Genesis – Trespass

When in 1967 Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks, still students of Charterhouse School in Godalming, formed group, their aim was just a partnership for authoring songs. No one could suppose this was the starting moment of the new group which will last for decades under name Genesis. Five years later the band became famous as art rock and progressive rock avant-garde. Their music does not immediately have gained this concept momentum. On their early recordings musicians were trying to create music in the way of many progressive bands but technical possibilities of musicians were not enough to play in the same league as King Crimson. Characteristic feature was all members of the group were participating in creating new songs. This kind of colloquial writing sometimes gave good results, especially in art rock where symphonic sound was created not like in classical music in the way of orchestration but as an effect of cooperation between group members.
Changes of lineup in particular on drummer place made group’s abilities enough to carry artistic ideas and to develop new sound of the band. First half of seventies was definitely advantageous with such great records as Nursery Cryme in 1971, Foxtrot in 1972, Selling England by the Pound in 1973 and A Lamb Lies Down on Broadway in 1974. After few best years of Genesis’ progressive achievements, after in 1975 Peter Gabriel left the band and after the departure of Steve Hackett two years later, the trio withdrew from the radical approaching to the music style, coming closer to the classic rock and after 1980 even to pop rock mainstream. Before this had happened, group released very interesting though not perfect album Trespass, where artists tried to define their own style of progressive music.

Genesis - Trespass (1970) 

Recorded in June and July 1970 and released October 23 the same year, Trespass was second album in history of the band and in fact the one opening whole sequence of records giving Genesis position of leading progressive band. Lineup of the group featured Peter Gabriel singing and playing flutes and accordion, Anthony Philips playing guitars, bassist Mike Rutherford, organ and piano player Tony Banks and drummer John Mayhew. The set of the group recording Trespass was almost duplication of first Genesis lineup, except drummer changing previously playing John Silver. Mayhew played in Genesis only one year and shortly after band finished recording of this album, in August 1970 he was replaced by Phil Collins. And this was change that affected quintet’s sound and style in next four years.
The program of this record is six songs; each based on the lyrics of rich imagery and expanded musical setup.  Ties between these pieces are evidently intended and are clear exposition of group’s artistic ambitions. In White Mountain Peter Gabriel sings about wolf pack and lonely outlaw Fang: Outcast he trespassed where no wolf may tread, the last sacred haunt of the dead. Closing the album The Knife is dedicated for those that trespass against us. Dark, stylized for fables, sometimes enriched by subtle joke, songs by Genesis were perfectly fitted into its time. Many past ideas and future trends were presented here in this highly creative work. This makes Trespass so significant, though many critics and listeners didn’t notice this album when it was published by Charisma Records. Maybe intellectual content was too extensive; maybe the message was not sufficiently clear. Shortly after it was released, discouraged and frustrated group was almost ready to break down. In effect of some personal changes group recovered its position and published series of great achievements for which 1970 album Trespass was the stepping stone.