PLEASE DON'T TOUCH!

The lack of receptivity to the ideas that Steve Hackett proposed, led the guitarist to finally give up and leave Genesis after "Wind & Wuthering", to concentrate mainly on his solo career. These were not favourable times for the genre. After the glorious first half of the 70s, many had to reinvent themselves and shuffle again to stay relevant. And it was in this complex context that Hackett, surrounded by a varied and extensive group of musicians, released his second album, "Please Don't Touch!".

Without Tarot cards to scry into the future as on the progressive "Voyage of Acolyte", his debut album, Hackett was determined to follow a path that reflected his musical concerns beyond the commercial repercussions that this might imply, which, by the way, would be clearly different to that of his former bandmates.

From Hackett's unmistakable opening arpeggios on the refreshing "Narnia" and the distinctive vocals of Steve Walsh, lead singer of the Americans Kansas, "Please Don't Touch!" unfolds over diverse soundscapes and textures that incorporate Genesian reminiscences with the disturbing and duendistic "Carry On Up the Vicarage", classical guitars towards the end of "Racing in A" and with "The Voice of NECAM", incandescent and heartfelt sensations with the brief "Kim" and the melancholic "How Can I? "dramatised by the gravelly vocals of one of Woodstock's iconic symbols, Richie Havens, as well as fiery instrumentals with the demanding "Please Don't Touch" and the interweaving of its protagonic synthesizers and electric guitars, built on a forceful percussion base.

Hackett, with "Please Don't Touch!", definitively joins Peter Gabriel, albeit for different reasons and with disparate results, in the team of illustrious dissidents from the most glorious hours of Genesis.

Very good.

3.5 stars