PETER GABRIEL 3 [AKA: MELT]

What got into Peter? Right from the first second this album nails your head to the floor. After two directionless albums, the forceful percussive beat and weird instrumentation of Intruder is the most exciting thing Gabriel had recorded in his entire career. Regardless how good he was with Genesis, this album writes music history, almost for its entire 45 minute length.

The most remarkable innovation is the world music inspired percussion. Jerry Marotta was forbidden to use any cymbals and the resulting effect of the dry and powerful tribal rhythms is crushing. Some uncanny guitar, piano chorus effects and amazing vocals create a stunning masterpiece. Most of the album follows in the same path, combining clever songwriting with African percussion and beats. Highlights are plenty, No Self Control, Games of Frontiers and Biko are well known classics, but also the upbeat I Don't Remember and Not One Of Us never cease to amaze me. The minimalist Lead A Normal Life is very powerful, even if it just has some repetitive piano, vibes and Gabriel's distorted vocals in the background. Actually, only the awkward And Through The Wire reminds us of the albums that preceded.

While not his best in my book, this is easily Gabriel's most defining album, it's a groundbreaking experiment that is blessed with superb compositions, originality and unconventional musicianship. Prog was dead, but music was alive and kicking in 1980.