GENESIS REVISITED

"Genesis Revisited" is the twelfth studio album of Steve Hackett and was released in 1996. It's a very different studio album because basically it has new versions of original songs of Genesis and isn't made of new compositions of him.

"Genesis Revisited" has eleven tracks. The first track "Watcher Of The Skies" was a song originally released on "Foxtrot". Despite be relatively close to the original version, it's more majestic, energetic and powerful than the original. That reminds me the live version performed on his live album "The Tokyo Tapes". It's worth mention the great performance of John Wetton on vocals. He has one of my favourite voices. This is a great version, as good as, or even better, than the original version. It represents one of the highest moments on the album. The second track "Dance On A Volcano" was a song originally released on "A Trick Of The Tail". It's different from the original version with a beginning completely different. The vocals on the song are performed by Steve Hackett with a distorted voice. Steve Hackett's option of using his voice on the song isn't consensual, because we all know that he hasn't a good voice. However, I personally like of the two versions of the song. The third track "Valley Of The Kings" isn't a Genesis' song. This is a song of Steve Hackett's catalogue. Personally, this is one of my favourite songs of Steve Hackett and the rearrangement of this song is fantastic. This track represents also one of the highest moments on the album. The fourth track "Déja Vu" isn't also a Genesis' song. It's a song originally started by Peter Gabriel and finished by Steve Hackett. It's a beautiful ballad sung by Paul Carrack, with a nice guitar solo and it's well played. However, this isn't for sure one of the highest moments on the album. The fifth track "Firth Of Fifth" was a song originally released on "Selling England By The Pound". But, this is a version completely transformed. The rearrangements are very deep and have been done to create alternative ways of performing each segment differently on the song, for example, the replace of the flute on the interlude part, by acoustic guitar. Once more we have the fantastic voice of John Wetton and an orchestration absolutely irreproachable. This represents also one of the highest moments on the album. The sixth track "For Absent Friends" was a song originally released on "Nursery Cryme". As I wrote before, when I reviewed "Nursery Cryme", this is, in my opinion, the weakest song on that album, but it seems that Steve Hackett hasn't the same opinion. This song is fortunately and substantially modified and it's better than the original version. It sounds very Baroque, which make this song very nice and enjoyable to hear. The seventh track "Your Own Special Way" was a song originally released on "Wind And Wuthering". Once more, I have the same opinion of "For Absent Friends". As also I wrote before, when I reviewed "Wind And Wuthering", it's the weakest song on that album and despite be written by Mike Rutherford, looks like more a song of Phil Collins. Despite be better than the original version, it isn't for sure one of the highest moments on this album too. The eighth track "Fountain Of Salmacis" was a song originally released on "Nursery Cryme". This always was one of my favourite Genesis' songs and represents another highest moment on this album. It's also rearranged differently from its original form but once more we are in presence of a great version of the original song. Again we have Steve Hackett singing on the album and once more, the option of use his voice isn't consensual, but on this case it fits very well. The ninth track "Waiting Room Only" was a song originally released on "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway". However, this is a completely different piece, in its form. Sincerely, I don't like this version of the song, and for my taste, it doesn't works truly very well. The tenth track "I Know What I Like" was a song originally released on "Selling England By The Pound". This is another song completely modified and also sung by Steve Hackett. Personally, I don't dislike of this version of this song, but sincerely I prefer the original version, despite I consider it too much commercial and the weakest song on "Selling England By The Pound". The eleventh track "Los Endos" was a song originally released on "A Trick Of The Tail". It's also a magnificent version of the original song, substantially modified by him and superiorly performed by all musicians who participated on the song. This is another highest moment on the album that closes fantastically this very special album, which is also usual for Genesis to close their usual live shows.

Conclusion: "Genesis Revisited" is a very personal work of Steve Hackett. We can question the need of revisit some of the old Genesis' songs, the choice of the songs chosen by him and even the changes made by him. However, I think an artist must be free to do what he wants, especially Steve Hackett which is one of the writers of the songs and he was also, in my humble opinion, aware of the risks he was running. Globally and despite some controversial options made by him, I think he made a fantastic job and "Genesis Revisited" deserves to be rated with 4 stars and be considered an excellent addition for Genesis/Hackett's fans. It's always a pleasure to me revisit Genesis through the eyes of Hackett.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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