CALLING ALL STATIONS

As Ray Wilson sings it "I've lost all sense of direction". All the horrendous clichés which have dogged Genesis since the 80s appear at the start: metronomic hard drumming, formulaic crying guitars, dull platitudinous 'emotional' lyrics about "it tearing me apart", with a new addition: the tired hoarse vocal style that has sadly become the norm for "expressive" singing. Thus begins the last Genesis album with its forgettable title track. In the past the opening of a Genesis album had been an attention-grabber, an enticement to listen to the rest. Since Invisible Touch at the latest, the opener has been a dreary piece which would have previously been filler if included at all. Much the same applies to "Congo" and "shipwrecked". "Alien Afternoon" starts off as if it will more interesting, but no such luck. This is however the best track on the album. The next couple of tracks follow much the pattern, with bland melodies, and dull arrangements. "The dividing line" is better, at least in terms of the accompaniment. The vocal line is again horrible. Some energetic and imaginative drumming though. "Uncertain weather" has an attractive chord progression. This elicits 'sensitive' vocals from Ray Wilson, where his voice caresses the words. Yuck. And what he is singing is tuneless. "Small Talk" is an awful harder number. More smooth synths and sensitive vocals appear on the 8 minute "There must be some other way". Yes indeed, there must be some other way, genesis boys, like giving up. Another routine emotional chorus. Pounding drums dominate the instrumental central section with a feeble keyboard solo before the sensitive part return with lyrics like "together, forever". This is a long way from the fountain of Salmacis. The final track (hallejuah!) is another 8 minute yawnfest of the familiar ingredients: industrial strength drum sounds, "sensitive" vocals etc. Don't waste your money.