Invisible Touch [Import]

 

 

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I know it's fashionable not to like Genesis these days, but I refuse to bite my lip and say they are rubbish. They can be, and have been, but not here.

I think this album has a lot in common with Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms. They were both released at almost the same time, 1986 and 1985 respectively. Both bands had previously made albums which were critically accalimed - A Trick of the Tail (1976) for Genesis and Making Movies (1980) for Dire Straits, and both bands had achieved moderate commercial success too. However, these two albums marked the point at which both bands managed to fuse artistic brilliance with massive commercial success.

The title track, with its killer melody, is the perfect single. Tonight, Tonight, Tonight, with it's contemplative expansiveness is a philosophical and meditative masterpiece. In Too Deep is one of the 80s' most touching love songs. Throwing It All Away is a vicious and angry inditement to all the women that ever broke your heart. And those are just some of the highlights.

A classic. No matter how much airplay 'In Too Deep' gets, the utter commercial genius of 'Land of Confusion', among many others is testament to its deserved longevity as a musical unit. Genesis to many folk is this and Phil Collins. Collins is not my cup of tea I'm afraid, and nor really are Genesis (insomuch that I have heard little else from them - although I hear they are still very good today), but this album is an oft-remembered tract of my childhood and fond memories spring forth from it. Like a smell that reminds you of a forgotten memory, it will take you away for a while out of the now and allow nostalgia a chance.

There are no favourites but one of the best 'riffs' I suppose that I have ever heard is the chorus to 'The Brazilian'.

Epic and unforgettable. Invisible touch indeed.

It's funny, many people consider this album to completely embody the pop, churn 'em out, hit making era of Genesis but in reality, what we get is a strange sort of "prog-pop" fusion which makes for very interesting listening.

That being said, the opening track Invisible Touch is a pop song. Right from the first taccy roll of the drum machine to the final strains of Phil Collins voice, desperate to be heard over his roaring ego, it's pop. However, dismissing all pop is unfair. I'm a huge fan of early Genesis and consider everything from Trespass to Trick of the Tail to be the golden age of Genesis but this is still good music. It's very catchy and unashamedly happy in a similar vein to sussudio but without the stutter.

Tonight Tonight Tonight (so good they named it thrice)is where it gets very interesting. The drum machine is still there but the song is longer and more varied than its predecessor. The music twists and turns with almost progressive intent. It's dark in mood and Phils vocals are harsher. Here we have Genesis letting music take the front seat, rather than money.

Land of Confusion is one of the finest points on the album. It's still slightly long for a Genesis song but rather than feeling heavy and slow, the song goes from strength to strength. They also had something they wanted to say with this song. I don't mean in the way Phil was always trying to pluck at your purse strings. ("people are dying of aids and death and you have money give me money please"). This is a decent protest song with clever lyrics and well written music. A rarity in modern music.

In Too Deep is enjoyable but borders on Phil Collinistic misery. There's a definite feeling of self-pity in this song but the album just about holds together here. Anything She Does is far more upbeat. Returning to simplistic lyrics and pop music, where this song shines is Phils singing style. The emphasis and voices he uses throughout are very entertaining and make it a worthwhile listen.

Domino is a real highlight. This is where the album truely reaches prog-pop. It starts with a moving and beautifully written opening with nice lyrics and a great chorus. The stage is set and the surreal, almost trance like beggining suddenly gives way to a thundering drum machine and a vast second part of the song which pushes the musicians and singer to their limits. The lyrics are reminiscent of the Gabriel era ambiguity and strangeness and are belted out ferociously over the ever driving drums. It changes all over the place, briefly returns to the opening style, then simply gives itself time to burn out.

Throwing It All Away is a short and quiet song. It serves as a chance to catch your breath after Domino. It's a love song. It's a pop song. It's very nice. Rather than showing off at how much rock and variety they can fit into a song, the band just deliver a beautiful chill-out song which can be enjoyed as unintrusive background music when relaxing.

For the Grand Finale, Genesis decided that, following the tradition of many earlier albums, an instrumental was in order. The Brazilian doesn't disappoint. This is another venture into prog-pop territory. The drum machine is out in full flow and Tony Banks pores over his keyboard supplying a wide range of musical textures and odd noises to this track. Mike Rutherford is on hand with some Rock guitar and the whole thing comes together to create a brilliant closing piece to a very good album.

It's a strange album in terms of sound because the production and instruments make it sound like it should be very firmly based in pop but this goes beyond just "pop" or even just "rock". This is just Genesis playing what they wanted to play no matter how it came out. Sometimes it works, once or twice it doesn't. It's not a masterpiece and it's certainly not the best album in the history of Genesis but whereas certain albums (i.e. the atrocity that is ABACAB) reek of blatant commercialism, this album feels more like several music veterans having a good old jam and sounds all the better for it.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Good, but non-essential as Genesis goes Pop
This album manages to scrape together two okay songs, but barely falls out of the one star range. Worth a twirl for "Domino" and "The Brazilian" only, but those songs aren't even... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Lord Anon

5.0 out of 5 stars It's got strong rhythm throughout.
Overall a very entertaining CD. When I first bought it I couldn't stop playing it. One of the reasons, apart from the great songs, is that is has got a strong rhythm in the... Read more

Published 3 months ago by David B

5.0 out of 5 stars Neat way to play CDs thro Cassette Plr, speedy del..Thanks
Smashing sound reproduction. Great not having to buy a CD player for the car would recommend this product.

Published 23 months ago by Lynne Worsfold

3.0 out of 5 stars Very Popular, But A Weaker Effort
"Invisible Touch" is a difficult Genesis album for me to review. In many ways it seems like a parody of earlier Genesis work rather than a new album. Read more

Published on 9 Aug 2009 by Dave_42

4.0 out of 5 stars "Do you like Phil Collins?"
Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Read more

Published on 1 Mar 2009 by Billy Ray Cyrus

5.0 out of 5 stars Class act
This is a truly superb CD. One of the classics of the 1980s with some great fast paced tunes and some slower melodies as well. Read more

Published on 4 Jun 2007 by Reviewer

5.0 out of 5 stars Invisible Touch (...yeh)
I really like this album, it has to be my favourite of all time by anyone. When I was about five my dad taped this album for me off his CD and I listened to it (especially the... Read more

Published on 8 Mar 2007 by Matthew Fenn

4.0 out of 5 stars An album of two halves....
This is an album that sums up the sound of the mid-late eighties, a blend of light rock, pop, and synth. Read more

Published on 27 July 2006 by Dino Amore'

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid 80s stuff
I remember this album well as a youngster when it first emerged in 1986. Although the production and style is unmistakably 1980s, there is considerably more substance here than... Read more

Published on 13 Mar 2006

4.0 out of 5 stars Inventive Touch
This is an excellent album (a 4½ star album) which is dominated by Phil Collins's voice and drum beat. Read more

Published on 17 Aug 2004 by Geoff Hall

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