Steve Hackett
The Night Siren

Tracks
1. Behind the Smoke
2. Martian Sea
3. Fifty Miles from the North Pole
4. El Niño
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


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


Discography:
Voyage of the Acolyte (1975)
Please Don't Touch (1978)
Spectral Mornings (1979)
Defector (1980)
Cured (1981)
Highly Strung (1982)
Bay of Kings (1983)
Till We Have Faces (1984)
Momentum (1988)
Guitar Noir (1993)
Blues With A Feeling (1995)
Genesis Revisited (1996, Japan-only)
Watcher of the Skies: Genesis Revisited (1996)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1997)
Darktown (1999)
Sketches of Satie (2000 w John Hackett)
Feedback 86 (2000)
To Watch the Storms (2003)
Metamorpheus (2005)
Wild Orchids (2006)
Tribute (2008)
Out of the Tunnel's Mouth (2009)
Beyond the Shrouded Horizon (2011)

Genesis Revisited II (2012)
Genesis Revisited: Live at Hammersmith (2013)
Genesis Revisited: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2014)
Wolflight (2015)
The total Experience Live in Liverpool (2016)


Guests:


Info:

Released 2017-03-24
Reviewed 2016-03-20

Links:
hackettsongs.com
insideout

The amazing Steve Hackett makes it to 25 with this album, he is certainly as diligent as he is old and polite, a gentleman rocker with some amazing skills. This time he has put together a multi-cultural piece of music with a message of peace throughout the songs, a great finger to Trump and other scumbags like him. Hackett shows the strength in diversion with great guests from around the world to add depth to the songs on this album. And The Night Siren does not only have a great cover, it sounds interesting as well, kind of classic Hackett but with a fresh perspective that is evident all the way from the powerful Behind the Smoke that also has a powerful video, all the way to the strong ending of the album.

Progressive rock is the genre we can claim for this album, an album with strong melodies and excellent production. It has a sound we recognise for being Hackett; his familiar styles are prevalent throughout the album. But even if we recognise it, it still has a fresh sound and a novel feel – just like Hackett albums usually have. I would describe this album as a fairly diverse album with flavours from around the world. The eleven tracks play for 58 minutes and thanks to the great quality of the music, the depth and variation it is an album that keeps you listening for the entire playing time.

It is obvious, and impressive, that Hackett delivers once again. The Night Siren is a strong album with strong songs and you will be hard pressed to find any major flaws. One thing I would have liked is a faster song; I think this album would have benefitted from something like that as it would have added even more depth. That along with the fact that the sounds is rather familiar for anyone who have heard stuff by Hackett before – still these are just minor things and not really changing my perception of this album, an album that I think is great.

It is an album with great songs and great melodies is what we are getting when we are listening to this album, one or two of the songs stand out a bit more. The opening track Behind the Smoke is one of those standout tracks; I also think that the ending track The Gift is a great little track – certainly an excellent ending for a great album. Hackett’s fans will certainly adore and enjoy this album, and so will many others. I can highly recommend this album for those of you who usually agree with what I write – I think Steve Hackett one again delivers a great piece of music, it may not be his best but it is another impressive progressive rock album. Hackett once again proves that he is a brilliant musician and songwriter.

HHHHHHH

 

 

Label: InsideOut
Three similar bands: Genesis/Kaipa/Yes
Rating: HHHHHHH (5/7)
Reviewer: Daniel Källmalm


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