Genesis founding member, composer, and guitarist Anthony Phillips presents his first new album in seven years, Strings Of Light. Across two CDs, plus a DVD 5.1 surround sound mix of all the songs, we get 24 pieces, with Phillips as much utilizing the many beautiful and rare guitars in his collection, as showing off his solo compositions on acoustic instruments.
This is as solid a single instrumental guitar song collection as you are likely to find. From the classical guitar work-outs of “Caprice in Three,” and “Castle Ruins,” to the lush 12-string jangle of “Diamond Meadows” and the muted gut-string muting finger fun of “Mouse Trip.” A stand-out of the first dozen is the high-end sparkle of the delicately picked “Skies Crying.” Expertly Phillips happens to pick just a single high note in the progression to really set the listener’s emotions on edge here.
The second disc shows off more of Phillips intricate single-guitar composing, mostly on classical guitar across these second twelve. “Mystery Tale,” offers a heavily plucked roil, “Tale Ender,” with its wash of synth (one of the few here presenting more than just guitar) clocks in under a minute, but again sees Phillips mining a sad-sounding melody.
And for a change-up we get mandolin on the jaunty “Home Road” and an especially beautifully strummed 12-string (reminiscent of Phillip’s Genesis’ work to be sure) on “Grand Tour.” With Phillip’s replacement in Genesis, Steve Hackett, doing as well as he has of late, it’s nice to get something new from the band’s original guitarist, who can still manage his way around acoustic instruments on Strings of Light.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
