Wolflight (Insideout, 2015)
In the past years, former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett has been touring and releasing fabulous live boxed sets extracted from his popular Genesis Revisited concerts. Wolflight is his new solo album and the Steve Hackett-flavor is unmistakable. If you are familiar with Steve Hackett’s more symphonic-oriented albums, you will certainly enjoy this one.
The concept behind the 10 official tracks in Wolflight is to take the listener through a voyage in space and time examining the different sides of the endless fight for freedom
Wolflight opens with a pop drum beat and Hackett’s guitars. The classical pop beat of ‘Out of the Body’ didn’t do much for me, but thankfully, he ditches that sound quickly and ventures into more interesting sound explorations.
On the title track 2, ‘Wolflight’ Hackett trades his guitar for an exotic string instrument that leads into a vocal section, powerful drums and wonderful symphonic orchestration that provides the perfect background for Hackett’s signature guitar solos, switching very nicely between electric and acoustic guitar.
‘Love Song to a Vampire’ opens with a beautiful solo guitar piece that leads into an anthemic symphonic song with Hackett on lead vocals that morphs into various climactic electric guitar solos.
‘The Wheel’s Turning’ begins with whirling sounds, emulating wheels and a merry-go-round. It soon develops into a full blown orchestral composition with electric guitars and harmonica jamming with a symphonic rock orchestra.
The evocative ‘Corycian Fire’ takes you to Ancient Greece, with a mix of strings, duduk and mysterious string arrangements. Signature changes lead into a heavier drum beat and fiery electric guitar and then back so the Greek theme and so forth. The final part introduces a magnificent orchestral choir.
Track 6, ‘Earthshine’ is a delightful solo acoustic guitar composition. It leads to ‘Loving Sea,’ a folk-rock song that sounds a lot like early Crosby, Stills and Nash.
It’s no secret that Hackett is a blues fan. On ‘Black Thunder’ he delivers kick ass blues-rock licks and one of the best solos in the album, where he demonstrates that he is just as good (and more subtle) than many of the shredders out there.
The best groove on the album is undoubtedly the one on track 9, ‘Dust and Dreams’, where easy going drums and keyboards provide the background to outstanding electric guitar performances. This is symphonic progressive rock at its best. It segues into the last official track, ‘Heart Song’ where Hackett let’s his vocal imagination rule with various types of vocals, choruses and overdubs along with guitar solos. I know Hackett is prior to The Enid, but the last section of this piece has a very similar feel to The Enid’s finest works.
I kept mentioning official tracks. The two-disc version I have includes two extra tracks. The first bonus track is ‘Pneuma,’ another exquisite acoustic guitar piece. The last piece is ‘Midnight Sun,’ a classic rock-type song.
“My new rock album Wolflight…reflects everybody’s struggle for freedom on a journey traveling through both inner and outer space,” says Hackett. “It explores sounds from as far afield as Greece, Azerbaijan, the deep American South, Sahara desert and beyond, from all our yesterdays, evoking the ancient past“.
The lineup includes Steve Hackett on electric and acoustic guitar, vocals and Arabic lute. Guest Musicians include Roger King on keyboards and programming, Gary O’Toole on drums, Hugo Dagenhardt on drums , Rob Townsend on sax and duduk, Nick Beggs on bass and stick, and Amanda Lehmann on harmony vocals. Additional guests include Malik Mansurov on tar and Sara Kovaks on didgeridoo. Yes bassist Chris Squire appears on ‘Love Song to a Vampire’.
The album comes in several versions. The special edition two-disc edition includes the CD and Blu-Ray Mediabook with 5.1 mix, interviews and two bonus tracks. There is also an LP & CD Gatefold vinyl, a standard CD in jewel case and digital download.
Steve Hackett will begin his ‘Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited Tour‘ in October 2015, with 19 UK shows.
Buy Wolflight