Genesis
Duke

THE REVIEW

"And she dreamed that every time she played/everyone would scream to hear her again/all she had to do was walk into the spotlight/and everyone would start crackling."

These are some verses taken from "Duchess" a song about the rise and fall of a singer, written by Tony Banks. It is very indicative of understanding the new direction this group has decided to take; now the relationship with music and the audience must be more direct, immediate, and engaging. In 1980, there is no more room for prog; there is only a need for simplicity before everything degenerates into the complete stagnation of the second half of the decade. From this idea comes "Duke," a work that abandons the melancholic atmospheres of the previous LP and allows the fans of the group to enjoy new material that proves to be completely novel in sound. It is a prog rock that has evolved and has completely lost the reason for self-celebration (even though Genesis never indulged in unnecessary virtuosity like some of their peers) and returns to pathways much more fitting for simple rock.

The initial idea was to create a single side of music with a great suite, the "Duke's Suite," but this idea was soon wisely abandoned, and the old suite was then disassembled into its parts, explaining why the first three tracks, "Behind The Lines", "Duchess" and "Guide Vocal" dissolve into each other in a very beautiful effect. The concluding part, almost entirely instrumental, constitutes the beautiful finale of "Duke's Travels" and "Duke's End." So it begins with "Behind The Lines," and here there are the first surprises, Banks' joyful keyboard work is supported by Collins' strong rhythm on the drums; it's a long introduction devoid of any solo virtuosity. The music is almost chaotic and overflowing, introducing the sung part that, surprise, is almost soul music with Phil singing impeccably about the end of his marriage, "The time is now/we must keep our feelings/but I'm looking right through you/and your heart is empty." The song then fades into the second major novelty of the album, the drum machine, which coolly and steadily introduces Tony's piano leading us to "Duchess." The piece isn't particularly beautiful but is effective, especially because it represents a completely new construction for the group; the subsequent "Guide Vocal" is a precious atmospheric interlude written by Banks, very beautiful and with an enigmatic text, "I am the one who has led you this far/all that you know is all you feel".

Rutherford's first contribution to the work is the noisy "Man Of Our Times," a song with a repetitive rhythm that resembles a sort of mechanical workshop or steam engine, a decidedly irritating track that anticipates the awful "Keep It Dark" on the next "Abacab." "Duke" still maintains some typically Banksian frescoes, "Heatheze" and "Cul-De-Sac" are two typical tracks by the mild Tony, two dreamlike and dreamy songs that find their right place in this album. The opening of the second side is marked by the disco-rock rhythm of "Turn It On Again," a song with a devastating effect on all radio stations, a simple track led by Mike's guitar, great for live performances but in the studio version, it clearly seems like what it is, a hit piece and nothing more. The whole is completed by some not-so-exciting episodes, the lackluster "Misunderstanding," and the decent "Please Don't Ask Me" and "Alone Tonight." The end of the "Duke" is instead stunning, two energetic and compelling instrumentals, the first "Duke's Travels" reprises the sung part of "Guide Vocal" to then give space to Tony's sole moog sound that opens to "Duke's End" which is nothing but the reprise of the main theme of "Behind The Lines."

A work that ultimately proves to be very successful but with the additions of "Evidence Of Autumn" and "Open Door" it would have become even more beautiful. It's a shame that the three weren't satisfied and with the subsequent "Abacab" they will attempt to create something different, a complex and sophisticated form of pop-rock that, however, fails to fully maintain the promising premises of "Duke."