INVISIBLE TOUCH

The album that confirmed the three-piece version of Genesis as one of the world's most popular acts, 'Invisible Touch' was one of those super popular albums that defined both the group who created it and the era it's of conception. Featuring a string of hit singles, a slick synthesized sound and a strong electronic streak, this is a Genesis album that has wandered furthest of all from the group's original symphonic prog sound. Whereas 'Duke' and 'Abacab' straddled the line between pop and rock with occasional keyboard-heavy hints towards their past and 1983's 'Genesis' featured the pounding, ultra-heavy and decidedly un-Genesis mini-epic 'Mama', 'Invisible Touch' features precious little progressive material beyond the gruesome, drum-machine drenched 'Domino', an eleven-minute piece so very typical of the 1980s which attempts, and fails, to graft a progressive sensibility on the group's synth-pop sound. Elsewhere you have attractive albeit lightweight ballads('Throwing It All Away'), anthemic rock('Tonight, Tonight, Tonight') and best of all, politically-motivated pop-rock in the shape of the catchy single 'Land Of Confusion'. Listened to now it all sounds very dated, showcasing a streamlined style that highlights the trio's deft ear for melody but precious little soul. Although in actual fact quite a decent pop album, 'Invisible Touch' features little that will appeal to progressive rock fans, so much so that it sounds like the work of a completely different group. And in the end, of course, that's exactly what they had become.

STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012