LIVE ARCHIVES 70,80,90S

Actually the right rate should be "4 stars and an half", but as it represents his career brightly. This box set is the most complete collection of some HACKETT's most famous songs and such instrumental pieces of art music as well, concerning the important career of the most influential guitarist, along with Andy Latimer and Steve HOWE, all over the world prog scene!! This collection - being so wide - can witness the exact shade of meaning concerning HACKETT's several kinds of execution, including also the defects during his performance (usually He's almost perfect technically, but of course his creativity and taste as well are always perfect); but this fact doesn't affect the high quality of the present box set, where you can find immortal classics such as "Please Don't Touch", "Blood on the Rooftops", "Spectral Mornings" (the first 2 discs are taken from a concert in London)while "Jacuzzi" and "Ace of wands" come from a famous gig in Rome on 1981.

The disc concerning the 90's activity of Steve is better recorded, even though the songs-apart from the splendid "Take these pearls" - are less interesting and not always inspiring. It never minds! We forgive Steve for the presence of such tepid songs among several jewels, if you regard such moments as his break of inspiration: for this reason you can notice the duty he must pay, due to the necessary mainstream exigences, as an interlude between a complex part and the following easier section, suitable for the "laity" of prog music.

Highly recommended!! The booklet too...