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Rating: It's sunset.
An orchestra of violins and winds, screechy and puzzled as if emerging from the celluloid trap of an old black-and-white film, takes flight, flutters in the evening sky like a blind bat, and finally settles on the hills to witness the Event.
It's a signal, at first almost indistinguishable, lost among the sounds of the countryside and the cicadas, then increasingly recognizable and finally deafening; He, so that we could understand his language, used the sounds of drums, bass, and guitar to compose a telegraphic message. A rhythm that originates somewhere near Alpha Centauri, approaches our solar system, our orbit, our atmosphere, our ear, and finally gives us the certainty that the Watcher of the skies has tuned his attention to our little planet.
The spectacle presented before his eyes casts him into despair: earthlings are driven by the same self-destructive instinct that wiped out his race millions of years ago.
No one can interpret his message, or no one pays it any mind; the Watcher of the skies wraps himself again in his black cloak, thinking "I'm sorry, earthlings: I couldn't help my species, and I can't save yours."
Tony Banks' Mellotron accompanies his exit from the scene.
Personally, I consider "Watcher of the Skies", which opens this 1972 album with grandiose organ riffs and whispers and screams from Steve Hackett's guitar, the most beautiful song ever written. If it's true, as they say, that it was composed in Reggio Emilia during concert rehearsals, we Italians can be proud to have been among the first to offer support and inspiration to Genesis.
The group, which with the previous album "Nursery Cryme" had come to terms with the departure of guitarist Anthony Phillips and reached full expressive maturity thanks to the talents of new members Phil Collins and Steve Hackett, with "Foxtrot" embarks on a project of broad scope; besides songs structurally similar to the previous work, like "Get 'Em Out by Friday" and "Can-Utility and the Coastliners", mini-suites where stylistic references to folk, classical, and jazz are now indistinguishable and fully absorbed into a new and original sound identity, we find small gems that highlight the acoustic sounds of the piano ("Time Table", with its crooked intro and romantic finale that rises in tone infinitely, alluding to the passage of time) and the guitar ("Horizons").
The lyrics are always inspired; few others, like Peter Gabriel, can tell a story about real estate speculation ("Get 'Em Out by Friday", where a family is cynically evicted on a Friday) without falling into the political rhetoric fashionable at the time.
The hypnotic arpeggios of Rutherford and Hackett's guitar open what is the most ambitious track of the album and perhaps of their entire career: a long suite where the Apocalypse and the final reckoning between Good and Evil are ironically announced by an angel with the words "Supper's ready." The power and versatility of the sound inventions, and the ability of the lyrics to lightly address themes that would render any other pop song pretentious, make "Supper's Ready" a true film to watch with eyes closed. Frantic 12-string guitar riffs alternate with moments of almost experimental sounds, like the piano movement "How Dare I Be So Beautiful", where the attack of notes is delayed with a delay that transforms it into a sort of deep breath.
After describing the various moments of the battle between angels and demons, Banks' keyboards introduce the finale with the overwhelming crescendo of "Apocalypse in 9/8", a time signature that would challenge many other drummers but not Collins, who proves to have become one of the group's mainstays. In the live version of the solemn finale, Gabriel is lifted above the stage and exits from above, singing "This is the Supper of the Mighty One, Lord of Lords, King of Kings."
How is it possible that all this does not sound cheesy and pretentious? It is only thanks to the magical creative moment the group is going through that even the most challenging themes are made credible and exciting. "Foxtrot" is the first Genesis album to enter the UK sales charts, and the times of crisis and Gabriel's subsequent departure in 1975 are still far off.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Watcher of the Skies (07:22)
Watcher of the skies watcher of all,
his is a world alone no world is his own.
He whom life can no longer surprise,
raising his eyes beholds a planet unknown.
Creatures shaped this planet's soil,
now their reign has come to an end.
Has life again destroyed life,
do they play elsewhere, do they know
more than their childhood games?
Maybe the lizard's shed its tail,
this is the end of man's long union with Earth.
Judge not this race by empty remains.
Do you judge God by his creatures when they are dead?
For now, the lizard's shed it's tail,
this is the end of man's long union with Earth.
From life alone to life as one,
think not your journey's done.
For though your ship be sturdy,
no mercy has the sea.
Will you survive on the ocean of being?
Come ancient children hear what I say,
this is my parting council for you on your way.
Sadly now your thoughts turn to the stars.
Where we have gone you know you never can go.
Watcher of the skies watcher of all,
this is your fate alone, this fate is your own.
03 Get 'em Out by Friday (08:36)
JOHN PEBBLE OF STYX ENTERPRISES
"Get `em out by Friday!
You don`t get paid till the last one`s well on his way.
Get `em out by Friday!
It`s important that we keep to schedule, there must be no delay."
MARK HALL OF STYX ENTERPRISES (OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS "THE WINKLER")
"I represent a firm of gentlemen who recently purchased this
house and all the others in the road.
In the interest of humanity we`ve found a better place for you to
go-go-go-go-go."
MRS BARROW (a tenant)
"Oh no, this I can`t believe,
Oh Mary, they`re asking us to leave."
MR PEBBLE
"Get `em out by Friday!
I`ve told you before`s good many gone, if we let them stay.
And if it isn`t easy,
You can squeeze a little grease and our troubles will soon run away."
MRS BARROW
"After all this time they ask us to leave,
And I told them we could pay double the rent.
I don`t know why it seemed so funny,
Seeing ashow they`d take our money.
The winkler called again, he came here this morning,
With four houndred pounds and a photograph of the place that he has
found.
A block of flats with central heating.
I think we`re gonna find it hard."
MR PEBBLE
"Now we`ve got them!
I`ve always said that cash cash cash can do anything well.
Work can be rewarding
When a flash of intuition is a gift that helps you excel-sell-sell-sell."
MR HALL
"Here we are in Harlow New Town, did you recognice your
block across the square, over there,
Sadly since last time we spoke, we`ve found we`ve had to raise
the rent again, just a bit."
MRS BARROW
"Oh no, this I can`t believe
Oh Mary, and we agreed to leave."
.....
18/9/2012 TV FLASH ON ALL DIAL-A-PROGRAM SERVICES
This is an announcement from Genetic Control:
"It is my sad duty to inform you of a 4ft restriction
on humanoid height."
EXTRACT FROM CONVERSATION OF JOE ORDINARY IN LOCAL
PUBORAMA
"I hear the directors of Genetic Control have been buying all the
properties that have recently been sold, taking risks oh so bold.
It is said now that people will be shorter in height, they can fit
twice as many in the same building site
(they say it`s alright),
Beginning with the tenants of the town of Harlow,
In the interest of humanity they`ve been told they must go,
Told they must go-go-go-go."
SIR JOHN DE PEBBLE OF UNITED BLACKSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL
"I think they`ve reached a new deal
A dozen properties - we`ll buy at five and sell at thirty-four,
Some are still inhabited,
It`s time to send the winkler to see them, he`ll have to work
some more."
MEMO FROM SATIN PETER OF ROCK DEVELOPMENTS LTD
Land in your hand you`ll be happy on earth
Then invest in the Church for your heaven.
06 Supper's Ready (22:50)
"LOVER'S LEAP"
Walking across the sitting-room, I turn the television off.
Sitting beside you, I look into your eyes.
As the sound of motor cars fades in the night time,
I swear I saw your face change, it didn't seem quite right.
...And it's hello babe with your guardian eyes so blue
Hey my baby don't you know our love is true.
Coming closer with our eyes, a distance falls around our bodies.
Out in the garden, the moon seems very bright,
Six saintly shrouded men move across the lawn slowly.
The seventh walks in front with a cross held high in hand.
...And it's hey babe your supper's waiting for you.
Hey my baby, don't you know our love is true.
I've been so far from here,
Far from your warm arms.
It's good to feel you again,
It's been a long long time. Hasn't it?
"THE GUARANTEED ETERNAL SANCTUARY MAN"
I know a farmer who looks after the farm.
With water clear, he cares for all his harvest.
I know a fireman who looks after the fire.
You, can't you see he's fooled you all.
Yes, he's here again, can't you see he's fooled you all.
Share his peace,
Sign the lease.
He's a supersonic scientist,
He's the guaranteed eternal sanctuary man.
Look, look into my mouth he cries,
And all the children lost down many paths,
I bet my life you'll walk inside
Hand in hand,
gland in gland
With a spoonful of miracle,
He's the guaranteed eternal sanctuary.
We will rock you, rock you little snake,
We will keep you snug and warm.
"IKHNATON AND ITSACON AND THEIR BAND OF MERRY MEN"
Wearing feelings on our faces while our faces took a rest,
We walked across the fields to see the children of the West,
But we saw a host of dark skinned warriors
standing still below the ground,
Waiting for battle.
The fight's begun, they've been released.
Killing foe for peace...bang, bang, bang. Bang, bang, bang...
And they're giving me a wonderful potion,
'Cos I cannot contain my emotion.
And even though I'm feeling good,
Something tells me I'd better activate my prayer capsule.
Today's a day to celebrate, the foe have met their fate.
The order for rejoicing and dancing has come from our warlord.
"HOW DARE I BE SO BEAUTIFUL?"
Wandering through the chaos the battle has left,
We climb up a mountain of human flesh,
To a plateau of green grass, and green trees full of life.
A young figure sits still by a pool,
He's been stamped "Human Bacon" by some butchery tool.
(He is you)
Social Security took care of this lad.
We watch in reverence, as Narcissus is turned to a flower.
A flower?
"WILLOW FARM"
If you go down to Willow Farm,
to look for butterflies, flutterbyes, gutterflies
Open your eyes, it's full of surprise, everyone lies,
like the fox on the rocks,
and the musical box.
Oh, there's Mum & Dad, and good and bad,
and everyone's happy to be here.
There's Winston Churchill dressed in drag,
he used to be a British flag, plastic bag, what a drag.
The frog was a prince, the prince was a brick, the brick was an egg,
the egg was a bird.
(Fly away you sweet little thing, they're hard on your tail)
Hadn't you heard?
(They're going to change you into a human being!)
Yes, we're happy as fish and gorgeous as geese,
and wonderfully clean in the morning.
We've got everything, we're growing everything,
We've got some in
We've got some out
We've got some wild things floating about
Everyone, we're changing everyone,
you name them all,
We've had them here,
And the real stars are still to appear.
ALL CHANGE!
Feel your body melt;
Mum to mud to mad to dad
Dad diddley office, Dad diddley office,
You're all full of ball.
Dad to dam to dum to mum
Mum diddley washing, Mum diddley washing,
You're all full of ball.
Let me hear you lies, we're living this up to the eyes.
Ooee-ooee-ooee-oowaa
Momma I want you now.
And as you listen to my voice
To look for hidden doors, tidy floors, more applause.
You've been here all the time,
Like it or not, like what you got,
You're under the soil (the soil, the soil),
Yes, deep in the soil (the soil, the soil, the soil, the soil!).
So we'll end with a whistle and end with a bang
and all of us fit in our places.
"APOCALYPSE IN 9/8 (Co-Starring the delicious talents of Gabble Ratchet)"
With the guards of Magog, swarming around,
The Pied Piper takes his children underground.
Dragons coming out of the sea,
Shimmering silver head of wisdom looking at me.
He brings down the fire from the skies,
You can tell he's doing well by the look in human eyes.
Better not compromise.
It won't be easy.
666 is no longer alone,
He's getting out the marrow in your back bone,
And the seven trumpets blowing sweet rock and roll,
Gonna blow right down inside your soul.
Pythagoras with the looking glass reflects the full moon,
In blood, he's writing the lyrics of a brand new tune.
And it's hey babe, with your guardian eyes so blue,
Hey my baby, don't you know our love is true,
I've been so far from here,
Far from your loving arms,
Now I'm back again, and babe it's gonna work out fine.
"AS SURE AS EGGS IS EGGS (Aching Men's Feet)"
Can't you feel our souls ignite
Shedding ever changing colours, in the darkness of the fading night,
Like the river joins the ocean, as the germ in a seed grows
We have finally been freed to get back home.
There's an angel standing in the sun, and he's crying with a loud voice,
"This is the supper of the mighty one",
Lord of Lords,
King of Kings,
Has returned to lead his children home,
To take them to the new Jerusalem.
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Other reviews
By Peppe Weapon
'Supper’s Ready' is perhaps the highest expression of Genesis’ creativity, ranking among the legendary suites of that era.
If you love Genesis and don’t have this album, buy it immediately, and to those who haven’t... Foxtrot might be the beginning of it all!
By joe strummer
Supper’s Ready is the most beautiful song ever made by Genesis, so intense, coherent, and immense as to touch deeply.
It’s impossible to get tired of this dazzling and always fresh music.
By Breus
"'Supper’s Ready' contains in a nutshell everything Gabriel and company had to say and would say later, offering a testament of what I would call intuitive rather than technical ability."
"'Foxtrot' still has some greenness too much to be their creative peak. However, it represents the key to their maturity..."
By theJOKES
Spread a beach tarp on the sand, look at the sky, and press PLAY... the notes of the album will do the rest!!!
'Supper’s Ready' confirms the band’s ability to impress listeners with changes in rhythm and masterful combinations of instruments.
By STIPE
As soon as the record started, I saw behind me men on horseback with dogs chasing a fox.
Now the dogs weren’t even trying to catch the fox. She was calmly on the ice and began to dance very gently and gracefully.
