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Rick Robson View Drop Down

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Posted: April 11 2015 at 17:36

Listening to Petropolis (Bay Of Kings) I got the surprising impression that a little refrain (played just at the minute one and repeated for the following 10 seconds) were composed inspired in the main refrain of Beethoven's 7th Symphony's second movement - they have exactly the same notes, an interesting coincidence that I think Steve Hackett must already be aware of it, perhaps he is a big fan of Beethoven's too

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB

justin4950834-2 View Drop Down

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Posted: April 11 2015 at 17:56

Horizons- Bay Of Kings
The Voice Of Necam- Please Don't Touch
Ace Of Wands- Voyage Of The Acoylte
Hands Of The Priestess Pt.2- Voyage Of The Acoylte
A Tower Struck Down- Voyage Of The Acoylte
The Hermit- Voyage Of The Acoylte
Shadow Of The Hierophant- Voyage Of The Acoylte

fudgenuts64 View Drop Down

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Posted: April 12 2015 at 00:27

Every Day - Spectral Mornings

Lost Time in Cordoba - Spectral Mornings

Spectral Mornings - title track

The Steppes - Defector

Slogans - Defector

Jacuzzi - Defector

Two Vamps as Guests - Defector

Leaving - Defector

Bay of Kings - title track

Hands of the Priestess - Voyage of The Acolyte

The Hermit - Voyage of the Acolyte

Shadow of the Hierophant - Voyage of the Acolyte

Narnia - Please Don't Touch

Carry On Up The Vicarage - Please Don't Touch

A Cradle of Swans - Cured

I'm mostly familiar with the early work, but am slowly listening to the new stuff too. Wolflight is quite good.

Rick Robson View Drop Down

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Posted: April 17 2015 at 22:32

The stunning song Kim (off the album Please Don't Touch) shows so cristal clearly for me how big of a Satie's fan Hackett was, I guess nothing wrong to say that he composed this such a beautiful track strongly inspired in Erik Satie's music.

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB

Bitterblogger View Drop Down

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Posted: June 06 2015 at 00:49

Some love for the great blues track Let Me Count The Ways.

In no particular order:

Spectral Mornings

Kim

Group Therapy

The Steppes

Darktown

Every Day

A Cradle of Swans

Shadow of the Hierophant

Cavalcanti

Flight123

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Posted: June 06 2015 at 11:15

From 78, Hackett virtually cornered the UK live prog circuit and I went to his gigs on a regular basis, until around 83 (similarly with the other Steve - Hillage, but he packed it in at the end of 79). I recall Dick Cadbury trying to tackle the lead vocal of 'Shadow'... I keep going back to that first album but surprised only one mention here of 'Virgin and the Gypsy' - one of his finest. Hackett's material was so strong at that time that the only nod to the past came with an encore of 'I know what I like'.

Edited by Flight123 - June 08 2015 at 07:57

Roj

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Posted: June 08 2015 at 07:46

I've read this entire thread with great interest. I only have Acolyte and Spectral Mornings (both great albums) but have never delved further. Thanks for the comments all, noted accordingly Approve

Rick Robson View Drop Down

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Posted: June 09 2015 at 18:51

HackettFan wrote:

Often overlooked is the Ballad of the Decomposing Man. A short little song, but it's an absolute hoot! Who else brings ragtime to a rock context. I crack up just thinking about it.

Hackett plays some nice harmonica too. I'd like to hear him get back to that.

Ditto on this, HackettFan. And I find interesting how this track adds a delightful fresh air to the unique atmosphere of the whole album with a beautiful 'caribbean-like' (or hawaiian?) tune, veering away from the intense beat of 'The Angel Of Mons' and clearing the path to another unique and captivating trip that is 'Lost Time in Cordoba' for sure.

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB

prog4evr

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Posted: June 12 2015 at 18:26

Rick Robson wrote:

...my favourites of Hackett's compositions:

Hammer In The Sand (Defector)
The Red Flowers of Tachai Blooms Everywhere (Spectral Mornings)
Kim (Please Don't Touch)
Second Chance (Bay Of Kings)

I guess I like the older compositions ('Bay of Kings' is "newest" in 1984). Also, from Defector is 'The Steppes' which is a simple yet marvelous piece...

presdoug

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Posted: June 12 2015 at 19:56

I love everything from Voyage Of The Acolyte, the rest I don't know at all.

Romano

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Posted: June 13 2015 at 06:28

My top 3 is:

1. Firth of Fifth
2. Water of the Wild
3. Twice Around The Sun

barnimup

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Posted: June 14 2015 at 01:47

Aside from Spectral and Shadow, which are my favourites I'd like to throw in Hoping Love Will Last

Edited by barnimup - June 14 2015 at 01:47

ProgressiveHypocrite View Drop Down

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Posted: June 15 2015 at 09:51

First six albums

Voyage of the Acolyte: Everything except "Hermit" and "The Lovers" cuz they are boring!

Please Don't Touch!: It's all really good!

Spectral Mornings: "Clocks", "The Ballad of the Decomposing Man" (cracks me up!), and "Spectral Mornings".

Defector: "The Steppes", "Time To Get Out", "Slogans", "Jacuzzi", "Hammer in the Sand", "The Toast", and "Sentimental Institution".

Cured: "Air-Conditioned Nightmare", "Funny Feeling", and "A Cradle of Swans".

Highly Strung: "Camino Royale", "Walking Through Walls", "Group Therapy", and "Hackett to Pieces" (is this related to "Hackett to Bits" off the GTR album?).

GREAT MUSIC!

Rick Robson View Drop Down

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Posted: June 27 2015 at 09:36

presdoug wrote:

I love everything from Voyage Of The Acolyte, the rest I don't know at all.

Hey Doug, if you take some time and patience to listen to the whole 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' you won't regret it. Well, obviously if you don't take issue with the heavy use of acoustic guitar through the whole album, but yeah I know this is not detrimental at all for making beautiful music. I love the atmosphere it creates together with that orchestra, and always gets me wondering that if there were a Concert for Classical Guitar then this album would be one of Hackett's variations on this kind of Classical Music - it is not structured in three or four movements but captures so well that atmosphere of a concert, besides striking me with a spirit pretty much like in some works of the Romantic era.

Metamorpheus is also another album that I recommend, these two I personally put them in a separate league from the rest of his discography, my alltime favourites.

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB