TRESPASS

Absolutely gorgeous second record from these five, even without Mr. Hackett. And considering it was 1970, it is astounding. Really providing the finished blueprint here for what would be termed 'progressive rock', showing marked Lennon-McCartney inclinations but taken to an entirely new plateau of schooled musicianship with a rock heart that Yes and ELP hadn't yet fully solidified. The Crimson King's presence is also felt but this is a few leaps forward from that band's landmark debut. And the remaster sounds great, especially on the phones, the once bassy din now full and round instead. This was rock progressing in a big, pretentious, boldly sophisticated way and, musically speaking, makes ELP's first (also 1970) seem tame.

Peter Gabriel at his vocal peak starts 'Looking For Someone' showing inspired phrasing and poetic imagination, instantly becoming one of the great modern front men. Full-fledged symphonic rock here with all parts in place, a monumental piece of arranging and mixing for its time. 'White Mountain' is exactly that, Banks' mellotron shroud of fog crawling open and bassist Rutherford's shivering nylon string guitar, pastoral at times but colored by a theatrical darkness that artists such as Roger Waters would later begin imitating, filled with both stark and subtle changes. 'Visions of Angels' is huge and biblical, the group almost begging to be associated literally with their name, uplifting if grimly serious. But it is the fourth cut, 'Stagnation', that the band starts to get the lift that would carry them on to at least five more brilliant albums showing great dynamics and a seemingly endless supply of musical ideas. The very folk 'Dusk' is a weak point but not bad, and ironclad warship 'The Knife' is not to be messed with, bristling with gunnery, rusty barbs and Gabriel's political sarcasm. It is young symphonic rock at its best, wide-eyed, small but ready, and an unstoppable force soon to be a major player.

This may not be everyones favorite Genesis record but that's hardly the point, is it? At that moment there was nothing like it, and it advanced things in a way that bigger acts like Floyd, Jethro Tull and others were still years away from achieving. Hugely important, vital to the movement, 'Trespass' is often dismissed but is lushly musical and entirely essential.