Peter Gabriel-Peter Gabriel 3-Melt (1980)

Track List:
1. Intruder
2. No Self Control
3. Start
4. I Don't Remember
5. Family Snapshot
6. And Through The Wire
7. Games Without Frontiers
8. Not One of Us
9. Lead A Normal Life
10. Biko

Best Track: And Through The Wire

Fucked up and disturbing...But I like it!

Peter Gabriel is one of the most gifted Art Rockers around because he can combine his arty experimentation with a sound that is appealing to the mainstream. (At least pre-1986) With PG 3 or Melt as I like to call it he manages to combine the two beautifully.

Intruder sets the scene of the album from the start. A disturbing synth background gives Gabriel plenty of room to sing in a very awkward and appropriate style, which fits in brilliantly. The lyrics perfectly describe what happens in the head of an intruder, and it just comes out so nicely. It's not what I'd call immediately accessible but it's a strong starter. No Self Control continues to touch on the mentally unstable feel of the album, but Start is a massive left turn. Lovely luscious sax dominated instrumentals? Is this Roxy Music's Avalon? This is definitely a very distinct song from the other tracks and it does represent a nice breather from the heavier (in lyrics and feel) songs around it.

The next few songs feel a touch more listenable for the more mainstream person. I Don't Remember has a strong and heavy vocal hook which interchanges nicely the guitar there, whilst Family Snapshot touches on the heartstrings with Gabriel incorporating a childish touch to his voice at the end when he's singing to stop his parents fighting. The character impersonating stuff is a throwback to his Genesis years but it certainly sounds a lot more emotional and serious here. Which in a sense is a good description of the whole album.

And Through The Wire is next, and it shows Gabriel putting his voice to good use again, with a nice very 80's sounding but also quite good guitar riff dominating around it. This combination makes it my favourite song here. The hit single Games Without Frontiers has strong anti-war lyrical content but isn't quite as atmospheric as the other tracks. Not One of Us is similar in musical style to I Don't Remember without quite as strong a hook. Lead A Normal Life has a very thick and effective atmosphere, with nice piano work just floating to the surface over it. It almost has an ambient feel at times, except towards the end where there is a flood of distortion again returning to the mentally unstable style again. Biko is another political song (about some South African anti-apartheid campaigner I believe?) with excellent use of African drums and choir. Gabriel is a big campaigner for World music and it is represented nicely here, even if it kind of sticks out from the majority of the album. It is still a quality song.

From the striking album cover to the striking songs Melt represents art rock at it's finest. Rarely had Gabriel ever reached this kind of brilliance, in or out of Genesis, and so it certainly deserves praise.


14/15