Heart, pain and wind - why not?

Phil Collins first solo album has earned him a lot of money and so great self-confidence. You begrudge it this exceptional drummer who made a progressive band from Genesis or brought at least in the right groove. Collins incredible mastery of the drums can be visited, for example, on "The Battle of Epping Forest" (Album: "Selling England"), where he brushed against a straight 4/4 time with a blues metric. That no one can so he we.

His hobby band "Brand X" he led brilliantly in the fusion area between rock and jazz. Outstanding Fusion Musk. A jack of all trades.

What he in "Face Value": makes (to German "Official Price"), is seen privately awesome. The songs are part of understated simplicity of melody, so that it is understood that Tony Banks and Michael Rutherford gratefully declined, as he might "In The Air Tonight" for GENESIS presented. I do not think that Collins did. But some believe that the material of "Face Value" are remnants of the Progzeiten with GENESIS.

"In the air tonight" is based on a descending 3-he Ganztonfolge - until you drop. And 5 minutes. That had to be a success. It could not be. But just awesome because marketable. The economical, lulling sound with the bizarre sound effects from the vocoder make it here. For me, perhaps the weakest contribution on this album - in direct comparison.

The other songs are also more likely to Harmony diet. Mostly with 2 harmonies he comes from. Since sufficient even his own piano arts. But such a thing is the majority of good. GENESIS has been simply too complex for many.

The two instrumentals "Droned" and "Hands in Hand" are gems of repetitive rhythm freaks Collins, the sound compared to the rest of the disc but almost progressive. He rages from time. That sounds partly by Peter Gabriel and Hawaii ("Droned"). The atmospheric successful "hand in hand" develops after repeated listening to a sucking catchy. The brass section of Phenix Horns delivers with its staccato almost something like Drums from. A children's choir gives the whole a very cheerful Atmposphäre. Overall, an ecstatic deposit which confirms Collins sense of sounds.

You can feel when a majority of the songs that Collins raves for Motown. He recently put so before a panel in Motown style. At that time he was thus already a big fan of this music. And his Phil Collins Big Band (with Quincy Jones on the podium) shows that he has Jazz in the blood.

Some of the songs are sad Liedeslieder. Proceed already under the skin, if you know Collins Divorce aria from his first wife.

The CD ends with a Beatles song. Collins kupfert the song simple in principle from only. Nothing new, not even the seagulls cries are different. For me, an admission of admiration for one of the biggest rock bands in the world. The honors Collins.

"Face Value" is not quite the "real" value of Collins. But there is already ran very close. A nice pop album, which acts like a chameleon. Collins's voice can sound very pleasant, yet sad. This makes the album a singer album. It's not just the drummer Collins, who offers Kurzweil Liges here.

(Score after another week hearing on 3 star increases).
(Rating increased after another week Listen to 4 star. However, in spite simplicity many small details that a take).

jojim