Five

Tony Banks is a genius. This cd transports me. It is a disc of classical music for orchestra, of not easy listening, but at the same time it is extremely pleasant to the ears. Tony, thank you for your recordings. We look forward to more recordings of yours, both in classical themes, as a soloist .... and to achieve new material with Genesis, you know it would be a dream come true. The quality of any material produced by Tony is of a quality far superior to the current standard in the world of music.Marcelo Nogues from Argentina

Look, I stopped holding my breath for another "(A) Curious Feeling" -- granted, a masterwork -- or even another "Strictly, Inc" (was I alone in loving it? it's worth having if only for "The Serpent Said" and "An Island in the Darkness"). I stopped waiting for that rumored grand Genesis reunion. I stopped waiting for more soundtracks (there, too, was I alone in really liking them?). But now that Mr. Banks has embraced writing contemporary Classical for orchestra (or piano and orchestra) all I can say is, if you love his contributions to the Genesis canon, you will love this music (and "Six" and "Seven," too). Chances are you'll hear his distinct compositional style, which he displayed amply back in the day using ARP synths, electric piano, organ, and the tell-tale Mellotron. I say tell-tale because if you listen to his use of Mellotron and those other synths/keyboards you can hear the genesis (see what I did there?) of his orchestral development as a composer. Even then he displayed an inherent orchestrating talent, bringing in Mellotron choirs and strings in just the right manner, right volume, right chording, etc. Sure, the Mellotron was limiting...but that made it a challenge, and not everyone who used a Mellotron got the same amount of goosebumps out of his audience. Listen to Genesis live shows roughly 1974-1978 (YouTube is a friend) and you will hear the majesty of Mellotron strings and choirs in the prog-rock format. Pinder, McDonald, Wakeman, Moraz...they're all great! But Banks was iconically laying down a different kind of layered sound. Now that he has an orchestra at his command, his potential is completely fulfilled. Even if, on this recording, the orchestra parts were recorded separately, there is an urgency to these compositions, a forward movement, a "slow-burn toward climax" kind of approach that recalls his best Genesis songs, and much of his solo work. His use if the choir recalls the Mellotron in places, which creates an irony all its own. Reiterating themes and building layers to a lovely crescendo seems to be his signature style. He may not be alone in doing this, but only Tony Banks made those Genesis songs that he contributed so memorable. Let's put it this way, if you happen to love "An Island in the Darkness" you can't help but hear the similarities in "Prelude to a Million Years," and the prog-rock lives deeply within the staves of "Renaissance." And then you'll find yourself captivated by this romantic, exciting music of the mind. I am in awe of everyone's contribution to classic Genesis, but I return to Tony Banks when I want to hear what caught me in the first place. By the way, I've seen Steve Hackett many times live, and if only the two of them would get along long enough to do an electric guitar and orchestra album (similar to some of Steve Howe's and David Gilmour's work) I would be in heaven. In the meantime, there's this excellent cinematic and captivating orchestral music to stir the blood. Recommended for the romantics out there who can feel their heart-strings plucked by lush music and the love of early to middle period Genesis. Edited to add that "City of Gold" on SIX will also stir the prog-rock soul, in an entirely different way. It's too bad the movie scoring career didn't work out, because he's every bit as good as those others doing it today (Zimmer, Elfman, Doyle, etc.).--W.D. Gagliani, author of The Judas Hit

After hearing Reveille on the local classical radio station I was so moved that I decided to purchase the compact disc, not knowing if I would like the other four selections. I was not disappointed but very happy with my decision. This recording contains five original compositions by Tony Banks performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and Choir and conducted by Nick Ingman. I found the best way to listen to this beautiful music is to close my eyes and let it take me up and away. The twelve page color booklet contains some background information about the recording.

Tony's first orchestral venture was seven pieces, his next one six. This has five, suggesting it'll take him another four albums before we hear a full symphony from a guy who seems to have found a whole new career in his post-Genesis catalog. As with his other works, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra does the honors, and once again they do a masterful job. This time however, Tony contributes piano and celeste, and some of the pieces might even appeal to die-hard prog fans. It's not rock, but it isn't stuffy either. If you liked his first two you'll love this one. Nicely recorded and the service was very fast ( received it 2 days after ordering!).

The very best of all of Tony's classical music albums. Beautiful, playful, and dramatic, much like his old band, Genesis. A refreshing album that will always remain a timeless piece of work. If you are a fan of Tony's music you will most likely enjoy this.

Great orchestration, full soundstage, and bold passages. The pressing is great also. Quiet floor noise, no pops & crackles. Unfortunately, I have been purchasing new LP pressings that sound like the lacquers been cut with chisels!

I have Seven, Six and Five. Without a doubt Five is my favorite. The music is absolutely beautiful. Played it four times just this afternoon. Not being a rock band enthusiast, I find it is amazing how Mr. Banks can jump from rock to classical and produce such lovely music. Thank you, Tony Banks!

After having several other types of holders break after only a few months of use, I decided to get this one that features the gravity mechanism. This design makes it easy to put my iPhone 6S in and take out, even with a Speck Candyshell case on it. NOTE: There are a lot of auto holders out there but only a small subset have an adjustable clasp that inserts into the car's air vent. Without the ability to adjust/tighten, these other designs simply fall off the dash during normal car movement. This one is simple, elegant, and has the smallest footprint so a winner in my book.