Genesis
Foxtrot - Famous Charisma 1972
Tracks: 1. Watcher of the Skies / 2. Time Table / 3. Get 'Em out by Friday / 4. Can-Utility and the Coastliners / 5. Horizon's / 6. Supper's Ready
Comments:
As a big fan of Procol Harum, I was in the 1970s often looking out for music in the same genre as this amazing group. I read at a certain point an article on Genesis, and subsequently bought their newest album "Selling England By the Pound". I remember that I initially found their music somewhat strange, even though the group, as Procol Harum had something symphonic about them, there were so many rhythm changes, and the song writing did not have the same tight structure as Gary Brooker's. Procol Harum ahd a strong inspiration from classical music, but also had strong roots in r&b. With Genesis it was much harder to define, what kind of music was their main-influence.
I did fall relatively quickly for the group's music and wanted to search for the their earlier records, including "Foxtrot".
The album has a little more edgy sound than "Selling England" and it does not have very catchy tunes like "I Know What I Like", but there are still plenty of melodic highlights to find on the record.
"Watcher of the Skies" is at once stately and rocking. The number is actually quite typical of the group's music during this period. Lots of funny rhythm shifts, but I somehow feel that the number lacks a little melodically; especially when compared to other tracks from the album.
"Time Table" is a beautiful ballad built up around the piano. A great song which is allowed to be just this.
"Get 'Em Out by Friday" is a more complex number which contains various musical pieces. Another highlight.
"Can Utility and the Coast Liners" with its very mysterious lyrics is another very melodic song; beautiful build-up; again by several different pieces.
"Horizons" is a pretty little acoustic guitar number, which works as a prologue to the album's long suite "Supper's Ready". "Supper's Ready" is a very ambitious piece, put together by seven different parts, each with its own subtitle, spanning a total of 23 minutes.
It goes without saying that it takes some litenings to get an overview of the number. However sequences pretty quickly comes in the spotlight. The chorus of "Lover's Leap" is so catchy that you urgently need to hear it again. It actually ends suite as a brief reprise. Equally impressive is the sequence from "Willow Farm" where the door goes up, the whistle blows and Gabriel exclaims "Feel Your Body Melt".
Overall a great album from a time when Genesis was one of the most exciting bands in rock.
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