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Rating:
There are flops that, in the long run, prove to be a true blessing. Let's try to go back to 1969, the release of this "From Genesis To Revelation" and imagine a debut with a bang, like "Led Zeppelin I" or "In The Court Of Crimson King", just to give two examples from the same year of grace. Probably, the name Genesis would not have become synonymous with progressive rock in its most perfect form, complex suites rich in imaginative melodic themes, but would have remained linked to easy-listening pop, perhaps classy, but still blatantly commercial. Ironically, that’s precisely what Genesis would produce more or less starting from the '80s, with the definitive imposition of Phil Collins' song-oriented shift, who wasn’t even part of the original core.
Fortunately, at the time this album was purchased by only a few close friends, probably friends and family members of the very young Genesis, still fresh out of school, and today it constitutes a kind of curiosity for fans of this historic group, a bit like the compositions of child Mozart for Mozart enthusiasts (and I belong to both categories). Its value is therefore little more than emotional: listening to the 13 short songs (extended to 19 in the CD with other material from those times) gives a sense of tenderness, but extreme immaturity is also evident, and that’s obvious, given that Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and Anthony Phillips were, more or less, 18 years old, an age where anyone is allowed mistakes (for example, De André at that age was mimicking Modugno with "Nuvole barocche"). Yet some signs of future class emerge: first of all, the voice of Peter Gabriel, which is practically already there, with that perfect balance between velvety and metallic that we know. Occasionally, the already crystal-clear technique of classically trained pianist Tony Banks manages to make its way through, but for the instrumentalists, the matter becomes tougher, and here the culprit has a name and surname: Jonathan King, producer of this album. While he had the merit of betting on this “Genesis embryo,” he also wanted to heavily influence its development, and he did so by overwhelming every possible personal inspiration of these already rather talented young boys with heavy orchestral arrangements, with the classic layer of violins smothering and blending almost every attempt at originality. It's no coincidence that it's especially the short interludes between one track and another, when the strings finally fall silent, that give us a vague idea of how this band sounded in formation.
It's hard to find a standout track, although there are some with undeniably pleasant tunes ("The Silent Sun," "That's Me," "Am I Very Wrong?," "Window") but a bit too simplistic to credibly carry the Genesis signature. In some cases ("Fireside Song," "In Hiding") the honey flows in industrial quantities, and a dangerous similarity to the well-known Bee Gees’ syrup is touched. All in all, this false start from a group of eighteen-year-olds just out of school is understandable; what is incredible, however, is that already by the following year, the Genesis sound would appear almost perfectly formed in the excellent "Trespass". Whatever upheaval occurred between '69 and '70 in the minds of these budding musicians is not known to us, but surely an important role must have been played by this providential flop.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 In the Beginning (03:45)
Ocean of motion
Squirming around and up and down
Pushing together
Scattering mountains all around you
That is the sound of a new born world
And a light from a curious sky
It has begun
You're in the hands of destiny
Thrashing with violence
Hurling its lava up and down
Furnace of frenzy
Burning with power uncontrolled
That is the sound of a new born world
And the light from a curious sky
It has begun
You're in the hands of destiny
Is that the chariot with stallions gold
Is that a prince of heaven on the ground
Is that the roar of a thunderflash
This is my world and it's waiting to be crowned
Father, son, looks down with happiness, life is on its way
Ocean of motion
Squirming around and up and down
Pushing together
Scattering mountains all around you
That is the sound of a new born world
And a light from a curious sky
It has begun
You're in the hands of destiny
Is that the chariot with stallions gold
Is that a prince of heaven on the ground
Is that the roar of a thunderflash
This is my world and it's waiting to be crowned
Father, son, looks down with happiness, life is on its way
03 Fireside Song (04:18)
As daybreak breaks the mist upon the earth
It came to pass that beauty settled there forever more
And as the steam clings close to things to come
It came to pass that solid rock did part for humble life
Once upon a time there was confusion
Disappointment, fear and disillusion
Now there's hope reborn with every morning
See the future clearly at its dawning
Forever drifting slowly towards a hazy emptiness
Whilst water slips into the sea
The father's sad to see it's free
As shadows creep towards their master night
It came to pass that trees defied the wind who shook their leaves
And as the peace descended all around
It came to pass that nature's creatures came to face the world
Once upon a time there was confusion
Disappointment, fear and disillusion
Now there's hope reborn with every morning
See the future clearly at its dawning
Forever drifting slowly towards a hazy emptiness
Whilst water slips into the sea
The father's sad to see it's free
Once upon a time there was confusion
Disappointment, fear and disillusion
Now there's hope reborn with every morning
See the future clearly at its dawning
Once upon a time there was confusion
Disappointment, fear and disillusion
04 The Serpent (04:39)
Dark night, planets are set
Creator prepares for the dawn of man
You're waking up, the day of incarnation
Said you're waking up to life
Images he made to love
Images of gods in flesh
Man is wonderful, very wonderful
Look at him
Beware the future
Here is my world and it's waiting for me
Paradise before my eyes
I am alive in a new born world
This heaven will always be mine
I'm waking up, the day of man has come
I'm waking up, the day of man has come
And god created man from dust
With a soul inside his mould
And god created womankind
The vessel of satan's hold
Creator made the serpent wise
Evil in his tempting eyes
Man is wonderful, very wonderful
Look at him
Beware the future
Here is my world and it's waiting for me
Paradise before my eyes
I am alive in a new born world
This heaven will always be mine
I'm waking up, the day of man has come
I'm waking up, the day of man has come
Dark night, planets are set
Creator prepares for the dawn of man
You're waking up, the day of incarnation
Said you're waking up to life
Here I stand a child in a lonely world, oh no
Watch the serpent tempting me to evil
The guiding hand will help me on
Guiding hand will help me on
The guiding hand will help me on
Guiding hand will help me on
05 Am I Very Wrong? (03:32)
Am I very wrong
To hide behind the glare from an open minded stare
Am I very wrong
To wander in the fear of a never ending lie
Am I very wrong
To try to close my ears to the sound they play so loud
Am I very wrong
The happiness machine is trying hard to sing my song
Today's your birthday friend, everything all right
Let us our greetings to you send
Happy friend, everything all right
We hope your life will never end
Am I very wrong
To want to steal a pin then I'll check that I have skin
Am I very wrong
To want to leave my friends and the curse of the happiness machine
Today's your birthday friend, everything all right
Let us our greetings to you send
Happy friend, everything all right
We hope your life will never end
They say, we hope your life will never end
They say never end, never end, never end, never end, never end
They say never end - no
They say never end, never end...
06 In the Wilderness (03:26)
Leaving all the world to play
They disappear
And the leaves have gathered dust to run like deer
Tearing pieces from our lives to feed the dawn
Mist surrounds the seagulls, christened by the storm
Music, all I hear is music
Guaranteed to please
And I look for something else
Rain drops pouring down the rooftops
Flowing in the drains
As the people run their lives
As their lives are run by time
Fighting enemies with weapons made to kill
Death is easy as a substitute for pride
Victors join together, happy in their bed
Leaving cold outside the children of the dead
Music, all I hear is music
Guaranteed to please
And I look for something else
Rain drops pouring down the rooftops
Flowing in the drains
As the people run their lives
As their lives are run by time
Music, all I hear is music
Guaranteed to please
And I look for something else
Rain drops pouring down the rooftops
Flowing in the drains
As the people run their lives
As their lives are run by time
Music, all I hear is music
Guaranteed to please
And I look for something else
Rain drops pouring down the rooftops
Flowing in the drains
As the people run their lives
As their lives are run by time...
07 The Conqueror (03:40)
He climbs inside the looking glass
And points at anything he hates
He calls to you, "Hey look out son
There's a gun they're pointing at your pretty face"
And the heads they are a rolling
Cos the conqueror is on his way
And the justice day is coming
For the conqueror is on his way
Five hundred little women
Are calling at their hero's door
Yes, their hero is working overtime
He's squirming on an empty floor
And the heads they are a rolling
Cos the conqueror is on his way
And the justice day is coming
For the conqueror is on his way
He's bought the castle on the hill
He's bought it just to knock it down
The local power shout him down
They say he's just an empty-headed clown
And the heads they are a rolling
Cos the conqueror is on his way
And the justice day is coming
For the conqueror is on his way
He's busy building monuments
To hide inside his empty grave
You there, can you find some souls
He's looking for some people to save
And the heads they are a rolling
Cos the conqueror is on his way
And the justice day is coming
For the conqueror is on his way
And the words of love are killing him
The conqueror is on his way
And the words of love were lying on an empty floor
Just in the place where the conqueror lay...
08 In Hiding (02:37)
Pick me up, put me down
Push me in, turn me round
Switch me on, let me go
I have a mind of my own
In hiding
Far from the city of night
And the factories of truth
I stand upon the mountain
A million miles from my home
And the faces of fear
I have freedom to think
In hiding
I may take off my clothes
That I wear on my face
I float upon a river
A million miles from the plains
That are piercing the clouds
I am lost in the beauty
In hiding
Pick me up, put me down
Push me in, turn me round
Switch me on, let me go
I have a mind of my own
I wish you were here...
In hiding
I lie silent at last
I am free from my past
I walk among the tall trees
This is beauty I know
I am in love with it all
I have freedom to love
In hiding
Pick me up, put me down
Push me in, turn me round
Switch me on, let me go
I have a mind of my own
10 Window (03:33)
Slowly I stretch out my arms, freely
Shadows of night disappear
Rise from the slough of despond, find the pathway
Guiding us forward through pastures of dream day
Days to enjoy, peace I knew once before me
Dawning to dusk on the hills until morning
Come see me take my hand
Come see me in my land
Flying invisibly high, watch me
All on a beautiful sky, I'll be
Clear and serene in the love I've discovered
Long search is over, the soul is uncovered
Resting on joy that abounds without ceasing
Bidding farewell to the fears now decreasing
Come see me take my hand
Come see me in my land
High on a golden crested wave she sits
The little nymphs dance in her hair
The trees all beckon to the sky to bless their empty lives
Horizons come to sip wine there
The veiled mist reveals the wandering ship upon the reef
The albatross flies to the stern
But only Jack Frost saw the kiss you gave him in return
Crossing the mountains of truth see them
Soaring majestically high, and then
Stop at the warning light, see it flash brightly
Thunder awakes me, the crashes beside me
Shatters the scene and brings chaos to beauty
Leading us forward where destiny may be
Come see me take my hand
View from another land...
11 In Limbo (03:33)
Please take me away
Far from this place
Leaving me here
Take me away
To the furthest star in the sky
Take me away
To the deepest cave of the night
Take me away
Voices of love, here am I
In the sad sad world of fear
Take me away
From the power of my ambition
And I'll be happy
I, I've conquered time
Where will I go?
Am I still mine?
Take me away
To the furthest star in the sky
Take me away
To the deepest cave of the night
Take me away
Voices of love, here am I
In the sad sad world of fear
Take me away
From the power of my ambition
And I'll be happy
Peace - floating in limbo
Limbo - leading me nowhere
Peace - now without motion
I cry - when will I die?
God - where is my soul now?
My world, please set me free
12 Silent Sun (02:11)
The silent sun that never shines
She is the warmth of my lonely heart
The motion of a turning wheel
Can't you stop it and look around?
Baby you feel so close
I wish you could see my love
Baby you've changed my life
I'm trying to show you...
A tiny stone that hides from me
Can't you see that I'm just outside?
A mountain stream that chills the sea
Can't you feel in your useless pride?
Baby you feel so close
I wish you could see my love
Baby you've changed my life
I'm trying to show you...
When night reveals a star-filled sky
I want to hold it in my hands
When snowflakes heal the ugly ground
Your beauty hides the joy I've found
Baby you feel so close
I wish you could see my love
Baby you've changed my life
I'm trying to show you...
13 A Place to Call My Own (01:56)
Calling all stations
Can anybody tell me, tell me exactly where I am
I've lost all sense of direction
Watching the darkness closing around me
Feeling the cold all through my body
That's why I'm calling all stations
In the hope that someone hears me
A single lonely voice
I feel the sensation disappearing
There's a tingling in my arms
And there's a numbness in my hands
All the broken promises
All my good intentions don't add up to very much
And I realise whatever happened, whatever happened
I remember all the moments that I've wasted in my life
All the things I was always gonna do
Why is it now when it's too late
That I've finally realised it's important to me
To think that everything that's dear to me
And is always in my heart
Could so easily be taken
And it's tearing me apart
Going over and over in my mind
I relive it one second at a time
Calling all stations
Can anybody tell me, tell me exactly where I am
How different things look when your all on your own
Watching the darkness closing all around me
All around me
And I'm lost with feeling
Of your arms to remind me
Of everything that's dear to me
And is always in my heart
Could so easily be taken
And it's tearing me apart
Going over and over in my mind
I relive it one second at a time
Don't you know there's never been a moment
When I haven't had the thought
That everything that's dear to me
And is always in my heart
Could so easily be taken
And it's tearing me apart
Going over and over in my mind
I relive it one second at a time
As I sit here in the darkness
Feeling so alone
And everything that's dear to me
And is always in my heart...
14 A Winter's Tale (03:27)
The winter's bitterness is lost
It's the fireside warmth that comforts me
The peace for all my thoughts
The night brings shadows to the street
It's the time for dreams of things to come
To creep inside their lives
You're concealing every feeling
Can you find me, deep inside you
Let me touch you, let me keep you
Let me know you're there
You're concealing every feeling
Can you find me, no
Yes deep inside you're a part of me
Every day I need to know I'm there, I'm there, I'm there
[with previous verse sung behind]
The evening fantasy begins
In the sandy lanes that cross the fields
The gentle rain will fall
The morning sweeps away the night
And the dreams of you still haunt my thoughts
Bring meaning to my life
You're concealing every feeling
Can you find me, deep inside you
Let me touch you, let me keep you
Let me know you're there
You're concealing every feeling
Can you find me, no
Yes deep inside you're a part of me
Every day I need to know I'm there, I'm there, I'm there
[with previous verse sung behind]
[ad lib to fade]
Can you hold me with your small hand
Prepare much, length and beauty of our tiny lives
Future's brighter now
Our world is everything to me, to know, I'm there
Lord! You see the world is brighter than the sky
The sky is shining everywhere in our world
You know you never said in your many times, all in me instead
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Other reviews
By Peppe Weapon
If the career of a musical group is truly seen from the beginning, then the Genesis should never have been born...
This mediocre, naive album is shaped, occasionally with a commercial and easy-listening sound but also boring and inscrutable on the emotional theme...
By trespass
Re-listening to the record after a long time, I discovered that, in the end, the quality of the work by Gabriel's band is not that low-profile.
Listen carefully to these songs, not just the first 30 seconds as I did the first time, but delve deeper into the listening and you will already find traces of what would later become the Genesis evolution of 'Trespass'.
