SPECTRAL MORNINGS

I really liked Voyage of Accolyte so I had to try this one. Spectral mornings is the third solo album by Steve Hackett. Not like Voyage, it is very poppy in my opinion. Another difference is the total abscence of other Genesis members. You can hear the eighties approuching very well. The recording is modern, but a bit dated anyway. The eighties sound has a tendency to age very quickly, unlike most seventies recordings.

The first three popsongs aren't very interesting. The standerd procedure for songwriting is applied here and the melodies are catchy and a bit simple. It just doesn't sound devoding. Clocks should be the first progressive output here but even this track isn't very special compared with his Genesis work or his debut. It sounds like it had to be very acceptable for the common man, and this is wat is so disturbing here. The complete record plays on without getting my attention. So great symphonical track, no real progressive elements. I can not understand whay this record is rated so high.

Conclusion. Is this a record that is just not intended for it's former progressive rock fans? It sounds like a shift in directing, heading for safety for the coming eighties. I can't make any more then two stars of this. Briefly overrated.