GENESIS REVISITED

4.5 - just short of masterpiece. It is a wonderful rendition of old classics, just for those people who can never get enough Genesis. The versions are darker, softer and heavier sometimes, but in general true to the spirit of the originals. I particularly like the low, dark voice on "Dance On A Volcano", talking rather than singing. "I Know What I like" at first sounds like it's botched, but further on it metamorphoses into a tongue-in-cheek jazzy finger snapper. If you catch the humor, you'll love it. "Firth Of Fifth" is majestic and grandiose, with the opening theme played by a musical box, and an orchestral passage fitted into the intrumental part. Hackett plays the nylon string where Gabriel did his flute part. "Watcher" has some very powerful chords from a Mellotron sample. "For Absent Friends" has an interesting orchestral arrangement, where the orchestra takes the parts of the acoustic guitars. The real treat for me are two Hackett originals, "Valley Of The Kings" - which is an example of what Genesis may have sounded like if he was to remain a member, and "Deja Vu" - a gorgeous ballad in every way imaginable, with some soulful vocals. A great, great album which brings out aspects of the Genesis sound that may be glossed over by too many listenings. It is like looking at a painting through the mirror - you might see what you have missed.