ABACAB

When I first heard the single Abacab back in 1981 I thought hey thats not bad, quite catchy interesting sound. On the back of that I bought the cassette ( those were the days!). The band were obviously trying to get away from their prog dinosaur image and reinvent themserlves for the 80's with the help of Earth Wind and Fire, a popular band of the time.

Unfortunately the result was a misfire by the high standards of the band. After the bright start with the title track No reply at all sounds like Phil was limbering up for his solo career with his backing band. Even the usually reliable Tony Banks produced one of his less interesting efforts in Me and Sarah Jane. Keep it dark is well named as it is completely forgettable. After feeling short changed by side one side 2 does pick up somewhat with the excellent Dodo/Lurker, the best track on the album. Unfortunately the effect is immediately dashed by Who dunnit? which is probably the most irritating track ever made by the band. After that Phil's poppy Man on the Corner actually comes as something of a relief. Like it or not rolls past inoffensively and the insipid final track Another record says it all about this effort - with a couple of exceptions mostly uninspired and only for completionists or fans of 80's Genesis.