DUKE

Much better than their previous recording, AND THEN... (78), DUKE is the perfect blending of late-70´s prog-rock and the newborn techno-synth-pop based on sometimes plastic sounding keyboards but with a very convencing background rhythmic session. Solid in its concept and with a better production, immediately noticed basically on the drums and keyboard sound troughout the record, DUKE showed that Collins/Rutherford/Banks incarnation of Genesis could produce some gorgeous stuff in the irregular 80´s even after a huge retrospect of masterpieces in the 70´s.

The departure of Hackett and the experience of adventure themselves into a pop-prog- oriented vein could result in a big disaster. After the underrated Wind & Wuthering, a delicate progressive gem (with Hackett), and the inocuos pop-prog effort And Then We Were Three, the trio decided to open their minds in a new territory: the synth-prog. Nothing wrong with this, basically because Banks and Collins evolved very much in their basic aspects since the 77 recording, not in virtuosism or extraordinary technical profiles, but in the capabability of produce excelent music in small packages, and the good news: without lost the progressive vein. Rutherford was now free-working with guitars, creating some angular chords and basic melodic rhythms, never losing his very solid bass lines, wich makes him famous.

DUKE has some astonishing complex tracks, including two "suites", mainly composed by the first 3 tracks, an example of pop-prog oriented tunes with quite nice rhythm variations (Collins in top-notch performance and Banks and Rutherford creating an atmospheric and strong catchy harmony. Here we can note an important aspect of Duke: Phil Collins maturity on vocals) and the last two tracks, an "explosion" of genuine Genesis prog-rock. Really good stuff.

The rest of the album is a collection of pop and prog--masterpieces (Misunderstanding and Turn it on Again, really nice tracks, very well produced and conducted), an almost symphonic piece (Cul de sac, that sometimes resembles the Wind & Wuthering period) and Man of our Times (a Rutherford track, quite nice in its strange guitar chords, strong vocals and generous solid drums). The rest are basically romantic tracks, supported by excellent Banks arrangements on keyboards, and some very inspired Collins vocals.

Finally, DUKE must be ranked among Genesis best albums. There is no reason to agree with it. The sound is impecable, almost free of any exagerated 80´s plastic stuff, and the trio are in their TOP. Recommended to any fan of 80´s prog, very well-done late 70´s music or only good memorable moments of pop music.