CELL 151

The albums Cured (1981) and especially Highly Strung (1982) were a very disappointing musical experience for me, Hackett made more and more polished and predictable compositions, some were even close to crap! This maxi-single contains music that prooves Steve Hackett was still able to make good symphonic prog.

Side 1 starts with a sound that is, how cynical, close to The Phil Collins Trio their popprog in The Eighties: a catchy rhythm with a modern keyboard sound and a song oriented approach. But halfway we can enjoy a long instrumental interlude featuring a fiery electric guitar solo and a spectacular break with a biting guitar sound and a spectacular synthesizer solo. Side 2 starts with a live recording of the mindblowing composition Air Conditioned Nightmare (nomination for the best ever progrock title!): a very propulsive and exciting rhythm with bombastic keyboards and biting electric guitar (the very distinctive Steve Hackett guitar sound) and sensational synthesizer flights, incredible how this shy and introvert personality sublimates some dark feelings into this heavy and bombastic piece of music! The final track is a long instrumental piece with wonderful classical guitar, very warm, sensitive and romantic, what a contrast with the previous song.

My rating: 3,5 stars. Check out on E-Bay!

Time lapse

Cell 151 is a single taken from the Highly Strung album. Unlike many people I think that this album is one of Steve's best solo albums and is a more coherent effort compared to his early albums that were often all over the place in terms of style. The song is not the best from that album but it works well as a single. The single features two b-sides. The first is a live recording of Air-Conditioned Nightmare which first appeared on the previous Cured album. This Jazz-Rock/Fusion number is excellent and works very well in the live environment. This version has since been included as a bonus track on the remastered CD version of Cured. The second b-side is Time Lapse At Milton Keynes - an acoustic number not included on any of Steve's regular albums. It is not one of his more memorable acoustic numbers, but it is nonetheless a good one. This one is a bonus track on the Highly Strung CD reissue.