TRESPASS

"Trespass" is often regarded by most Genesis fans as the first proper album the band released, as "From Genesis to Revelation," their debut album, was not indicative of the trajectory of the band's sound on subsequent releases. The songs on "Trespass" are lengthier and more musically challenging than its predecessor. It captures the Genesis trademark sound in terms of dynamic contrast. One moment there are lush, pastoral twelve-string acoustic guitars and then another moment the whole band is rocking out, and all of these changes can occur within a short period of time. This is the only album to feature John Mayhew on drums, and while he is no Phil Collins, his drumming is powerful and punchy. While the band still sound like they are gaining confidence and haven't fully figured themselves out yet, there is a strong indication of the musical direction they would go in the future.

"Looking For Someone" opens the album with Peter Gabriel's soul-infused vocals. It reminds me of Otis Redding, who Gabriel was a fan of. Galloping rhythms then lead us into guitar riffing which is complemented by flute. While the song is great as an opener, it's not a standout track on the album. "White Mountain" is one of my favorite songs on "Trespass." It ebbs and flows perfectly, and the ending is haunting. "Visions of Angels" is the most straightforward song, but I don't say that as a critique because it's nice once in a while to have a song that fills that role as it serves as a palette cleanser. The melodies and choruses are gorgeous, and it ends with beautiful vocal harmonies.

"Stagnation" meanders and wanders the musical landscape, but is the precursor to subsequent masterpieces from the band, especially when it crescendos towards the middle. The main theme of the song, of which the band will sometimes play live during "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)," is chillingly beautiful. Peter Gabriel gives a powerful vocal performance. "Dusk" is an acoustic and mellow number, with pleasant flute and twelve-string guitar passages. Despite being good, it is the weakest song on the album. "The Knife" is a classic Genesis song that became a live favorite at the time of its release. Considering that "Trespass" was released in 1970, this song is almost proto-metal. The swung rhythm section gives this song a bouncy atmosphere. Peter Gabriel's vocals are distorted, which augments the heaviness of the track. The crescendo in the middle of the song that leads into the epic guitar riffing is sublime. I would go as far to say that this is the heaviest Genesis song ever, though "The Musical Box" and "Back in NYC" come close.

While "Trespass" isn't the band's best work, it's a massive improvement from their debut. The naivety that was apparent on "From Genesis to Revelation" lingers throughout this album, though I think that's what makes this album special for me in the Genesis discography. Genesis, like most progressive rock bands of the seventies, weren't afraid to plough their own furrow. "Trespass" captures the band's steadily increasing confidence, which later resulted in the production of some of the most creative and incredible progressive rock music of all time.