TRESPASS

Yes, it is a bit naive, but the honesty and conviction in Peter Gabriel's voice (see "Visions of Angels") gives Trespass a certain power and charm unmatched by an Genesis record until the Lamb (and that only in certain stretches.) And you've got to love the Tolkien-meets-Jack London fantasy of White Mountain! THIS is what the Lion King soundtrack should have been, not that AWFUL Phil Collins dreck! Speaking of Tolkein, listen closely to "Stagnation" -- it's been rumored it was written about the LOTR Gollum character ("fish for bitter minnows"). This song in particular is quite dazzling - the part about 3 minutes in that's pitch-shifted (I believe) due to tape manipulation is absolutely brilliant, evoking the Stockhausen/Terry Riley style of modern electronic composition that was developing at roughly the same time. Ditto for the brilliant way in which Gabriel's (manipulated?) flute line sneaks into the crescendo of "Waiting for Someone" -- I'm not sure I've EVER heard anything quite like it. At any rate, Trespass stands alone in the Genesis discography, and despite not being as "musicianly" as the next few records, it is simply busting at the seams with ideas. Then you consider The Knife, and I would personally put it right alongside Selling England by the Pound at a notch just below the Lamb. There's just something about it.

Michael Chamy The Austin Chronicle http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/authors/michaelchamy.html