THE RIVER OF CONSTANT CHANGE; A TRIBUTE TO GENESIS

This is an ambitious two-disk set comprising interesting performances of GENESIS material by mostly unknown groups and individual artists (except perhaps for GALAHAD and a couple of other professional musicians). While not every track works perfectly, most are interesting because rare are the ones so faithful to the originals that nothing new is added to them. The quality of interpretation varies, of course, and the only serious criticism would have to do with some heavily accented vocals on many tracks (the album features artists from England, Italy, Spain, Germany, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland).

There is a gem on the album entitled "Hairless Heart", performed by an Italian duo called MYSIA. The tune, which was originally a 2-minute hiatus between two songs on "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", is transformed into a full 5 1/2 minute instrumental delivered most beautifully. Also notable are: Paul Ward's rendition of a three-piece suite "Wot Gorilla? / Eleventh Earl of Mar / In That Quiet Earth"; UNICORN's interpretation of "Afterglow"; and SUBMARINE SILENCE giving a most heartfelt instrumental version of "Entangled".

Overall the best cuts are the instrumental ones. For a new perspective on some old GENESIS favourites, this particular tribute album is as good as they get.