A CURIOUS FEELING

I have my own opinions about Tony Banks in his role with Genesis which I will not relate here. There is no doubt whatsoever, though, that he is one of the great "prog" keyboard exponents irrelevantly of anything else. What do I think of this - his first solo effort?

"From the Undertow" - very nice dramatic piano and keyboard piece.

"Lucky Me" - A nice track that is just that. Nice enough but nothing special.

"The Lie" - This track could easily have fit into the Genesis portfolio for the period.

"After the Lie" - Again a track that could have fit the Genesis portfolio for the period.

"A Curious Feeling" - The track is ok but as with the previous two there is something missing in the music that would give it a less playful and more mature edge.

"Forever Morning" - Keyboard heavy instrumental track. Noodling with melody. It's pleasant but it isn't cohesive.

"You" - Love song. I wouldn't play it to a woman to warm her heart as there are love songs out there that leave this cold. It's ok but really nothing special.

"Somebody Else's Dream" - The longest track on the album - I want to like it but it feels to me as if the vocal relating to the lyrics has just been tacked on. That perhaps the music was written and then the lyrics added as an addition - they don't gel very well.

"The Waters of Lethe" - Nice enough instumental track.

"For a While" - Little "pop" number that's pleasant.

"In the Dark" - This shorter track is really nice until the bombastic keyboards overpower it.

I feel that there are things missing on this album - my first impression of of this is that it's not mature enough musically. If there is love in the lyrics then show me love in the music, if there is angst in the lyrics then that must be mirrored in the music. To me, relating to this, Banks is way better when in a band. This is flighty happy stuff bordering on Pop music. I can't give this more than 2 stars in all honesty. The Genesis sound is there a lot of the time but it's the Genesis sound lacking the skills of the other members of that band to form a cohesive, solid, work.