DEFECTOR

Steve Hackett

Eclectic Prog

3.66 | 547 ratings

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Gog/Magog

"Yes, Rock Music Should be Free, but it's Worth Less and Less..."

Great album this, I think. I actually prefer it to Spectral Mornings (yes, yes, heresy I know...).

It certainly lives up to Steve's normal diversity within his albums from outright prog (The Steppes) to near disco-ish pop (The Show) but don't be put off by the diversity I think it all blends magnificently.

Starting off in outright proggy mode is the excellent "The Steppes", very redolent of a lot of Steve's instrumental tracks it builds from a quiet beginning but is soon pounding with drums and guitars to a near ecstatic ending. Time to Get Out follows and is a lot more pop-orientated and accessible but it's a great track, a bit like The Show later on in the album it definitely is accessible melodic but there is something a bit more to it (they both also have great lyrics). The discordant "Slogans" follows and is a strange beast and takes a few listens to get used to but bear with it, it certainly has something different to it.

"Leaving" and "Two Vamps as Guests" are gentle tracks, "Two Vamps..." being an acoustic solo number (reminds me of a slowed down "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" for some reason), but Leaving is a gorgeous little tune, following from the hectic "Slogans".

Jacuzzi and Hammer in the Sand are two of my favourite Hackett tracks. Both instruments, Jacuzzi is a jolly upbeat tune, much favoured as TV background music a few years ago I remember, with sterling work by John Hackett on flute (actually the flute playing throughout the album is superb). Hammer in the sand is an altogether different beast, being a beautiful piano led tune.

"The Toast" is a song that appears to be about being inebriated as far as I can tell and again features superb flute and clarinet work in the middle section.

Finishing off with "Sentimental Institution" the spoof 1920s jazz song, shows a healthy sense of homour (Old and lovely, She's so wealthy, But so ugly, I've gone crazy, Someone help me do).

Gog/Magog | 4/5 | 2007-10-26

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