NURSERY CRYME

Althoug a terrific album its not completely perfect but yet has a certain charm to it that other Genesis albums lack, Anthony Phillips had left, but in some ways this album has more depth to it than Trespass, I think this is largely due to Steve Hackett's fantastic guitar skills. His work on the Musical Box is just fantastic. The song starts like a nursery rhyme with beautiful acoustic and 12 string acoustic guitar, Gabrials voice sounds ghostly (actually one the song's characters is a ghost) the touches of Hacketts guitar and Collins voice are ucannily perfect and nice flute by Gabrial, there is a kind of tension and building up in the song whic musically describes the desire Henry Hamilton has for Cynthia (the two characters of the song) that then leads to Collins excellent drumming skills and Hacketts brilliant guitar screatching and crying and then interwining with Banks great Mellotron, all very impressive. I think Genesis only went strength two strength with inclusion of Hackettt and Collins. I could go on for hours explaining the magic of this song, but I'm writing a music review not a novel, but basically there is that typical magic, refinement and genius of Genesis in this track. A marvellous beginning for the album.

For Absent Friends is a charming little folksy piece, nice backing vocals by Phil Collins.

THe return of the Giant Hogweed has a fascinating inro, and then is rocking, but in all fairness it isn't perfect, although great sounding its a little too repetitive and feels like part way through the song that they lost their way a little bit, but the instrumental is greatly welcome and adds some much needed diversity to the song. Hogweed also has a brilliant rocking ending.

Seven Stones, is a nice piece and has some excellent moments, nice mellotron work bt Tony Banks, a little boring though but still good, just not perfect.

Harold the Barrell is probably my favourite track on the album, a tragicomedy, it has the same kind of vibe to it as Willow Farm. I think this song is often overlooked by Genesis fans, but for a while I couldn't get enough of it. Short but very technical yet very catchy fast and witty, a sure winner I couldn't see any prog fan not liking it.

Harlequin is another folksy track,has high pitched singing by Gabrial and Collins very peculiar lyrics.

The Fountain of Salmacis is another idiosyncratic piece, it has all the beginnings of what Genesis will do on Foxtrot,great musicianship by all throughout this song; Rutherford's bass, Collins hyperactive drumming and Tony Banks colourful mellotron etc. Great ending with Hacketts guitar.

Being objective I can't give this album a five star review, I think they were still devloping their ideas, I think it came to full fruition in the next album, but all the talent was all there, a must have for Genesis fans and it wouldn't hurt to pick up a copy of it if you are non fan.

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