Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Squackett
Label: Esoteric Recordings
Release: 2012
Duration: 46:13
Rating: 4.5/5
Squackett is a joint project of the legendary guitar virtuoso Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis) and the no less legendary bass guitar great Chris Squire (Yes). This isn’t Hackett’s first collaboration with a member of Yes, since back in 1985 he formed the short-lived supergroup GTR together with his fellow guitar buddy Steve Howe (Yes, Asia), while Squire last tried something similar in 2003 under the name Conspiracy, which he formed together with guitarist Billy Shwerwood (Nektar, Circa, ex-Yes). And of course, this isn’t the first time the two progressive rock legends have worked together either, as Hackett guested on Squire’s Christmas solo album »Swiss Choir« in 2007. Squire returned the favor as a guest musician on both of Hackett’s latest solo records, »Out Of The Tunnel’s Mouth« (2009) and »Beyond The Shrouded Horizon« (2011). The two legendary musicians first met in 1986, after a GTR concert.
»A Life Within A Day« is the title of their joint debut, on which you can pick up on their many different musical influences from the past, as well as the legacy of the two legendary prog rock bands they’re usually most associated with. They split the songwriting ideas between them, while keyboardist Roger King (a member of Hackett’s electric band) helped with the arrangements and also took care of the production. When it comes to mighty vocal harmonies the album is extremely well balanced, while their trademark playing style, as expected, keeps impressing throughout the whole record. Audience expectations ahead of this project’s release were high, and it’s fair to say the two musical adventurers managed to satisfy them completely.
The title masterpiece, which opens the album and where Hackett takes charge as lead singer, is somewhat reminiscent of some of his solo work from the past few years, mostly because the oriental-tinged main riff brings a slight world-music influence into the mix. The vocal harmonies between the two masters are brilliantly in sync, and they successfully trade off lead vocals several times across the album. »A Life Within A Day« is marked by a distinctly dark atmosphere and Hackett’s ‘angry’ guitar riff, accompanied by rattling bass lines from Squire’s Rickenbacker bass, while mighty orchestral arrangements by keyboardist Roger King flow in the background. During the longer instrumental section Steve and Chris get swept away into wild soloing flights, which will delight all fans of their unique instrumental techniques.
»Tall Ships«, where Squire takes the lead on vocals, is another splendid composition, with ethereal guitar passages and melodic bass lines that, together with undulating keyboard textures, create maximum mystical vibes. On the nostalgia-soaked »Divided Self« you can enjoy a melodic main motif watched over by epic vocal arrangements, an ingenious combination of guitar phrases and juicy bass lines. The tempo changes are very well timed thanks to the drum dynamics of Jeremy Stacey (The Syn), while the symphonic arrangements carry the influence of both Yes and Genesis.
The sci-fi enigma »Aliens« is an epic track that first saw the light of day as a live Yes piece called »Aliens Are Only Us From The Future«. Yes played it on recent tours but never recorded it in the studio, so Squire saved it for this project. The intriguing lyrics, with their theory that aliens are really just evolutionarily advanced humans from the distant future traveling back through time and space, come alive through an epic chorus where Squire once again holds the vocal baton. While the two grand masters weave a hypnotic melody together, ethereal symphonic arrangements flow in the background. And somewhere in between, Hackett pulls a mouthwatering guitar solo ‘out of his sleeve’.
»Sea Of Smiles« is yet another highly interesting piece, with numerous experimental interludes and a constantly shifting atmosphere backed by layered rhythmic finesse. It’s all crowned with a melodic chorus, where the hypnotic vocal harmonies once again impress. Of course, the solo improvisations of both grand masters on their instruments are back, yet they don’t wear down the melodic structure of this splendid piece for a moment. The pastoral gem »The Summer Backwards«, thanks to its pastoral acoustic guitar arrangements and the accompaniment of ethereal vocal harmonies, strongly recalls certain rustic-tinged Hackett solo ballads. This time there’s an important difference, though: Squire’s melodic, recognizable voice, paired with Hackett’s no less distinctive singing, adds more atmospheric depth and dynamics to the hypnotic vocal harmonies. »Stormchaser«, where the tension keeps building, is a punchier piece with a pronounced, snarling guitar riff and mighty bass lines. Once again the peak is the melodic chorus, while the soloing flights of both prog rock legends are a real feast not just for the ears but for the soul.
»Can’t Stop The Rain« is a quintessential Squire songwriting ‘child’ that could easily have turned up on some ‘forgotten’ Yes or Conspiracy album. The ethereal melody on symphonic wings peaks in a seductive chorus, where guest vocalist Amanda Lehmann (a member of Hackett’s electric band) helps Squire and Hackett with the magical vocal harmonies. The enchanting mood is reinforced by the massive rhythm backbone of Squire’s Rickenbacker and drum fills, while Mr. Hackett treats himself to a hugely entertaining closing solo flight. The closing masterpiece »Perfect Love Song«, despite its title, is no syrupy love ballad but a proper prog rock adventure, where the mighty atmosphere grows by the second and where the two masters, helped along by epic arrangements, demonstrate their unbridled virtuosity and hypnotic vocal power one last time on the album.
»A Life Within A Day« is a superb achievement, and from start to finish you can feel that Mr. Hackett and Mr. Squire, despite the respectable number of years behind them, are still virtuosos and songwriting wizards without equal, who managed to blend their compositional ideas more than convincingly, which will thrill all fans of the legendary Genesis and Yes legacy. You could say that, given the mighty pedigree of both music legends, it’s no surprise at all that their first joint project turned out so well. Let’s hope »A Life Within A Day« is only the beginning of a long and consistently successful partnership between these two unforgettable progressive rock artists.
Lineup
Chris Squire – bass guitar, vocals
Steve Hackett – guitar, vocals
Roger King – keyboards
Jeremy Stacey – drums
Amanda Lehmann – backing vocals
Production
Roger King
Tracklist
1. A Life Within a Day
2. Tall Ships
3. Divided Self
4. Aliens
5. Sea of Smiles
6. The Summer Backwards
7. Storm Chaser
8. Can’t Stop the Rain
9. Perfect Love Song
