve the clarity and dynamism of the individual instruments. Then put them all together again and make the mix sound exactly the same as the original one except for improved sound quality. First thing requided for this task: It must be done by someone with the needed technical skills. But even more important: It must be made by someome who loves this music more than his life. This is why these mixes fail. I'll try to explain how do I hear it. Let's put in front every 80's mega-star Phil Collins thing we can find in the mix. + Let's make sound the drums like it wasn't prog-rock from the 70's + Let's made listeners say Ohhhh with over Hi- EQed acoustic guitars put in front at both sides of the stereo + ... Don't get me wrong, some things sound fantastic. The whole Trespass, The Fountain of Salmancis and others are wide crystal clear. But do they replace the originals? I would say NO. A big part of the original atmosphere is lost. A big part of the Genesis trademark sound is lost. A big part of the magic of the dynamics is lost. If you EQ the drums without mid-range in front of the mix it is not the Collins of the 70's, all the warmth is lost. Many times Steve used to play like he wanted to hide behind the others. Let him sound like he wanted to sound. If Anthony or Mike would have liked their guitar arrangements sound that clear and crispy in front of the music they would have said it. That was not their character. They were beautiful arrangements to the overall sound instead. If you decide to put in the mix an arrangement that was muted you have to think that maybe they muted it because it wasn't good enough. If you take out of the organ EQ most of the mid-range making it sound very clear but hollow and thin, then what becomes to the Gabriel era Genesis sound? It's not the Gabriel era Genesis sound anymore. And so on. At times I have the feeling that I'm listening to a good tribute band. It is the same but it's not the same. You know what I mean.