A CURIOUS FEELING

Tony BANKS' concept album about a man who loses his memory when he loses love is itself pretty forgettable. GENESIS fans will find the music familiar -- the intricate piano passages, symphonic synthesizers, and guitars (courtesy of BANKS as well) sound like GENESIS' quieter moments over their last few albums -- but even BANKS' own songs with that band were never this prolix and prone to meander. Vocalist Kim Beacon is an understated singer; combined with BANKS' pastoral and pastel-colored arrangements, "A Curious Feeling" becomes a pale imitation of the keyboardist's contributions to GENESIS.

For every fiery instrumental section (e.g., on "You") that suggests things are heating up, there are three that limp across the stage like sad ghosts. BANKS' keen pop sensibilities pick up some of the slack, notably on "For A While" (itself foreshadowing "Misunderstanding" from "Duke") and "Lucky Me". But nothing on here approaches the level of a "Cul-de-Sac" or "Burning Rope", while "Forever Morning" turns out to be an aisle of plenty of nuthin'. Chester Thompson, who had supported GENESIS on their last big tour, could have offset the music's softness with intricate rhythms had he been more engaged in this project; as it is, he's often in the background or out of the picture altogether. Beacon is a sensitive singer, not blessed with rich tones but sympathetic in the same manner as some of Steve HACKETT's guest vocalists.

Ultimately, "A Curious Feeling" is a missed opportunity; a placeholder that likely dampened the curiosity stoked beneath the breast of many a GENESIS fan. BANKS would have done better to take a page from Phil COLLINS' playbook: you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.