PLEASE DON'T TOUCH!

While Hackett's debut "Voyage Of The Acolyte" was a GENESIS-flavoured masterpiece he decided (for this his followup) that it was the time to use all those ideas he had swirling in his head for the last few years. He says he tried to mix as many different musical styles as he possibly could. Even going as far to record half of the album in the UK and half in the USA. He was also trying to do a crossover between white music and black music. So yes this album is all over the place and really this a template of many of his future albums where he offers up lots of variety.Thankfully the next record "Spectral Mornings" wasn't like that and it stands along with the debut as his best.

"Narnia" opens with some great sounding guitar melodies then Steve Walsh comes in vocally with a beat before a minute. Piano and bass are prominant too. "Carry On Up The Vicarage" opens with light sounds and samples then the music kicks in. Some strange vocals here at times. Weird.The organ is excellent though bringing GENESIS to mind. "Racing In A" has a good energetic intro then vocals from Walsh after a minute. Not a bad song really. Some intricate guitar after 4 minutes to end it.

"Kim" is mellow with flute and acoustic guitar. "How Can I ?" features strummed guitar and Richie Havens on vocals. "Hoping Love Will Last" is terrible. "Land Of A Thousand Autumns" is a short piece with spacey keyboards as it blends into "Please Don't Touch !" where it picks up and has mellotron on it.These connecting instrumentals are the highlight for me. "The Voice Of Necam" is kind of spacey then acoustic guitar comes in. Icarus Ascending" is a good vocal (Havens) led tune. A change before 3 minuites as piano comes in then it's right back to the original soundscape.

This album has it's moments but this is barely 3 stars.