THE CIRCUS AND THE NIGHTWHALE

While most progressive rock musicians cannot even find Aotearoa on a map, Steve Hackett has played here twice in recent years, and while there has been plenty of Genesis in his set there were also plenty of classics from his solo material. To be honest, I would love to see him play a concert which only contains material from his own albums, such is the consistent quality over the years. Whereas his last release, 2021's 'Surrender of Silence', was based around his touring band this one has Steve much more to the fore and while Roger King (keyboards, arrangements) is still heavily involved, singer Nad Sylvan only features on one song, Rob Townsend on two, with Jonas Reingold and Craig Blundell on four each. Steve provides most of the vocals here, along with electric, acoustic & 12-string guitars, mandolin, harmonica, percussion and bass.

This is a concept album, a rite-of-passage story with a young character called Travla at its heart, but arguably this is autobiographical, and one gets the impression that Hackett used this to get some things off his chest. Sadly, musically this rarely lives up to the heady heights he has often climbed, and it feels somewhat boring, but then we get songs like "Enter The Ring" with its harmonies and rock stylings which makes one think we have been thrown back in time to the classic first three albums (can it really be that 2025 marks 50 years since the release of 'Spectral Mornings'?). To my mind it is the Genesis albums which have Hackett playing which are the most complete (none of this Gabriel/Collins malarkey for me), and I have always relished seeing him play live, and even though this is not exactly essential Steve is showing no signs whatsoever of slowing down. This may not be classic Hackett, but there are times when he shreds and shows no sign whatsoever of his years in the business, and the touches of brilliance are still there. It may not be his best album ever, but is a damn fine listen all the same.