FOXTROT

As the follow up album to "Nursery Cryme", "Foxtrot" showed that Genesis were continuing to mature and to develop their collective talents. The LP was remarkably long considering the normal limitations of that format, with 4 lengthy tracks on side 1, and a total running time of around 50 minutes.

"Watcher of the skies" kicks off the album, as it did the live set at the time, with a dramatic mellotron introduction being joined by bass and drums to lead into Gabriel's almost chanted vocals. The space/alien fuelled lyrics are complemented by a strong vocal performance by Gabriel, and some excellent mellotron playing by Tony Banks.

"Timetable" is the softest track, with a lovely melody. It's probably just me, but I've always felt this track has an affinity with Yes' "Turn of the century". "Get 'em out by Friday" ups the tempo in the form of a mini rock opera (with Gabriel playing all the parts!), telling a bleak, but original story set sometime in the near future. It would appear the people of Harlow in England haven't got much to look forward to! "Can-Utility and the coastliners" rounds off the first side. With its many time and melody changes it's a 20 minute track in 5 minutes!

Steve Hackett's brief acoustic guitar piece "Horizons" softly leads into "Suppers Ready", and could in fact have easily formed an integral opening section to that piece. While rightly regarded as one track, "Supper's ready" is in fact a plethora of short tracks knitted together. Individually they might at times sound lightweight, collectively however they form a masterpiece. Gabriel is clearly in his element, with his vocals dominating most of the sections. The loose theme was apparently inspired by the alleged possession of Gabriel's wife.

And so a pivotal, indeed seminal, album ends over 20 minutes later, fading gradually and majestically. As an aside, for those who have not come across it, Marillion's track "Grendel" is either a complete rip off of "Supper's ready" or a cleverly constructed partial clone, depending on your point of view!

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