The fledgling Genesis, all safely gathered in, remixed and remastered.

IN THE BEGINNING

Although many see Trespass as the first ‘real’ album, the landmark debut 1969 album From Genesis To Revelation is celebrated in a major new series of reissues, all newly prepared with the approval of original band members, Charterhouse alumni, ex- The Anon and The Garden Wall, Tony Banks, Peter Gabriel, Anthony Phillips and Mike Rutherford.

Originally released in March 1969, From Genesis To Revelation marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey, the first chapter in the story of a band that would go on to achieve immense international success and lasting acclaim. These new editions offer the most comprehensive and revealing presentation of the album to date, revisiting this vital early work with a fresh perspective and a deep dive.

Back in the day – when some of us were grooving to Seconds Out and suchlike and devouring all we could about our new favourite band, and encounter with FGTR was something of a WTF moment. Quickly shelved in favour of Foxtrot and W&W. In hindsight, it needed more of a chance, so with a second chance on offer…

REVELATORY

At the heart of all formats is a new stereo mix by the man behind remastering much of the Hawkwind legacy, Stephen W Tayler. There’s a new focus on the band’s performances with less emphasis on the orchestral elements that shaped and occasionally overwhelmed the original release – shades of Let It Be? The result is both revelatory (naturally) and immersive. There’s a genuinely new clarity and immediacy to the album while preserving the spirit, and some may say naivety, of these remarkable recordings.

The centrepiece of the is a 5-disc (4CD + Blu-ray) box set. A richly expanded edition that presents the album in multiple forms. Alongside the new stereo mix, the set includes newly remastered versions of the original mono and stereo LP mixes, associated singles and rare recordings. Much interest lies within a full disc of demos from 1967 and 1968, four of which are previously unreleased and newly mixed by Stephen W Tayler and which highlight the unhindered sound of the young band of ambitious songwriters in waiting.

THE CONQUERORS ARE ON THEIR WAY

The innate sense of youthful exuberance and innocence is the pervading theme. The influence on the band of hymns and Otis stands proud as they make their tentative steps. Imagine the smiles as the industrial hum at he start of In The Beginning conjures up visions, not of angels, but of Brock and Lemmy down at the Roundhouse. That’s until Gabriel makes his mark as literally, the strongest voice as he would continue (sort of…) to be. The motorik drive is mainly outweighed by the general air of fragility in the writing – and the syrupy arrangements.

Stand out sections – what would become known a Genesis ‘bits’ are the “all I hear is music” chorus of In The Wilderness that captures the whole essence of the late Sixties as does the catch and hook of The Conqueror and its “heroes working overtime.” The twelve string sound from Rutherford and Phillips, that would be such a strong part of Trespass and the melodies and ideal chart material that would resurface in the likes of Invisible Touch are there in In Hiding, The Silent Sun and can;t you just hear someone like The Hollies or Manfred Mann doing A Winter’s Tale. And yes, One Eyed Hound has elements of the shorter and quirkier passage son Nursery Cryme and Foxtrot yet with a blatant era-specific sound that hovers around the verges of Progressive Pop.

The slightly kinder balance of components comes via the Tayler remix – compare to the sometimes higher vocal in the stereo mix on disc 3. It has to be said though that the mono version from disc 2 might be curiously satisfying – maybe old ears!?

IT HAS BEGUN!

The fourth disc of demos is an excellent inclusion. The demos from 1967-1968 are totally shorn of the expansive arrangements led mainly by the Banks piano and choral harmonies backing what even at the time, seem some naturally easy vocals from PG.

There are the curios of what sounds like the Blyton-esque The Mystery Of The Flannan Isle Lighthouse featruring some rollicking Banks piano, Hidden In The World Of Dawn and the (maybe autobiographical?!) Hair On The Arms And Legs. What might have been almost negligible in the past now adds to the context of the Genesis story. Everyone starts somewhere right? And also a sign of the state of play with the RnB soul of She Is Beautiful defining their signature sound as much as anything before the Progressive genes really kicked in with whiffs of the acoustic guitar element starting to rise.

THE ICING…

The box set Blu-ray also includes exclusive video content featuring the Charterhouse boys, Gabriel, Banks and Rutherford – not sure why there’s no Phillips – who are interviewed giving a mix of sober and pithy comments in conversation at AIR Studios in London. Taking a break from i/o and o\i and Mechanic duties they reflect on the album and reviewing the new mixes – nice to hear them reminisce and talk about this period rather than the more usual Genesis topics.

Completing the package is a 68-page illustrated book featuring an extensive essay by period aficionado Jon Dann, with contributions from Banks, Gabriel, Phillips and Rutherford, that places the album in its proper historical and creative context. Now that the story of Genesis has reached the bottom of the final page, the pre-Trespass era can take its place as a fascinating and formative release – the sound of Genesis at the very beginning, now revisited with the care, insight and collaboration with the musicians who made it.

The trailer:

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