FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

So here is the debut album of a band that would become a prog (and later on pop) legend, although when listening to this album for the first time it's pretty difficult to see that potential. The music found here is best described as chamber pop/rock which sticks to fairly simple and short song structures. There are no bad songs here (although the single "Silent Sun" is too sickly sweet for my taste) and almost everything here are either sweet and pretty ballads or upbeat catchy rock or something in-between.

So from this description it's no surprise that this album is getting the 2 star treatment, because musically there is (almost) no prog to be found. This is not because the band was not interested in complex music, but their producer Jonathan King was able to stop anything complex getting though. Considering the age and experience of the band at the time they couldn't fight back. We can't be too harsh with Mr King, because otherwise the band would probably have never got the break they needed.

The only aspect of this album that belongs to the prog world is the lyrics, which are surprisingly imaginative and mature. The lyrics are full of well thought out biblical imagery that could inspire many a prog/psychedelic band to come up with some inspired music to match the inspired lyrics. This is the only true hint that the band were capable of producing songs and albums such as Supper's Ready and The Lamb, not though their musical talents but though their wild imagination.

I can't be bothered to go to cover the 13 songs present, they are all nice and listenable, but most of them make no impact on me and I forget them instantly. The only 2 songs that I can remember afterwards are "Where the Sour Turns to Sweet" and "The Serpent". The first song is IMO the best of the pop songs with its very cute versus and extremely catchy and upbeat chorus. "The Serpent" is one of the most complex (it contains a decent intro that is separate to the rest of the song) and hardest hitting songs. There is some genially interesting lyrics about the snake and the downfall of mankind so for me this my favourite song on the album.

The album was a flop (I'm sure the non-existent album art didn't help) which was probably the best thing that could have happened to the band. It gave them the confidence to give Mr King the boot and become independent. So a strong 2 stars, but it definitely doesn't deserve any more.

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