Band:
Steve Hackett–guitars, vocals, harmonica
Simon Phillips – drums
Gary O'Toole – drums, vocals
Chris Squire – bass
Nick Beggs – bass, chapman stick
Dick Driver – double bass
Roger King – keyboards, programming
Ben Fenner - keyboards, programming
John Hackett – flute, vocals
Rob Townsend – sax, whistle, bass clarinet
Amanda Lehmann – vocals, guitar
Christine Townsend – violin, viola
Richard Stuart – cello
Discography:
Voyage of the Acolyte (1975)
Please Don't Touch (1978)
Spectral Mornings (1979)
Defector (1980)
Cured (1981)
Highly Strung (1982)
Bay of Kings (1983)
Till We Have Faces (1984)
Momentum (1988)
Guitar Noir (1993)
Blues With A Feeling (1995)
Genesis Revisited (1996, Japan-only)
Watcher of the Skies: Genesis Revisited (1996)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1997)
Darktown (1999)
Sketches of Satie (2000 w John Hackett)
Feedback 86 (2000)
To Watch the Storms (2003)
Metamorpheus (2005)
Wild Orchids (2006)
Tribute (2008)
Out of the Tunnel's Mouth (2009)
Guests:
Info
Produced by Steve Hackett & Roger King
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Roger King at Map Studios
The ltd. Mediabook will include a 9 track bonus disc!
Released 26/9-2011
Reviewed 21/9-2011
Links:
hackettsongs.com
insideout
The music we can hear on Beyond the shrouded horizon is not the easiest one to describe, not because it is crazy complex or something like that but because is has many characters. I think that a good start is to say that it is progressive rock music on an album with a very large span of musical styles. It is rock music, it is quite symphonic, it is silent and laid back and a lot more connected into a disc by a thread that is barely noticeable but it is there keeping the album from falling apart. The vocals are mainly handled by Steve himself but there are some other vocals as well, for instance some female lead vocals on one of the tracks. The production is impeccable, the sound compliments the songs on the best possible way. The album has thirteen tracks and it will take you almost 58 minutes to play the entire one.
I would have to say that already from the opening track, Loch Lomond, I know this will be a great album. This song is just a masterpiece and introduce you to what you will hear from the rest of the album. To pick favourite songs is quite impossible as the songs are all very good, they are very different in character from one another but they still all feels connected and they are all very good and a great part of the whole. The melodies and the atmosphere pulls you into the music in a very good way and then you remain there until the album ends, it is an album you can sit down and just listen to.
The best things about the album is this great diversity it possess and the performance of the entire ensemble which is fantastic. Still, you can never really praise Steve enough for his performance with his guitar, and of course for his excellent song writing. Then not to forget the great atmosphere that is to be found on this album. If I am to find anything wrong with this album, then it has to be the cover artwork because it is probably the only thing that isn’t fantastic with the album. When it comes to the music though, there is absolutely nothing to complain about.
Going from the pioneering spirit to the spirit of space, to the unknown frontiers, Beyond the Shrouded Horizon is an impressive musical adventure and a masterpiece of an album. It has everything you can ever want from an album, a sense of direction, great songs and excellent musicianship. I think Steve Hackett has put out a great album with this one, an album that I will probably take with me and play on many occasions. If you call yourself a fan of progressive rock and don’t buy this album you can stop calling yourself a fan of progressive rock, the album is a must have for all fans of progressive rock. It is also an album that will have a good place in your record collection, thanks Steve for a wonderful album.
HHHHHHH
