Hackett, Steve: The Night Siren

I am sure most of you are aware of the latest Steve Hackett disc The Night Siren released March 24 on Inside Out Music, the follow up to Wolflight released in 2015. The new disc features his continued collaboration with keyboardist Roger King.

The last few years have been something of a revelation for Hackett as he continues to be as relevant as ever, continuing to release quality new music and giving old Genesis tunes a dusting off with his Genesis Revisited albums and tours.

As with Wolflight Hackett continues his exploration of world music adding sitar, oud and charango to his excellent guitar playing found throughout The Night Siren. "Behind The Smoke" is a strong opening track beginning with serene vocals and guitar before the Eastern accented riffs add the heaviness. The orchestrations are grandiose and majestic with intermittent flourishes of sitar adding more exotic elements. Next up is "Martian Sea" having an almost completely different sound, strongly emanating a '60s pop rock flavour and is one of the catchiest tunes on the disc. More '60s sentiment can be heard on the lovely "Fifty Miles from the North Pole" featuring lots of quirky change ups from choir-like vocals to heavy riffs to ripping guitar soli. Huge violin orchestrations and a smooth as silk vocal delivery round things off. The deliciously progressive "El Niňo" is a nifty instrumental showcasing some fine Hackett guitar work and huge violin rhythms. The music then slows down with the pretty acoustic ballad "Other Side of the Wall" and its gorgeous vocal arrangement before the music picks up with the very catchy "Anything But Love" featuring Hackett's bluesy harmonica and intricate picking.

Other favourites include the "Kashmir" inspired "In the Skeleton Gallery" and its moody guitar and violin soundscapes and the exquisite "West to East", one of the album's best earworms. The vocals and musical flow are absolutely addictive.

The Night Siren is an eloquently stated and grandiose work that Steve Hackett should be very proud of. It is great to hear one of the old guards of progressive music still writing imaginative music after all these years. Highly recommended!

Musicians:
Mira Awad – vocals (10)
Leslie-Miriam Bennett – keyboards (11)
Gulli Briem – drums, cajon, percussion (7,9)
Troy Donockley – Uilleann pipes (8)
Dick Driver – double bass (3,4,5,7)
Kobi Farhi – vocals (10)
Benedict Fenner – keyboards and programming (11)
Jo Hackett – vocals (10)
John Hackett – flute (2,10)
Steve Hackett – electric and acoustic guitars, oud, charango, sitar guitar, harmonica,
vocals (1-11)
Roger King – keyboards and programming (1-10)
Ferenc Kovács – trumpet (3)
Sara Kovács – didgeridoo (3)
Amanda Lehmann – vocals (1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10)
Malik Mansurow – tar (1)
Nad Sylvan – vocals (7)
Gary O'Toole – drums (3,4,10)
Christine Townsend – violin, viola (3,4,5,7,9,10)
Rob Townsend - baritone and soprano sax, flute, flageolet, quena, duduk, bass
clarinet (1,4,7,9)
Nick D'Virgilio – drums (2)

Track Listing:
1. Behind the Smoke
2. Martian Sea
3. Fifty Miles from the North Pole
4. El Niňo
5. Other Side of the Wall
6. Anything but Love
7. Inca Terra
8. In Another Life
9. In the Skeleton Gallery
10. West to East
11. The Gift

Added: April 14th 2017
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 2312
Language: english

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