GUITAR NOIR

Steve and I embarked a difficult relation once he released "Cured" in 1981. If you would except his good live album "Time Lapse", there were no real highlights any longer.

The opening number from "Guitar Noir" is just beautiful. An hymn to melody. Those uninspired years seem to be an old story. "Sierra Quemada" is a great instrumental track (but this is how I like his work best). Way off his dubious experimentation of the last thirteen years. Because Hackett is so diverse that he is able to please (or not) different type of audiences.

What I like form Steve, and I've told him frequently, is his great and symphonic approach of prog music. When I listen to the wonderful intro of "There Are Many Sides To The Night", I can only take my hats off. This piece is one of the most elaborate of this album. One goes from the most aerial mood to some emotional Spanish guitar sounds of the best vein. But as a critic, and we agreed to this Steve : your vocals didn't improve. You should really take care of this. Please. Those delicate moments would only be grandiose if .

I am not a very demanding fan. Provided that some interesting musical parts are featured in one of your song, I'm more than pleased to praise it Steve. Even if like during "In The Heart Of The City" some weird vocals could have been avoided. Same comment for the nice and atmospheric "Dark As The Grave".

Still, the whole of this album is not a wonderful voyage. There are some reminiscence of less glorious AOR days ("Lost In Your Eyes" and "Little America"). Avoid these songs in the future which are real bad. But the rest of this album is disappointing. Not only vocals are below par, the quality of the songs is very average. And one can hardly say that Steve is over-producing. Six years is well enough to come back with a solid album. But this is not completely the case, unfortunately.

To compensate, there is of course the sublime "Walking Away From Rainbows". A jewel of a melody and probably one of his most emotional piece of music. Fortunately, this album closes as pleasantly as it started. But for different reasons. While "Vampyre" is a great and fully Crimsonesque song which features a very bizarre and scary atmosphere (hence the title) the atmospheric "Tristesse" (sadness) is closing this album on a more tranquil mood.

"Guitar Noir" is by far Steve's most symphonic work for ages. And I like it. Three stars.