Steve Hackett - Spectral Mornings

Artist:

Hackett, Steve

UPC:

094633724129

See Also:

Bush, Kate Harper, Roy Gilmour, David Be Bop Deluxe Waters, Roger

Description:

Personnel: Steve Hackett (vocals, guitars, koto, harmonica, guitar synthesizer); Dik Cadbury (vocals, violin, bass instrument); Nick Magnus (vocals, strings, Fender Rhodes piano, harpsichord, Clavinet, keyboards, mini-Moog synthesizer); Peter Hicks (vocals); John Hackett (flute); John Shearer (drums, percussion).
To his credit, Steve Hackett learned from the mistakes made on Please Don`t Touch, and delivered a much-improved mix of songs and instrumentals on 1975`s Spectral Mornings. With a workable backing band that includes John Shearer, Nick Magnus, and former Decameron bassist Dik Cadbury, the ex-Genesis guitarist exploits his strengths: progressive instrumentals that skip between heaven and hell, pastoral pop songs, and a healthy dose of English humor. Vocalist Peter Hicks takes the lead on a few tracks, and as the honey-fied "The Virgin and the Gypsy" makes clear, his voice is much better suited to the material than Richie Havens. Hackett`s lone vocal cameo, "The Ballad of the Decomposing Man," is a Pythonesque treat. The guitar work is typically top-notch, equally effective in acoustic sections that feature John Hackett`s flute and in tempestuous arrangements where Steve`s trademark electric guitar pierces through the chaos. The guitarist also extends his range to the Cantonese koto (presumably a variation on the Japanese koto) for the delicate instrumental "The Red Flower of Tachai Blooms Everywhere"; in typically mischievous fashion, it lulls the listener into a false sense of relaxation for the sonic onslaught of "Clocks -- The Angel of Mons." For many, Voyage of the Acolyte is the definitive Hackett record, but Spectral Mornings is more indicative of his range as a solo artist. The music is true to progressive rock in sound if not in scope, a trait which endears Hackett to Genesis fans who found that band`s subsequent commercialization distasteful. ~ Dave Connolly

Track Listing:

SPECTRAL MORNINGS (+7 BONUS TRACKS) (REMASTERED):

1. Every Day
2. Virgin and the Gypsy, The
3. Red Flower of Tachai Blooms Everywhere, The
4. Clocks - The Angel of Mons
5. Ballad of the Decomposing Man
6. Lost Time in Cordoba
7. Tigermoth
8. Spectral Mornings
9. Everyday - (Alternate mix)
10. Virgin and the Gypsy, The
11. Tigermoth - (Alternate mix)
12. Ballad of the Decomposing Man, The - (Alternate mix)
13. Clocks - The Angel of Mons
14. Live Acoustic Set Medley: Etude In A Minor / Blood On The Rooftops / Horizons / Kim
15. Tigermoth

Album Information

Release Date:

09/19/2005

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Rock & Pop

Subgenre:

Progressive Rock

Label:

Caroline Distribution

Producer:

John Acock; Steve Hackett

Catalog Number:

37241

Original Release Year:

1979

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

39 : 1

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