A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

This is the best classical music album by Steve Hackett thanks to multiple reasons: There is a perfect balance between playing of various instruments, compositional ideas, execution and sound. Playing is excellent yet restrained, very focused and not overblown. Even though many classical instruments participate in the feast, the record keeps having in intimate feeling. Tracks with acoustic guitar as main instrument stand out. Thankfully, for us non-classical experts and impatient guys, the tracks are usually quite short so an average prog-rock fan won't get bored ;) Some of the higlights are "Between the cold Moon and Earth" with a contemporary classical music melody, equilibristic "Puck, "Mountains turned into clouds" with a beautiful melody, the gentle "Starlight" with emotional guitar touches and album peak "Celebration" supported by mighty church organ and brass section. This is the solemn finish to this very well thought out album. Recommended for both classical music fans as well as symphonic prog lovers who are open to big influence to prog rock - classical music.