DEFECTOR

Well, I would say that it's debatable whether Spectral Mornings is all what the fans give it credit for. But the thing I don't understand is why this particular release is rated so poorly in comparison. It's just as much of a mixed bag as it's predecessor and, although some of the lesser material, both of the albums manage to come up on top in the end. What's not to like when the album kicks off by a great opener The Steppes and continues on with a nice mix of instrumentals and vocal-driven ballads. Hackett may not cover any new ground but I'm satisfied as long as the song writing is at a decent level.

Slogans might be just another composition in the same style as pieces like Please Don't Touch and Clocks (The Angel Of Mons) but I welcome this type of material any day over the quirky works like Sentimental Institution or The Ballad Of The Decomposing Man. I never really appreciated Hackett's fascination with contemporary pieces from the '30s and '40s although the bonus track live performance on this album does make it sound a whole lot genuine in a live setting.

Defector is the second in line Hackett-album that manages to get away with a weak excellent rating which considering Steve Hackett's work in the '80s is still quite a solid achievement indeed.

***** star songs: Slogans (3:42) Jacuzzi (4:35)

**** star songs: The Steppes (6:04) Time To Get Out (4:11) Leaving (3:18) Two Vamps As Guests (1:58) Hammer In The Sand (3:09) The Show (3:40)

*** star songs: The Toast (3:41) Sentimental Institution (2:32)

Total rating: 4,06

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