PLEASE DON'T TOUCH!

This is Steve Hackett's second album and the first after he left the band Genesis. This is pretty good because it features a variety of guest vocalists, including Steve Walsh, Richard Havens (don't know who he is!) and Randy Crawford appears on one song. Phil Ehart also appears from the band Kansas and there is a song called 'Icarus Ascending' which seems more than a coincidence since 'Icarus (borne on the wings of steel)' is a Kansas song from three years before. This is a pretty good album because of all the collaborators, it helps to give a fresh angle on his approach, helps to balance his weaknesses and I think it's good to bring solid singers in.

The only problem is the general lack of hooks. I think Havens is probably the best suited to Hackett's style and should have been a permanent singer for the guitarist. Acutally I really like Havens, he really gels well with Hackett. As far as I know they didn't do any arrangement for him to be a permanent singer with Hackett. The two Steve Walsh songs are fairly good, 'Riding in A' is that prog/folk with breezy chorus thing that was first done on Hackett's first album (Star of Sirius). 'Narnia' is nice but the chorus is not very catchy. They're separated by 'Carry on up the Vicarage'. Hackett's eccentric side is coming out, this song is interesting but a bit hard to decipher the lyrics. It features sped up vocals and slowed down vocals singing in unison. Another song is 'How Can I' which seems great until you realise it's John Lennon's 'Across The Universe' being ripped off. The best is probably the song Randy Crawford sings, 'Hoping Love will last'. It starts off like an R&B ballad but Hackett slowly brings in the progressive elements and it sounds a bit like a ballad that might have been on Wind and Wuthering. Richard Havens sings on 'Icarus ascending', a pretty good prog song and Kim is a pleasant instrumental with the flute and Hackett's beautiful Spanish guitar, but overall there is nothing to make a real lasting impression.