Wise After The Event

When Anthony Phillips set out to record his next effort, he proffered an album of (more or less) commercial rock music—perhaps in an attempt to build on the success of his debut effort or, at least, create something more contemporary. As such, Wise After The Event presents a different side of Phillips: one that showcases his songwriting. Phillips is not joined by any Genesis cohorts this time, but instead by the world-class rhythm section of Michael Giles and John G. Perry and the production talents of Rupert Hine. Also, Phillips takes on all vocal, guitar and keyboard duties, with reliably excellent results. Although he's not the most powerful singer, Phillips is more than capable on the record, with his voice sympathetic to the overall feel of the album. "We're All as We Lie" is relaxed and playful, with layers of acoustic guitars gently picking away. Similarly, "Birdsong" starts off placid, but ends under the fury of the Giles/Perry rhythm and an electrifying lead guitar. On the second side, both "Pulling Faces" and "Greenhouse" are considerably up-tempo, and Hine's production makes the best of everyone involved. There's no denying the similarity of this music to that of Genesis, but the connection is more one of lineage than anything suspect. There's also a certain gentleness that sets it apart from any contemporary musical trend, Genesis-esque or otherwise. Lyrically, Phillips's songs are quite romantic, as evidenced by the overwrought "Regrets" and the excellent "Now What (Are They Doing to My Little Friends?)." But given the subject matter, they wouldn't work any other way. The album, again graced with a Peter Cross cover, saw release on both sides of the Atlantic, with Phillips now signed to Passport Records in the US. Several of the vignettes that would appear on the Private Parts & Pieces Vol. II album were intended as instrumental bridges between the songs here.