Anthony Phillips – The Geese & The Ghost

The worst album cover of recent memory and what the hell is that title? But putting that aside, this is a really gorgeous album. I didn't get a prog rock vibe from this, Steeleye Span comes to mind but it doesn't really sound like them either. Hard to categorize but the orchestral parts on Side 2 are first rate compositions and the entire record has a lovely, understated air about it that works very well with Phillips' voice.

Extremely quiet pressing so any pops and clicks are super audible over the music...

Beautiful “lost” post-Trespass Genesis album by ANT, with Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford helping out. Highly recommend!

I've always loved this album, one which I've had in various formats since it was first released, and which I now have as the limited edition Esoteric vinyl reissue of 2015.
It is beautifully played by Phillips and all the other guest musicians and is a delight to listen to.
Collins' vocals are perfect for this type of music, and with the involvement of Rutherford too it's almost a Genesis-album-that-never-was!
Most certainly a great addition to any prog fan's library.

NB: I have taken the liberty of adding Prog-Rock into the "style" categories; I've never, ever viewed this as a folk-rock album, although I will defer to those who say it's art-rock - just.

Side 1: Variant Matrix I-2 HIT 001 A EG (all etched)
Side 2: Variant Matrix I-2 HIT 001 B EG (all etched)

Musicians

Anthony Phillips – acoustic 12-string, 6-string, classical, electric 6 and 12-string guitars, bass guitar, dulcimer, bouzouki, synthesiser, Mellotron, harmonium, piano, organ, celeste, pin piano, drums, glockenspiel, timbales, bells and chimes, gong, lead vocals on "Collections" and "Master of Time (Demo)"
Mike Rutherford – acoustic 12-string, 6-string, and classical guitars, bass guitar, organ, drums, timbales, glockenspiel, cymbals, bells
Phil Collins – lead vocals on "Which Way the Wind Blows", "God If I Saw Her Now" and "Silver Song"
Rob Phillips – oboe on "The Geese and the Ghost" and "Sleepfall: The Geese Fly West"
Lazo Momulovich – oboe, cor anglais on "Henry: Portraits from Tudor Times" and "The Geese and the Ghost"
John Hackett – flute on "God If I Saw Her Now", "Collections" and "Sleepfall: The Geese Fly West"
Wil Sleath – flute, baroque flute, recorder, piccolo on "Henry: Portraits from Tudor Times"
Jack Lancaster – flute, lyricon on "Sleepfall: The Geese Fly West"
Charlie Martin – cello on "Chinese Mushroom Cloud" and "The Geese and the Ghost"
Kirk Trevor – cello on "Chinese Mushroom Cloud" and "The Geese and the Ghost"
Nick Hayley (with "friend") – violin on "The Geese and the Ghost"
Martin Westlake – timpani on "Henry: Portraits from Tudor Times", "Chinese Mushroom Cloud" and "The Geese and the Ghost"
Vivienne McAuliffe – vocals on "God If I Saw Her Now"
Send Barns Orchestra
Jeremy Gilbert – conductor
Barge Rabble – voices of several friends
Ralph Bernascone – soloist
[Wikipedia]

This is a very very good record...!!!