VACUUM

'GENESIS was my first love and it will be my last'. This is a kind of personal slogan from me because in my opinion their music in the 'HACKETT-line-up' is the most elaborated, magical, compelling and unique symphonic rock ever made. Many musicians agreed and released very GENESIS-inspired album to show their adoration, from German NEUSCHWANSTEIN and Italian SENSITIVA IMMAGINE to Japanese SHINGETSU and Dutch PLACKBAND. An acclaimed new GENESIS-inspired band is The WATCH from Italy, their brand new CD "Vacuum" is a warm and honest tribute to them: the same twanging guitars, organ- runs, Mellotron waves and the very GABRIEL-esque vocals. It sounds pleasant with some great bombastic outbursts but I miss good ideas, the drumming is a bit too tight and the vocals tend to sound a bit boring at some moments. They have gained a 'cult-following' in Holland, their sales are good but I cannot trace much progress since I saw them a few years ago. Don't get me wrong: they deliver fine prog rock but to me their music doesn't generate the excitement according to the worldwide 'euphoric' reviews.