VOYAGE OF THE ACOLYTE

Steve Hackett's first solo album, Voyage of the Acolyte may not reach the heights of some of his later works, and it may even be his most dated sounding album, but it's still a masterpiece of progressive rock. As is often said, he sounds more like Genesis here than anywhere else, with the contributions of Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford [not to mention the very Tony Banks-like synths of John Hackett and John Acock (if Tony Banks would have been listed in the liner notes, I might have believed it)] helping that fact. It still stands a very interesting and compelling piece of music on its own, though, and the first side in particular works well as a progressive suite, with the opening "Ace of Wands" one of the most being the most energetic rockers of its time, merging many styles in a very short space, and both borrowing a riff from Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains the Same" and contributing one to their later "Achillies Last Stand." "The Hermit" is very atmosheric, "Star of Sirius", with the multi-layered vocals of Phil Collins and some very progressive construction could have been on any Genesis album of the time, and the closing "Shadow of the Heirophant" is one of the most haunting and emotionally devastating crescendos you'll ever hear, in any genre. But perhaps the best moment is on "Hands of the Priestess part II", where the melancholy theme opens up to a beatuful oboe-led sun shining through after the rain moment. A wonderful experience.