Anthony Phillips
Wise After the Event

Release Date: 1978 | Tracklist

So, “Wise After The Event” is the second solo studio album of Anthony Phillips and was released in 1978. The line up is Anthony Phillips, Michael Giles, Mel Collins, Rupert Hine, John G. Perry, The Vicar, Jeremy Gilbert, Robin Phillips, Perkin Alanbeck, Rodent Rabble, Humbert Ruse, Vic Stench and an orchestra conducted by Gilbert Biberian.


Anthony Phillips is an English musician more known for his time with Genesis. He was one of the founder members of the band until his departure in 1970, following the release of the band’s second album, “Trespass”. Following medical advice, he left the band due to stage fright. “Nursery Cryme”, the band’s first album after Phillips’ departure, featured two songs from his time with the band, “The Musical Box” and “The Fountain Of Salmacis”, but with guitar performed by Steve Hackett on the album. Phillips subsequently studied classical music. His first solo album, “The Geese And The Ghost”, was released in 1977. Their sophomore album, “Wise After The Event”, was released in the following year.

Given the extended gestation of their debut studio work, “The Geese And The Ghost”, it’s somewhat surprising that, barely six months later, he was back into the studio to record tracks for his second studio release, “Wise After The Event”. His record label and his manager convinced Anthony Phillips that it was in the best interests of his career that his next future album should feature more songs and less instrumental tracks than his debut had. With very little music written between 1973 and 1975, when Phillips was studying music and the time after that was spent almost completing his debut album, tracks for his second album had to be written during the rehearsal and the recording sessions of it.

“Wise After The Event” is a source of counter-argument for anyone who chooses to dismiss Phillips as incomparable and irrelevant, given his short time in Genesis. Despite the lack of experimentation, “Wise After The Event” is more cohesive than “The Geese And The Ghost” is, with its highlights sprawling across entire tunes, as opposed to the mere passages of before. It gets its qualities not from Phillips’ association with Genesis. Instead, Phillips uses associations with other figures. Mel Collins and Michael Giles appear on this album, providing a bit of Crimson to the album. The album is sometimes folky and sometimes advanced, as contradictory as it sounds, but explained by the album cover.

“We’re All As We Lie” is a perfect opener. The high pitched 12 strings guitar, adds a special folk touch to the song. The dreamy vocals, followed by Giles’ pulsating backbeats and an enduring melody line, complete the picture. “Birdsong” is in the vein as “The Geese And The Ghost”. It has a Phillips’ soaring electric guitar coda, which exhibits similarities between his and Steve Hackett’s technique at the time. It has echoes from “Trespass”. It was originally written just after Phillips left Genesis. “Moonshooter” showcases Phillips’ unique acoustic guitar style and reserved vocals. It’s a slow song, very sweet and very acoustic, not very different from Phillips’ standard songs. The title track is an eerie and lengthy piece, with a strange feel. It demonstrates the subtle and perfectly judged drumming of Giles, and such is the unusual nature of this song that, in some ways, it brings to my mind, King Crimson. “Pulling Faces” uncovers some of the limitations in Phillips’ singing. But, on the whole, he handles vocal duties with charm and sincerity. It has some rare energy, more in the rock Genesis’ vein, that settles down when vocals arrive. “Regrets” is a mournful song that clearly features Phillips’ distinctive wistful cracking voice, conveying heartbreaking emotion. It’s the only song on the album with orchestration. It shows the slow burning nature of his song writing. “Greenhouse” brings us to a more familiar melodic territory, with lyrical, musical and vocal hints of The Beatles in their psychedelic phase. It’s a short piece with something to do with the early Genesis’ era. “Paperchase” has a trippy feel that is continued by the gossamer thin. It’s more meandering and less detailed in their arrangement. Still, it remains engaging and contains enough depth to keep us hooked. “Now What (Are They Doing To My Little Friends)?”, is a sad and emotive music soaring, with emotion and restrained anger in the choruses. It drifts away elegantly before fading into dark ominous sounds. It’s a nice closing.


Conclusion: “Wise After The Event” is different from “The Geese And The Ghost”. It gave him a chance to select some early material. As Phillips said, this was really his first album. “The Geese And The Ghost”, despite being released under his name solely, was written closely with Mike Rutherford. “Wise After The Event” is the only album where Phillips sings as the lead vocalist on the entire album. Tony Banks did the same on his second solo album “The Fugitive”. Like Banks, Phillips, despite having a nice voice, he isn’t a singer. But, he did a decent vocal work. “Wise After The Event” is a very good album and, in a certain way, is more cohesive and uniform than its predecessor. It’s an excellent effort and deserves to be listened by all Genesis’ fans and by all that love the symphonic classic rock music.


Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)

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