ANOTHER LIFE

Perhaps the cover picture reflects a considerably colder light than the music in the album itself, that's true, but it points in the right direction anyway. The thing begins when a relation is ending, cracking under the impact of two colliding personalities, referred in the first and second person to greater involvement, and, you know, the mood can't be even close to cheerful. Still so, from behind the fragments of a disintegrating life the warmth of emotion emerges, saving the day, and the balance of the album.

A word needs to be said about the participation of Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips (yes, the two beloved guitarists of Genesis in the same album!) There's nothing invasive in their presence here, more likely a familiar atmosphere descending on a new planet, newly interacting with a fresh landscape. You can hear big brother Hackett signature rhythm guitar in Track 2, Look Up, where some brand-of-the-house riffage elegantly acommodates the way into the chorus, with Acolyte reminiscence. Obviously, that sort of thing keeps happening all the way through the album, to a full satisfaction of Steve & Genesis fans. In track 4, White Lines, the keyboard player of the Steve Hackett band, Nick Magnus, storms in with towering synth chords, giving way to a terrific electric guitar soloing, tastefuly discharged by Steve. In Track 10, Rain, comes to shine the most epic side of his axe.

Track 7, Satellite, is the place for Ant to display his acoustic magic, full of intricate (yet sweet) fingerpicking in classical & 12-string guitar, and harpsichord too, for good measure. A gem to treasure, there's no doubt.

The songwriting ranges from solid to brilliant, with the possible exception of Track 12, Another Day Another Night, a rather forgettable slice of pop, and John also shines with his flute, defining the atmosphere of the music with subtle and ever changing touch. His vocal delivery comes from an educated, rather than a naturally gifted voice, and still, he finds his way to express the emotional complexity of the songs with taste and vibrance.

For a Sunday morning, better with rain.

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