Abacab [Remaster]

At the dawn of the '80s, many '70s prog-rockers (Yes, Rush, etc.) trimmed away the musical fat in an attempt to keep current. Genesis's sonic reduction was an unprecedented aesthetic and commercial success. Though traditionalists cried foul, ABACAB was in fact more inventive and memorable than its comparatively leaden predecessor DUKE.
The R&B rhythms and punchy Earth, Wind & Fire horns on "No Reply At All" foreshadow Phil Collins's more commercial solo career, but the track breathes with an undeniable vitality. The symphonic grandeur of old is gone, replaced by a sparser, more rhythm-oriented style. In this manner, each individual part of the arrangements receives greater focus and import. As always, there are some agreeably unusual song subjects, such as the alien abduction of "Keep It Dark". "Whodunnit" sounds more like Devo than like Gentle Giant, but the skewed melodic sensibility is a link to Genesis's Gabriel-era glory days. Utilising simpler melodies and more syncopated rhythms ("Me and Sarah Jane" even sports a reggae feel), ABACAB simultaneously simplifies and expands the Genesis sound.|