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I'm a Genesis fan from way back in the day when Genesis first lost Hackett and then there were three. I devoured all Genesis' early LPs and easily migrated to Steve's earliest releases with Please Don't Touch being a personal favorite. I was an avid fan until Cured, then his sound seemed less progressive and more commercial. This is where he and I parted for almost 30 years.
Recently I decided to take a trip down memory lane to sonically travel back to my high school years, so I downloaded those early releases and have been greatly enjoying them all over again. I always had great respect for his classical playing. His influence inspired me to study classical guitar in my youth.
After downloading and reliving those early releases, I wondered what the heck he's been doing for the last three decades. I listened to a few samples from some of his releases in the '90s and then stumbled upon his most current release, Out of the Tunnel's Mouth. I took a chance, purchased and downloaded it, and then gave it a careful listen.
And was really, really amazed! His sound has matured so greatly, I'm just so shocked. Many artists hit their peak and either stagnate or degrade in time with their most influential works being earlier in their career. I assumed this would be true for Steve and wow, was I wrong!
The first difference I notice is in his guitar playing. His classical chops are more polished and his rock guitar playing has more of a modern, Vai-like influence I never expected to hear. This man is 60 years old? I'd never know it listening to him on this release. His songwriting is also far more matured. There are gritty pieces, much like are heard on some of his early works, but many of the pieces have a very mellow, relaxed, matured, and melodic foundation wrapped in a richly atmospheric patchwork of segues and interludes. His arrangements are more complex and carefully thought out and composed. He's developed so well, I never expected to hear what I'm listening to right now.
This development fascinates me! Now I want to backtrack through each release prior to this one. I'm curious to hear how he reached this level of maturation since those late-'70s classics I love so much.
Disk 2 is mostly a live-performed rehash of older material with one studio newbie thrown in for good measure. I do give him credit for such careful orchestral and group arrangements with some excellent acoustic guitar work. I'm not bothered by the vocals at all. In fact, I find them quite refreshing. Vocals have a Crimson-Wetton influence with Hackett donning a Frippian solo on the suprisingly impressive "A Tower Struck Down" from his flagship release, Voyage of the Acolyte.
I would absolutely recommend this CD to anyone interested in Hackett's solo work. It has both grit and bravado with a very matured and melodic sensibility. Most of all, it's polished inside and out!
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