A TRICK OF THE TAIL

After the successful LLDB making up for an absence as notorious as Peter Gabriel, the visible image and dominant presence of Genesis was not easy. Strenuous and sterile auditions saw countless possible replacements pass unsuccessful.

And the answer they were looking for outside was at home. Phil Collins, impeccable in percussion forever, takes on the role of singer and did it well. He is not Gabriel, that is clear, despite his efforts to look like him. But A Trick of the Trail is a very good proposal that continues with the progressive cleanliness. It also adds more accessible and less intricate elements, what doesn't mean that it didn't detract from the final result, supported by those excellent musicians who are Hackett and Banks.

The album began in such a good way, with the bombastic Dance on a Volcano. Followed by the deeply melancholic and perhaps for that reason beautiful Entangled, by Hackett's 12-string guitars and Banks' final mellotron. In my opinion, this is the best Genesis ballad in their discography. The fantasy and powerful Squonk reminds us that the mythological characters are still part of their inspiration. And then, we enjoy Banks' mastery of keyboards with Mad Man Moon and Robbery, Assault, and Battery. The last is also the closest reference to his previous records. Both the extensive ballad Ripples and the surprising pop-twinned song A Trick of The Tail are its least highlights. The album closes with Los Endos, an excellent instrumental execution.

In short terms, A Trick of The Trail is an excellent album in which Genesis began to say goodbye to the more progressive Genesis. They did that respecting its past while continuing looking into the future, what constitutes its greatest merit.