Guitar Mastermind Steve Hackett has re-recorded the GTR classic, “When the Heart Rules the Mind,” with Marillion’s Steve Rothery. The new version will be available tomorrow for purchase.
[With thanks to Prog Magazine for posting this first]
Tag: Steve Hackett
Hierophantic Hackett
Hwaet! The Genesis in days gone by
and the guitarist who ruled them had courage and greatness.
We have heard of that guitarist’s heroic campaigns.
A comfort sent by God to the peoples of the world.
He knew what they had tholed,
the long times and troubles they’d come through
without a leader; so the Lord of Life,
the glorious Almighty, made this Hackett renowned.
–With apologies to the Beowulf poet.
Hackett is back, and, of course, he’s greater than before. He has already conquered Grendel and Grendel’s mother. Now, he returns to fulfill the prophecy of the Hierophant.
If you’ve not guessed, my copy of Hackett’s latest live offering, WUTHERING NIGHTS: LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM, arrived in my post box today. And, oh, what a joy it is. I’ve listened through it all, and, now, I’m rather stuck on this version of “Shadow of the Hierophant.”
As I listen and watch it repeatedly, I am reminded what first brought me to prog rock, oh so many years ago. It is this, most certainly, this. The build, the lingering, the apex, the mystery, and the certainty.
I’ve always considered VOYAGE OF THE ACOLYTE the lost Genesis album of 1975, much like Squire’s FISH OUT OF WATER is the lost Yes album of the same year. “Shadow of the Hierophant” was stunning in 1975. It’s even better in 2018.
Hackett’s recent outings and return to the beloved prog of the 1970s only makes me realize how alive this music remains. Watching Hackett, King, O’Toole, Townsend, Beggs, and Lehmann perform “Shadow of the Hierophant” reminds me that even in this world of sorrows, heroes arise, called forth by the God to remind us of what beauty still remains.
Steve Hackett Makes Everything Better – Even Things That Are Already Awesome! Orphaned Land’s Latest
You gotta love Prog Magazine. They are always introducing me to new things. Orphaned Land, a band of which I was completely unaware fifteen minutes ago, just released a new album yesterday entitled Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs. Steve Hackett features prominently on the track “Chains Fall to Gravity.” The song loosely reminds me of Hackett’s recent solo output before he even begins playing his guitar solo. The entire song is magnificently epic.
Here’s to hoping that the prog gods shine upon Progarchy and send us a review copy!
Steve Hackett Genesis Revisited Live –Band with Orchestra
Following last year’s sell-out Genesis Revisited tour, prog icon and former Genesis guitarist, Steve Hackett, announces a 6-date UK tour in October. Treating fans to many favourite Genesis and Hackett numbers, this time Steve and his band will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra.
The decision to undertake this tour was cemented following the critical success of last year’s one-off US performance of the Genesis Revisited music with his band and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the charismatic Bradley Thachuk.
It went down a storm with the audience and sounded amazing, with the orchestra adding even more texture and colour to these classic tracks, prompting Steve to want to perform more shows in this way. Such was the gusto and verve brought to the performance by conductor, Bradley Thachuk that he will fly over to the UK to conduct the October shows. This show promises to be a transcendent experience!
Continue reading “Steve Hackett Genesis Revisited Live –Band with Orchestra”
Bryan’s Best of 2017
Here we are again, folks. We find ourselves at the end of another great year for prog. Sadly, we’ve had to say goodbye to some amazing artists this year, including John Wetton, but we at least have their music by which to remember them.
I know I’ve been a bit quiet here at Progarchy lately due to beginning graduate school this fall. Hopefully things settle down going forward, and I’ll be able to contribute more. For now, here are my favorite albums from 2017 in vaguely ascending order.
Watson’s Best Prog Albums of 2017: Part 1 — The “Honorable Mentions”
This year has seen a bonanza of quality progressive music. I have probably listened to more great albums this calendar go-round then in any recent year. This list is, of course, totally subjective and based on my own predispositions towards symphonic, orchestral, and melody-hooked prog. There was such a plethora of wonderfully creative work in 2017 that I am increasing the list from the usual Top Ten or Top Twenty to a whopping 40 best.
And though ## 40 – – 21 are being categorized as only “honorable mentions” they still deserve your attention. All of the following releases are so good that on any given day (just not today) they might well “crack the ceiling” and wind up on my official TOP TWENTY (coming later this week). And now, in descending order from number 40 to number 21 are this years:
“Honorable Mentions”
40) SACRED APE/Sacred Ape
Continue reading “Watson’s Best Prog Albums of 2017: Part 1 — The “Honorable Mentions””
The Thrill of Fresh CDs
Look what showed up yesterday! Cheers to Lasercd for the prompt delivery.
I originally wasn’t going to purchase Big Big Train’s Stone & Steel Blu-ray because of the supposed issues with it not playing on some American Blu-ray players. Thankfully, it works perfectly on my home player, and I’m glad I was still able to get a copy before they ran out. The packaging is beautiful, much like everything Big Big Train does. I should have bought it a year ago.
My intro to BBT was English Electric: Full Power, so I still haven’t heard the English Electric albums in their original format. I figured I’d add these to my BBT collection before they too are unavailable. I may be young, but I despise the whole streaming thing. When I can afford it, I love to buy actual CDs. Even though I typically use iTunes to listen to music, I love having the physical CD with great packaging and a booklet. If the artists are going to go to such lengths to make a beautiful product, I want to experience it the way it was meant to be experienced.
Thank you to all the wonderful progressive rock bands out there making excellent music and caring enough about your craft to keep going. You make life for the rest of us a little bit easier.
Burning Shed’s Latest Ad
I’m not in the habit of advertising for a company so blatantly, but I’m really taken with this Burning Shed postcard that came with the Steve Hackett release, THE NIGHT SIREN. Beautiful art.
The Night Siren: The Peaceful Resistance of Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett, The Night Siren (InsideOut, 2017)
Tracks: Behind the Smoke (6:58), Martian Sea (4:41), Fifty Miles From the North Pole (7:08), El Nino (3:52), Other Side of the Wall (4:01), Anything But Love (5:56), Inca Terra (5:54), In Another Life (6:07), In the Skeleton Gallery (5:09), West to East (5:14), The Gift (2:45)
I think we all know by now that Steve Hackett is a genius. Over the last several years of this current wave of progressive rock, it seems that everything Mr. Hackett has touched has turned to gold. Indeed, he recently told the fine folks over at Prog magazine that he is currently in one of the most creative phases of his life (Prog 73). Considering his remarkable musical catalog, that is saying a lot. It rings true, however, when The Night Siren and his previous album Wolflight are concerned. They are some of the best albums of his solo career.
Both of these albums include a lot of what some might call “world music.” He features instruments and musicians from all over the world, including Azerbaijan, Scotland, Iceland, and Israel. He even includes both Jewish and Palestinian singers from Israel on the same song. Throughout all of this mix, Hackett’s message is clear: if we can have peace through musical collaboration, why can’t we have world political peace? This is certainly an excellent question to which it seems world leaders have no answer.
One might think that this conglomeration of disparate instruments and styles would create an off-putting wall of noise, but nothing could be further from the truth. Hackett masterfully blends these different influences with his signature guitar licks. The result is truly breathtaking.
Continue reading “The Night Siren: The Peaceful Resistance of Steve Hackett”
DPRP Reviews the New Steve Hackett Album
The Dutch Progressive Rock Page has just published a great issue focused solely on Steve Hackett’s new album, The Night Siren, due out on March 24. The issue includes a short interview and three separate album reviews, including one by yours truly. Yes, shameless self-promotion. The Night Siren is a fantastic album, and this DPRP reviews issue shouldn’t be missed.
Progarchy 