As I have mentioned a couple of times, when I arrived to college in 1983, I had no idea Genesis were a prog band. In the Dallas area, the FM radio stations purged all evidence that the group existed prior to 1977. My hall monitor was also a record collector and while looking through my progressive oriented collection (such as it was), he asked where my Genesis albums were. I told him I thought they were a pop group. Ohhh... nooo. So he let me borrow Wind and Wuthering figuring it was more contemporary. I really enjoyed it, and realized I had missed out. Then he let me borrow Trespass...
This was something entirely different to the progressive rock I had enjoyed up this point, mostly from the Yes and ELP school. This was a type of murky and mysterious music, distant yet engaging. While Side 1 is excellent, it was Side 2 that really drew me in. And some 40 years later, on yet another revisit, I can say with conviction this is why I consider it a top division record. 'Stagnation' is the culmination of the three tracks prior. 'Dusk' picks up the pace and highlights Gabriel's flute. Incidentally this would be the album he features the instrument the most. And then the real jaw dropper, especially for my ears back then, was 'The Knife'. I wasn't prepared at all for the aggressive stance of the composition. It's interesting to note that Anthony Phillips made a career out of pastoral acoustic guitar based music, similar to what he brought to Trespass. But on 'The Knife' it appears that Phillips purged all of his pent-up anger in one fell swoop. It's darn near heavy metal in places! It still sends a chill down my spine all these years later. You can really feel this album through and through.
I'm not one to take a contrarian position, but I enjoy Trespass better than the next two, and it remains my second favorite Genesis album after the almighty Selling England by the Pound.
Ownership: LP: 1970 Charisma (UK). Textured gatefold with lyric inner. Pink scroll label. Online acquisition (2018). I don't always have to own the first pressing of commodities like this, but in this case it was essential for me.
CD: 1999 Charisma. (Japan). Gatefold. Papersleeve edition.
After borrowing my friend's copy, I bought a used one immediately at Ralph's Records in Lubbock (1984). It was a single sleeve MCA reissue. Probably cost me two bucks. I upgraded at least two more times before obtaining the copy above.
1//84 (first listen); 1995; 2009; 1/12/24 (review)
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