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Steve Hackett - Till We Have Faces CD (album) cover

TILL WE HAVE FACES

Steve Hackett

 

Eclectic Prog

2.43 | 253 ratings

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Tarcisio Moura
Prog Reviewer
2 stars Till we have a direction...

Released in 1984, after the purely acoustic Bay Of Kings, this album clearly shows that Steve Hackett didn't have a clue on what to do in the that year. The music here is very tentative, like he was trying too hard to be something he is not. Pop, prog or fusion? Latin, maybe? He even recorded his first īrealī blues song on this LP (Let Me Count The Ways ). This song has all the blues cliches one should expect except for real feeling. The synths are still very cheesy 80īs plastic sound most of the time. He even uses several brazilian musicians on the album to spice up the tracks, but it seldom works that great. The production didnīt help much either, a bit too thin.

Ok, this is not bad. It has its moments, especially the instrumental parts where he guitar still shines, even if those moments are few and far between. Taking The Easy Way Out is one of those moments: ethereal, beautiful keys, great guitar work. A pity that it is so short. The CDīs opener Duel is a nice synth rock with a fine melody (it would fit very nicely on any Alan Parsons album of the period). Contrary to some of his previous stuff his vocals sound a bit weak this time (production problems again?).

Till We Have Faces is one of those albums a fan should only own if he has already bought all other Steve Hackett major stuff. Not a good starting point to know the solo work of one progīs greatest and most influential guitarists. Transitional record, at best.

Tarcisio Moura | 2/5 |

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