TRESPASS

"Trespass" is the 2nd full-length studio album by UK pop/rock and progressive rock act Genesis. The album was released through "Charisma Records" in October 1970. It´s the successor to "From Genesis to Revelation" from 1969 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as drummer Jonathan Silver has been replaced by John Mayhew. The debut album hadn´t given Genesis much success, and they wanted to expand their sound and be more creative, incorporating elements from classical music and folk to their core pop/rock sound. As a result "Trespass" is the first progressive rock album in Genesis discography.

While the material is both catchy, melodic, and memorable, the band have moved away from regular vers/chorus structures, and most tracks feature many sections and unconventional song structures. One of the most important features of the band´s music in those days were the light/dark, loud/mellow songwriting approach. Several sections feature twin 12-string acoustic guitar playing, subdued melodic vocals, and a folk influenced melancholic atmosphere (including lead vocalist Peter Gabriel playing the flute), but the music can also be relatively hard rocking and energetic. The dark and heavy closing track "The Knife" is the best example of the latter style.

The 42:35 minutes long album features 6 tracks. Highlights are "Looking For Someone", "White Mountain", "Stagnation", and "The Knife". "Visions Of Angels" and "Dusk" are slightly less interesting, but they aren´t bad quality tracks. "Visions Of Angels" just features an odd uplifting mood, which doesn´t suit Genesis and "Dusk" is a type of mellow and folky acoustic track, that Genesis would excel in a do much better on subsequent releases. But there is definitely the blueprint on that track for future greatness.

One of the great assets of the band´s sound is the voice, lyrics, and delivery of Peter Gabriel. There´s something magical about the way he is able to tell a story while singing. His function is a combined storyteller/singer role, and while others have done it both before and since, and some have done it well too, Gabriel is a rather unique character. Just listen to how he tells the tale of the epic battle between the two wolves (Fang and One-Eye) on "White Mountain". Personally I know I disappear into fairytale land whenever Gabriel opens his mouth an sings. This is pure audio magic...

"Trespass" feautures a sound production which is of a good quality for the time, but the drums could have sounded better. And if there is to be a slight point of critique it would be that Mayhew maybe wasn´t the most suitable drummer for Genesis and their music. He would leave soon though and be replaced by Phil Collins (in August 1970), who brought a completely different approach to rhythm and drumming with him. Guitarist and founding member Anthony Phillips was the first to leave though, as he wasn´t satisfied with the direction of the band´s music, and because many of his songwriting ideas were rejected and therefore didn´t make it unto "Trespass". It took the band a while to find a suitable replacement but in late December 1970, they auditioned new guitarist Steve Hackett and he joined Genesis in January 1971.

As it stands "Trespass" is still a great progressive rock album and a sign of even greater things to come. It´s a little immature in places and the band obviously still needed to refine some of their songwriting ideas and hone their skills, but overall it´s a high quality progressive rock album and a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is fully deserved.