Return of the Giant Podweed

March 25, 2022 by Simon Heldreich in Minisode

Greetings Stationeers!

Tune in to this short minisode for an announcement about the future of The Revelation Station podcast.

(Don’t worry, we’re coming back. Unless you don’t like us that is, in which case why are you even reading this?)

Next Episode: Spectral Mornings by Steve Hackett

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you’ve enjoyed this podcast you can donate the price of a coffee to help run the website by clicking this link. All donations are gratefully received and give you access to 10 exclusive minisodes only available to people who donate.

If you’d like to share your thoughts about this episode or your opinions of the podcast in general, you can email us at revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com, leave a comment below or join ourFacebook group. We would love to hear from you.

If life's an opera, bring it on...

September 17, 2021 by Simon Heldreich in Minisode

M.11 Black & White
The Revelation Station
starring Simon Heldreich in
Hackett About A Bit: a special episode
by SIMON HELDREICH
As Steve Hackett tours the UK, Simon
reviews his latest album, Surrender Of
Silence. Will Simon find much to like
in this 27th studio release?
Simon…………………………...……...HIMSELF
Gary……………………………………....ABSENT

Music by STEVE HACKETT.
Script editor GARY STARR
Director SIMON HELDREICH

A REVELATION STATION PODCASTS production

There are many things that I would rather do...

December 04, 2020 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

From one guitarist to another, in this week’s episode we are listening to the second album from Steve Hackett.

Please Don’t Touch (how many times have I heard that before?) was released in April 1978 on the Charisma label. It followed a period of time spent recording in America, and features some well known voices from across the pond. Without the restrictions placed on him by a band setting, Steve fully flexed his creative muscles to produce an album that is unlike his debut. Gone are the Genesis influences, with only Chester Thompson on drums, and in are the Rock sounds of Steve Walsh (of Kansas fame). It’s an eclectic mix, but does it work as an album?

That, dear listener, is the question facing our intrepid duo this week. Does the album suffer from sophomore slump? Whose vocal performance does Gary describe as “a tour de force”? Which song does Simon skip? You can find the answers to all these questions, and more, by clicking play and having a listen.

NEXT EPISODE: Peter Gabriel - 2 (or Scratch if you prefer)

I hope you enjoyed that trip into the mind of Steve Hackett, as a special thank you for listening here’s an offer. For a limited time you can get 3 months of Amazon Music Unlimited for absolutely FREE! (Terms and Conditions apply, £7.99 per month after free period for Prime members). By clicking this link and signing up, Amazon will also give some money to the podcast, you’d be helping us out and also getting access to over 70 million songs. It’s literally a win/win situation.

For 10 weeks up until the end of January, we will be releasing an exclusive minisode each Monday. These are only available for people who have donated the price of a coffee to the podcast by clicking on this link. All donations will go towards the running cost of the website and recording equipment, and you’ll get to listen to me talking to myself about records. Also a win/win!

If you’d like to share your thoughts about this album or your opinions of the episode, you can email us at revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com, leave a comment below or join our Facebook group. We would love to hear from you.

Delicious hot, disgusting cold...

November 20, 2020 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

***Doesn’t get much more unorthodox than this…***

Hello, and welcome to Jazz Club. Nice. Tonight we feature Season Two of The Revelation Station Podcast, in which we explore the solo works of Genesis members past and present. Great.

In this episode we’re taking a long drag on the jazz-fusion doobie that is Brand X’s debut Unorthodox Behaviour, featuring cheeky chappie Phil Collins on drums. Wonderful.
Released in 1976, after a few years of tumult, this debut is technically Phil’s first venture into music outside of Genesis. He had been a busy session musician up to now, but this marks the first time he joined another band to write and record. It’s an interesting look at where his career could have gone. Marvelous.

Back in the present day, still separated by Lockdown restrictions, Simon & Gary discuss the merits of this sidestep away from Prog Rock. They ask some hard-hitting questions such as “Was jazz-fusion really that popular?”, “Are Brand X the Spinal Tap of jazz-fusion?”, “Is the title track aptly named?” and “What was Phil thinking?”. We also hear from our sponsors in the first episode to feature advert breaks. Really nice.

Next Episode: The Geese & The Ghost by Anthony Phillips

I hope you enjoyed that trip into the world of jazz-fusion, as a special thank you for listening here’s a special offer for all listeners of The Revelation Station. For a limited time you can get 3 months of Amazon Music Unlimited for absolutely FREE! (Terms and Conditions apply, £7.99 per month after free period for Prime members). By clicking this link and signing up, Amazon will also give some money to the podcast, you’d be helping us out and also getting access to over 70 million songs. It’s literally a win/win situation.

If you want to demonstrate that support in a non-Amazony way you can do so by clicking on this link and contributing the price of a coffee to the running of the podcast. All donations will go towards the running cost of the website and recording equipment, or possibly paying for lessons in the jazz language.

If it hurts, don't do it...

July 31, 2020 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

***Who left this great big face here?***

Greetings listeners and welcome to the last, for now, weekly episode of The Revelation Station! This week we take a dive into the troubled waters of divorce in the company of Phil Collins. Here we have an album NOT based on a concept for a change, but that doesn’t mean that the songs contained here aren’t all of a similar theme.

Released in February 1981, almost exactly a year after Mike Rutherford’s debut solo effort, this shows a more reflective side to Phil who was writing the songs in the aftermath of his first divorce. Returning to the UK in mid 1979, Phil found Mike & Tony both in the middle of making their debuts, which meant he had plenty of free time to write and reflect. Roping in such world class musicians as Eric Clapton, L.Shankar and the Phenix Horns, Phil weaves an album of love and loss lead by the number 2 hit single “In The Air Tonight”.

But all of that doesn’t matter if it’s not very good does it? So what do Simon and Gary think of it? Well, SPOILER ALERT, they have almost directly opposing views on the album. Which song reflects Simon’s current real life? Which song stopped Gary from driving his car into a bollard? And what shocking bombshell do we end the episode on? Find out all this and more by clicking play on the episode below.

NEXT EPISODE: Will be our 50th episode. Join us soon for that one.

So thank you for reading this far. We appreciate your support. If you want to demonstrate that support in a monetary way you can do so by clicking on this link and contributing the price of a coffee to the running of the podcast. All donations will go towards the running cost of the website and recording equipment, not saving up in case I want to get a divorce one day.

Turning water into wine...

July 24, 2020 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

***He’s taken out and taken in to the factory floor.***

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends (“please God will it ever end”, I hear you cry. The answer is “No”). In this week’s fun filled episode we return from furlough and spend some time with Mike Rutherford as he experiences Smallcreep’s Day. Here’s the second solo to be based on a Science Fiction book, although this one only has a single sided concept.

Released in February 1980, only a month or so before Duke, this album finds Mike reunited with his Genesis compadre Ant Phillips to craft not only the story of Pinquean Smallcreep, but several stand alone tracks. Side One (or Two if you have the American release) tells Smallcreep’s tale acros 7 tracks, crucially changing the ending of the book to a more upbeat conclusion. Side Two features 5 tracks unrelated to each other and the story, which see Mike flexing his songwriting muscles.

On the factory floor, the grand parade of lifeless packaging (Gary) experiences this album for the very first time! Will he like it more or less than A Curious Feeling? Well, you know how to find out? That’s right, click the link and experience a rare archive recording of Mike and Ant in the studio, find out which 1980s artist stole Mike’s whole sound and gasp in wonder as an argument is averted before it even begins! Will wonders never cease?

NEXT EPISODE: Face Value by Phil Collins

So thank you for reading this far. We appreciate your support, even if you didn’t enjoy this album, by listening you’ve shown that you love us. If you want to prove how much, you can support us by clicking on this link and contributing the price of a coffee to the running of the podcast. All donations will go towards the running cost of the website and recording equipment. Mostly it goes on the website fees, it would be nice to have enough to stop Gary moaning, but every little helps (as Tesco say).

If you’d like to share your thoughts about this album (or the next in the sequence) or your opinions of the episode, you can email us at revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com, leave a comment below or join our Facebook group. We would love to hear from you.

It sure was good for a while...

July 17, 2020 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

***Don’t pay the ferryman. Don’t even fix a price.***

It’s the third week of our weekly Solo Genesis album reviews. Up this week is the first album by the man called “the only indispensible member of Genesis” (by none other than their manager) Tony Banks! The first of two solo albums based on Science Fiction novels (the other being Mike Rutherford’s Smallcreep’s Day), A Curious Feeling, has Tony exploring themes of self awareness and loss.

Released in October 1979, this album features Tony playing all the intruments bar drums, which are played by Genesis live man Chester Thompson, with vocals from Kim Beacon of String Driven Thing. Across 11 tracks, Tony weaves the story of a man who gains intelligence and love, only to lose everything. Like you do. Many Genesis fans consider this the peak of solo output, but was the critical mauling it got on release justified? You already know what you think, you’re only here to find out what we think. And that’s easy to fix, just click play.

Regaining their memories for the first time, Simon and Gary explore the soundscapes contained on this keyboard heavy debut. Sit back with a beer and listen with us as Gary experiences the album for the very first time. What impression will it make? Is this lost Genesis album as so many fans assert? What was it like at the very first public playback of the album? And how exactly did Tony come to record the album almost single handedly? All these questions and more will be answered in this thrilling episode. This episode is so thrilling you shouldn’t listen if you have a heart condition! Consider yourself warned.

NEXT EPISODE: Smallcreep’s Day by Mike Rutherford

So thank you for reading this far. We appreciate your commitment, especially if you like this album and you’ve listened to the episode. If you forgive us and want to prove it, you can support us by clicking on this link and contributing the price of a coffee to the running of the podcast. All donations will go towards the running cost of the website and recording equipment. I might buy a new mixer or something.

Check if you can disconnect the effect and I'll go after the cause...

July 10, 2020 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

***Here in my car I can only receive, I can listen to you…***

In the second of our weekly look at the solo Genesis catalogue we turn our attentions to Peter Gabriel’s first solo album entitled…er…Peter Gabriel. Or Car if you prefer. Or even Peter Gabriel 1. Listen you need to decide for yourself because it’s only going to get more confusing when he releases more albums.

Anyway, released in 1977 this is the first of 4 self titled albums by the former Genesis frontman. It followed a period of activity which involved, amongst other things, a collaboration with comedian Charlie Drake. This is an album of varied sounds and styles recorded with a band of musicians who had never met Peter before. Some of them would go on to work with him for many years to come. It also features collaborations with Robert Fripp of King Crimson and uber-producer Bob Ezrin. And there are surprises! I mean, how many other prog rock stars would do a barbershop quartet on an album. Apart from Robert Fripp, yes. Name one more!

Back in the room, Simon and Gary discuss the album and it’s many twists and turns. What does Gary think Moribund The Burgermeister is about? What interpretation of Solsbury Hill does Simon reject completely? Is it possible that Gary could be wrong about one particular track on the album and how boring it is? Where will this album come on the “Solo Leaderboard”? And for the first time anywhere we present archive recordings of actual events that happened at the time. Don’t delay, listen now and find out.

NEXT EPISODE: A Curious Feeling by Tony Banks.

So thank you for reading this far. We appreciate your commitment. If you want to return that appreciation, you can support us by clicking on this link and contributing the price of a coffee to the running of the podcast. All donations will go towards the running cost of the website and recording equipment. NOT towards booze, no matter what Gary might tell you.

Melt In The Dream Void

July 03, 2020 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

***Never steal a bowling ball from Steve Hackett…***

Welcome back to The Revelation Station! For the second season of the show we have decided to have a listen to some of the solo albums released by the band members. We’re going to do them in order of release, rather than each artist individually. That means the honour of the first episode goes to Mr Steve Hackett.

Released in 1975, Voyage of the Acolyte is the first of 25 albums by everyone’s favourite Genesis guitarist (sorry Ant but you know it’s true). Written across several years and recorded in the immediate aftermath of Peter quitting the band, this is often regarded as a lost Genesis record and with good reason. It features tracks that were rehearsed by the band for such classic albums as Foxtrot and Selling England By The Pound. Which ones? Hey, I’m not telling you everything here! I need you to listen to the podcast, what am I? A transcript?

Gasp as Simon tells you which track was the first Steve Hackett song he heard! Chuckle as Gary gets things wrong! Shout as they inevitably dislike one of the tracks you really love! And as a bonus, this episode features a very rare, never heard before archive recording of Steve pitching the album to Tony Stratton Smith for the very first time. What will his reaction be? Listen to find out.

NEXT EPISODE: Peter Gabriel