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It gives me great pleasure to listen to nearly everything
with Ray Wilson's voice and songwriting talents. Ever since
first hearing him sing with Genesis on the last Genesis CD
"Calling All Stations" I had fallen in love with this guy's
voice. It still amazes me that the people in the USA did not
accept him as a great replacement for Phil Collins. Because
that is exactly what he was! Genesis could not have found
a better singer in my opinion, and since that time Ray wisely
chose to move onward and upward releasing several solo CDs
over the last several years. Interestingly enough he has released
as many live albums as studio albums. Some solo acoustic and
one double live CD "Ray Wilson Live" with his full band playing
some of the most amazing stuff since Genesis disappeared.
Seems Ray picked up the torch and carried it forward.
His amazing versions of several Genesis tracks as well
as a few Peter Gabriel tracks are astonishing in the way he
can emulate Peter Gabriels vocals as easily as Phil Collins
yet still sound like Ray. Even more astonishing is his own
songwriting. Ray has written some really great music of his
own that somehow fits in with the Genesis-prog thing but also
reaches over into areas of folk music and pop as well. He
also recently released another live CD that he claims is his
favorite solo acoustic performance to date called "An Audience
And Ray Wilson" recorded in 2003, in which he not only plays
many original acoustic pieces as well as some Genesis and
Stiltskin songs. He brilliantly tells stories of the songs
and how they came about, as well as a Genesis story or two
between each track. I highly recommend all of Ray's live releases.
Which brings me to his newest release with his former
band (pre-Genesis) Stiltskin. This is Stiltskin's first release
since 1994. Ray has not worked with his old band since that
time. But this was the band he was in that led him to being
discovered by Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford. The new CD is
titled "SHE". This has some remarkable work on it. It is yet
another extension of Ray's talent. He has co-written many
of the songs with various members of the band. The band also
features Nir Z, the remarkable drummer that also played drums
on "Calling All Stations". This band smokes! Although the
approach is not really Genesis-like at all. It has more of
an alternative rock sound, though equally pop. The opening
track "Fly High" does exactly that! A perfect opener that
could have easily been on "Ray Wilson Live" or "The Next Best
Thing". The next track "Taking Time" is very intersting as
Ray takes on the voice of the devil in a song about the extreme
loneliness of a man that reaches to accept the end times (complete
with quotes from Revelation).
One of my favorite tracks from the CD is Lemon Yellow
Sun. It features some really nice acoustic guitar in a song
that at times has a sixties feel to it and that reminisces
about the woman that chose to forget him. Overall the entire
CD is a great listen and something that I will choose to listen
to again and again over the years. I very much recommend all
of Ray's work.
Russ Bellinger April 2006
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