What does it sound like?:
A two disc reissue of this 1983 solo release from the Genesis keyboard player – disc one has a new stereo remix of the album, with two bonus tracks added, while the second disc is a DVD carrying a 5.1 surround mix of the same material, together with a rarely seen promo video for ‘This Is Love’.
Perhaps not the strongest album of Banks’ solo career, it does feature a strong cast of supporting players, and is reminiscent of the more poppy/MOR sound that Genesis favoured in this era.
Nicely packaged in hardback book format with some interesting notes from the man himself.
What does it all *mean*?
Banks took the plunge on this album by taking over all vocal duties himself – sometimes to better effect than others. In many ways the instrumental pieces are the strongest material on offer. There’s nothing to dislike here, but nothing that really leaps out at the listener either.
Goes well with…
The songs are well crafted and impeccably played, but there’s nothing to compare to his strongest pieces for Genesis such as Afterglow, One For The Vine and The Lady Lies.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Probably one for the hard core Genesis fan or completist rather than the casual listener.
I also note that there is a re release of “A Curious Feeling” in CD / DVD, which appears to be the same as the 2009 release but with the addition of a high resolution 24/96 mix on the DVD.
Still debating whether to go with the physical disc from Amazon for the 5.1 mix or just get the 24/96 as a download (assuming it appears)
Review coming in the next few days.
You are consistently generous with your reviews of the lesser items of the Genesis family.
I have this album. His voice is weak, the songs and playing are forgettable. If it wasn’t by him it wouldn’t have been released. It isn’t a patch on A Curious Feeling.
Grumpily yours, looking forward to your defence of Mike Rutherford’s abysmal Acting Very Strange.
Not sure that the review could be described as ‘generous’, but agree the album is not in the same league as ‘A Curious Feeling’.
Genuine question, Barege, et al. – is this man not perceived as a bit of git in the Genesis community after that sour, pompous appearance in the recent-ish official band documentary, shown on BBC4 and on DVD? Nothing about his personality would make me want to listen to a note of his music, I’m afraid.
You are correct @Colin-H, Banks came across as a complete cnut. It put me off him altogether, in fact the local Charity Shop benefited (?) from his `A Chord Too Far` box set which I had bought (it`s shyte) after his higher than mighty appearance in that doc. Did I say he`s a complete twot?
Even if he remained an arse in private, you might imagine that he would have made an attempt at civility and generosity in the context of a film which will remain available for posterity. The viewer might have suspected that he was an arse, but now they know for sure…and there’s no erasing it.
There’s no erasing a public arse.
Posteriority?
A posteriori.
Exactly. Bad form from someone clearly oblivious to self reflection and courtesy.
“Barége”? Sorry, Barge – typo!
Mark Powell of Cherry Red has done an interesting interview with Banks, to coincide with these re-releases, and available on Youtube. Given his pompous reputation within the band it’s odd to observe someone so uncomfortable and shy in such a relaxed interview environment. No doubt an integral member of the group, but his solo stuff does nothing for me.
Having become a bit of an Ant. Phillips obsessive over the last few months, I’ve been imagining parallel Genesis universes in which Phillips never left. Judging by their respective solo careers, a band with Phillips but without Banks might have produced something very special.
A band with Phillips but without Banks might have produced something very special…. Maybe. Steve Hackett has said that Genesis is very much Banks’ band. I don’t think they get on too well. Banks was even sniffy about Hackett’s gorgeous solo on Firth Of Fifth, saying that Daryl Stuermer’s was better. Yes Banks came over very badly in that documentary. I suspect he is bitter about his colleagues solo successes. Even Mike Rutherford had The Mechanics. Banks has done sod all of any note outside the band but was the major writer within Genesis and for that he deserves some credit. Without him they would have been as well known as Fruupp.
“Banks was even sniffy about Hackett’s gorgeous solo on Firth Of Fifth, saying that Daryl Stuermer’s was better.”
Astonishing, really: when you consider the likely audience for the doc, that comment was never going to gain much traction. Banks Minor seems to have this Orwellian desire to write Hackett out of Genesis’ history – I suspect he is envious of the latter’s successful solo career compared with his own inability to succeed away from the mothership. I haven’t had strong feelings about Banks in the past – but comments like that one above make me think he would benefit from a good kicking.