TRESPASS

by Bruce Eder
Genesis' first truly progressive album, and their first record for the Charisma label (although Trespass was released in America by ABC, which is how MCA came to have it), is important mostly as a formative effort. Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, and Michael Rutherford are here, but the guitarist is Anthony Phillips and the drummer is John Mayhew. Gabriel, Banks, Phillips, and Rutherford are responsible for the compositions, which are far more ambitious than the group's earlier efforts ("Silent Sun," etc.). Unfortunately, much of what is here is more interesting for what it points toward than what it actually does -- the group reflects a peculiarly dramatic brand of progressive rock, very theatrical as music, but not very successful. The lyrics are complex enough but lack the unity and clarity that would make Genesis' subsequent albums among the most interesting of prog rock efforts to analyze. Gabriel's voice is very expressive but generally lacks power and confidence, while the conventional backup vocalizing by the others is wimpy, and Phillips' playing is muted. Tony Banks' keyboards are the dominant instruments, which isn't that bad, but it isn't the Genesis that everyone came to know. The soft, lyrical "Visions of Angels" and "Stagnation" are typical, gentle works by a band that later learned how to rock much harder. Only one of the songs here, "The Knife" -- which rocks harder than anything else on Trespass and is easily the best track on the album -- lasted in the group's concert repertory past the next album.
Released 23 October 1970
Recorded Trident Studios, June – July 1970
Length 42:56
Label Charisma/Virgin (UK) Impulse, ABC, MCA, Geffen (USA) 

Producer John Anthony


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By Coffee Guy (USA)
This is one of my all-time favorite albums, from the time I bought it when it first came out on vinyl through wearing out several albums and CD's over the years. I didn't really think this was going to offer much new and especially not improved, but I bought it anyway. Well, I was in for a surprise, as the mixes are outstanding and make listening to this an adventure all over again.
There are two discs in this set, one a DVD/Audio with both DTS 5.1 and Dolby 5.1 mixes, then a SACD with DSD multi-channel. Each mix is different, the Dolby being heavier on bass (and a little muddled, truthfully), the DTS doing more with discrete instruments on each channel, and the DSD more like the original. I've listened through each once now, and the DTS is what I like best and what I'll probably listen to most of the time, although purists would probably like the DSD best. Actually, purists probably won't like this at all...
If you've never heard the album, it's unique in the Genesis catalogue, more in the classical rock veins of EL&P or even Uriah Heep, and having very little of the pop elements of later Genesis work. (BTW, it's not a "clean" recording, and the sound quality is like something second generation, and always has been. But it doesn't matter.) It's a true masterpiece that defines the 70's for me.