"24 months ago and yesterday in the memory of America, the centre of New York City became a battlefield and a graveyard and the symbol of an unfinished war."
Well, it's certainly topical seeing as how we're stuck with him for another four years as of a couple of weeks ago.
As you'll probably have gathered, the above quote is taken from George W.Bush's address to the UN General Assembly from September 2003, and it's the first of four quotes from American presidents (well, one of them's actually Senator Edward Kennedy speaking in tribute to his brother Robert, but let's not split hairs) which encapsulate the precarious state of the world over the past forty years. Together, these form the backbone for RAY WILSON'S new single "These Are The Changes."
And it might pleasantly surprise those of us who'd previously written off the grizzled ex-Stiltskin/ Genesis vocalist as a man with a bombastic, prog-rock background, a big voice and little else of substance. Admttedly, it's not much of a song as such, but as a mantra-style exercise in atmosphere and rising drama, it certainly fits the bill.
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There are two versions of the track itself. The "Benztown Mixdown" is the more propulsive, with strident drums slamming in mid-way through, whereas the album version is a little more sparse, with the circling chorus more resonant than ever in this arrangement. The video is also pretty unsettling, with children mouthing the speeches instead of the relevant world leaders. It's not quite Chris Cunningham, but it's disturbing nonetheless.
Sadly, Ray then blots his copybook with the additional live track "Gouranga", which again showcases his dramatic, imploring vocals, but also reminds us he's very much at home with grandiosity and stadium bombast when give the opportunity. Ho hum.
Still, you can't have everything, and with "These Are The Changes" Ray Wilson has pulled off a genuinely thought-provoking coup. More power to him.
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