Search - Steve Hackett :: To Watch the Storms

Hackett the musical chameleon strikes again...

THX-1138 | UK | 06/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Former Genesis guitarist turned solo adventurer Steve Hackett returned again in 2003 with this, 'To Watch The Storms', another well recived album that offers many differnt styles of music on one CD...



Hackett is a prog rocker, going right back to the glory years of Genesis in the 70's, paticularly the 1970-1977 period were the band produced a powerful array of music. Since then Steve has become a musician striving to explore ALL sides of music, like former Genesis band mate Peter Gabriel, he will try any type of sound. He has released a number of albums, including 'Please Don't Touch' (1978), 'Spectral Mornings' (1979) and 'Guitar Noir' (1992) that are considered classics.



And so this album 'To Watch The Storms', Hackett's first effort since 1999's anticipated 'Darktown' album. Here Hackett shifts gears effortlessly. The album has a tremendous mood throughout, and Hackett has a guitar sound that is truely distictive. From the calmness and nostalgia of the opening track 'Strutton Ground' to the prog throwback 'Circus Of Becoming', this is a perfectly crafted work.



Hackett has also become a very good lyricist, with some thought provoking words to go with his musical soudscapes. And he is a good singer, half prog, half blues croke is how to describe it best.



Other highlights include the uplifting 'Brand New', the unbelievably heavy political protest song 'Mechanical Bride', which Hackett almost scares you with its insanely wild instrumental passage. The gentle, elegant 'Rebecca', with it's classical acoustic guitars is a nice contrast, as is the powerful love song 'This World', with it's moving chorus.



'The Devil Is An Englishman' and 'Marijuana Assasian Of Youth' are both completely insane rock riots, with Hackett malevolently sinister on the former, and playing the Batman theme on his guitar on the later...



And to round off, as always their is a set of stirring instrumental pieces, from nylon guitar songs like 'Wind, Sand And Stars', 'If Only You Knew' and 'The Moon Under Water' to world music epic 'The Silk Road' and the atmospheric 'Pollution B'.



Oh and there is just time for some full on blues with 'Fire Island' and some Irish folk with 'Come Away' and surrealist jazz with the muted and moody 'Frozen Statues'.



This special edition version of 'To Watch The Storms' ios beautifully packaged, with great artwork by Hackett's girlfriend/artist Kim Poor, and sleve notes by the man himself for every track. If you want diversity, complexity and beauty, this is the album for you, i HIGHLY recommend this album."

Best in a long while

Robespierre | Madison, WI USA | 09/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Aside from his acoustic albums, I think this is the best the Steve has done since Defector. It's very much like his eclectic albums of that time."