The Geese & The Ghost (Remastered / Expanded) (2CD)

One of the things that attracted me to Genesis is the wonderful spangly chords (the musical sort rather than the 70s flares they wore) played out on majestic 12-string guitars (that we seldom see these days) and here they can be found too. All that delicate guitar work is here as you would expect from one of the founder members of Genesis a'la Trespass.

Expect ethereal storylines that weave medieval/madrigal tapestries of yesteryear with all the benefits of modern instruments. I'd also recommend this album to Mike Oldfield fans, in that although I believe this album was written and recorded a few years earlier than Mikes (or at least the ideas for the songs were) it's very much in the same vein as Tubular Bells. A good album and a nice introduction to Anthony's work.


An extraordinary debut from a highly underrated composer   March 22, 2001
 36 out of 37 found this review helpful

Anthony Phillips was one of Genesis founding members, their first guitarist, and one of the main responsible for the band's earlier sound. After Genesis second album "Trespass" (1970) Anthony Phillips left the band due to physical problems coming from stage fright. Having abandoned completely the musical scene, only in 1977 Phillips returned to studio to record his first solo album. This was mostly due to the insistence of his friend and also Genesis co-founder Mike Rutherford, with whom Phillips had a long lasting musical relationship started even before the Genesis days. Both guitarists' fond of 12-string, classical and other acoustic guitars, and their joy to explore different sound textures, originated "The Geese and The Ghost" an album that was, at some point, intended to be released as a duo effort, but that Rutherford, strongly committed with Genesis, preferred to leave as his friend's solo album. With Rutherford's strong presence, and Phil Collins voice in two songs, it's not odd to think of this album as a Genesis lost work, or to guess from it which way the Genesis sound would have evolved, had Phillips stayed in the band. The sound is predominated by acoustic guitars, and medieval atmospheres. Rutherford is most of the work, except the short overture "Wind - Tales", three beautiful and melancholic songs, two sung by Collins: "Which Way The Wind Blows" and "God If I Saw Her Now" (this one a duet with Viv McCauliffe), and the third "Collections" by Phillips himself; and the relaxing piano orientated coda "Sleepfall: The Geese Fly West". Two long and exquisite suites dominate the album. The first is "Henry: Portraits From Tudor Times", that in 6 parts sets the medieval historical context. Phillips and Rutherford explore the pastoral environment with the use of different guitar tonalities and a small orchestra, making it a highly enjoyable and surprising piece. The short "Chinese Mushroom Cloud" works as a prelude for the two-part suite "The Geese And The Ghost", where Phillips and Rutherford, in my opinion, reach the album's highest point. Again starting with acoustic guitar sounds, the composition evolves, through complex textures, towards a more classical progressive rock sound. A brilliant piece that showcases the two guitarist's abilities and compositional skills. The CD version of the album also includes the extra track "Master of Time" a nice demo song sung by Phillips, who despite having a rather limited voice manages not to lower the level of the remaining album. Overall a great album, relaxing, delicate and imaginative, starting a trend, some rock guitarists have, to explore renaissance sonorities and classical music influences. A spirit faithfully illustrated by the beautiful painting that is the album cover. Surely one of the best works in Anthony Phillips' long career. A good complement for those who enjoy the "Trespass" Genesis period, acoustic guitar in general, and the best way to start to discover a talented and underrated composer.