To Duke With Love [Remastered] - Art Farmer

Advantages: Duchess is one of the best Genesis tracks.
Disadvantages: Some nasty synth-pop and bland tracks

...The three remaining members of Genesis hit the 1980s by starting to write synth-pop songs. Their prog-rock roots hadn't entirely disappeared though. leaving some of the material on this album neither pop nor prog and suffering as a result. Initially they created a suite of songs about "Duke", and then split up the suite and added other tracks, keeping the title for the entire album. Opening with a joyful fanfare, "Behind The Lines" sounds like it is going to be another good Genesis instrumental, however after a couple of minutes it decends into a rather mundane song with only an occasional glimpse of how it started. Luckily the Genesis magic hasn't completely gone just yet as "Duchess" is a glorious track. I love those drum machine sounds and swirling synths. The whole track has a raising-hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck energy... Read review

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Advantages: a slow burning masterpiece
Disadvantages: their last album together

...Its fair to say that you would have to have at least a passing interest in the psychedelic era to be interested in this record ,but if that,s already established and you havent heard this timeless beauty then now is the time ! The legend of Love and Forever Changes has grown steadily over the last 35 years or so ,from hard to find obscurity to expanded and celebrated masterpiece ,if youve heard anything of this album then it would almost certainly be the opening track "Alone Again or",with its Mexican flavoured climax awash with trumpets and Spanish guitar ,this however does not typify the rest of the album though its constituent parts do shape its sound ,"A House is not a Hotel"comes off the blocks with a guitar powered sprint and sparing trumpet with the whole thing coming to an abrupt end following a viscious two note guitar... Read review

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Advantages: Almost perfect album, improved seperation of sounds in remastered form.
Disadvantages: One or two slightly weaker tracks.

...player (which weighed a ton) and sat back, ready to be treated to the brave new world of digital audio, I knew I was in for a treat. Fast forward a decade and a half and a remastered version has turned up with bonus tracks culled from remixes and B sides. With a nod towards the vinyl mindset of the original release, it is split in to two halves subtitles Hounds of Love and The Ninth Wave. On CD of course, it's just one big lump of music. The tracks are: Hounds of Love Side 1. Running Up That Hill. A huge hit single at the time that sets the tone for this part of the album. Lots of energetic if slightly muted drums and synthetic horns give way to the instantly recognisable Bush vocals that tell the story of wanting to do a deal with God to swap places with a loved one to take their pain. You can feel the anguish with every word... Read review

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