THE GEESE AND THE GHOST

This is the first album from ex-Genesis member Anthony Phillips. It has a delicate and graceful acoustic medieval style: it has similitudes with the Genesis' "Trespass" and "Nursery Cryme" albums, except the miscellaneous string instruments here are more subtle and refined. Mike Rutherford helps Anthony Phillips by playing miscellaneous guitars and bass parts. There are many peaceful & emotional woodwind and brass instruments parts. Phil Collins sings very well on the delicate "Which way the wind blows" and "God if I saw her now". The epic "Henry: portraits from Tudor times" is less catchy, loaded, melodic and fluid than the other tracks: it still remains a good track, full of gentle and delicate acoustic guitars.

The other side is much better, more loaded and rhythmic: a beautiful suite a la Genesis' "Trespass", containing TONS of guitars, woodwind & brass instruments, piano and subtly floating mellotron, organ, harmonium and modern keyboards: it must be uninterruptedly listened in order to fully appreciate the GRACE and DELICATENESS involved; mostly, it is peaceful, ethereal, celestial, addictive, melodic, rhythmic and catchy. This side is easily comparable to the best of the Genesis' albums; it has the grace of Camel's "Snow goose" and the delicateness of Genesis's "Trespass" and the mellow moments of "Selling England by the pound"; there are EXCELLENT orchestration parts provided by the Send Barns Orchestra. "Collections" starts with a delightful piano, followed by excellent moving orchestra + lead vocals. The last track, "Stepfall: the geese fly West", is ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING: gracefully & densely floating keyboards and wind instruments gradually intensify from a delicate piano melody, in a crescendo movement.

Rating: 4.5 stars