Most folks have that one guilty pleasure...OK, maybe more than one guilty pleasure for some. In my case, I love anything that sounds like vintage Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, so needless to say I've been following the career of The Watch for a few years now. This Italian band has put out a few albums now that harken back to the days of Foxtrot, Nursery Cryme, and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, complete with Gabriel-ish vocals from Simone Rossetti, lots of Hammond, Moog, and of course Mellotron, bass pedals, electric and 12 string guitar, well, you get the picture. This stuff just oozes 1973, right down to the production, which if you are like me, works just fine.
"Sound of Sirens" leaps in with ominous Mellotron before Rossetti finds his way into the song sounding like a youthful Peter Gabriel. Tons of vintage keys permeate this delicious slice of 70's styled prog rock, which at 8-minutes takes you on many different little adventures. On "The Border", the band settles down for a more atmospheric and dreamy arrangement that builds to a symphonic finale with lyrical guitar lines and swirling synths. The CD's longest track, "Two Paces to the Rear", is a dramatic number with layers of keyboards from Rossetti and Fabio Mancini, as well as rumbling bass grooves from Marco Schembri. Ettore Salati's nasty guitar riffs also add a menacing tone to this haunting prog gem, and there's tons of creepy Mellotron for those who can't get enough of the treasured instrument. The Watch opt for a slightly more upbeat and quirky feel for "When I Was a Tree", but drop right back into dark prog waters on the Hammond and Mellotron drenched "Another Life", featuring a great vocal from Rossetti. Bouncy and symphonic prog, straight out of the Selling England By the Pound book of Genesis, can be heard on "Berlin, 1936", a song featuring some complex keyboard and guitar interplay, soaring Mellotron, Hackett-ish guitar riffs, and tricky drum work from Roberto Leoni. The closer "Soaring On" is an emotional ballad with plenty of Mellotron and string synths, featuring lyrics about trying to put years of your life into one song.
If you've heard and liked The Watch's previous release Vacuum, chances are you will really groove to Primitive as well. It's less aggressive and moodier, with plenty more Mellotron this time around, but still has that wonderful 70's vibe. So, indulge in that guilty pleasure, and scoop up some early 70's Genesis flavors here on 2007's Primitive by The Watch. You'll be glad you did.
Track Listing
1. Sound of Sirens (8:00)
2. The Border (4:15)
3. Two Paces to the Rear (9:08)
4. When I was a Tree (6:00)
5. Another Life (6:10)
6. Berlin, 1936 (8:55)
7. Soaring On (4:37)
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