Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Hackett, Steve
Label: Camino Records
Released: 1988
Length: 60:55
Rating: 4/5
On “Momentum”, his ninth solo album, the legendary guitarist Steve Hackett finally quit chasing as many AOR radio hits as possible (the short-lived but stormy adventure with the guitar supergroup GTR had a hand in that, too) and rediscovered his primal love for the classical guitar, and with it his classical musical roots. After the very good “Bay Of Kings” (1983), this was his second album made up entirely of instrumental pieces for classical guitar. Although Hackett first made his name as an electric guitarist, acoustic instrumentalism is the musical challenge where he feels most at home and where he practically can’t put a foot wrong.
On “Momentum”, Steve played all the classical arrangements on classical guitar and keyboards pretty much on his own. His only help was his younger brother John, who joins him on flute on a few tracks. John’s flute parts give some of the pieces a generous dose of the same pastoral pathos that wowed audiences at the start of Steve’s solo career, back when he was still a member of the legendary Genesis. Throughout the album, Steve impresses with his usual guitar finesse, consistency and quiet knack for infectious melody, and the end result is a deeply romantic mood. The individual melodies are varied enough and packed with just the right amount of small experiments with interesting chord combinations, so there’s simply no chance of getting bored.
On the opening “Cavalcanti”, he builds a spirited melody in a flamenco rhythm and shows off his fascination with Mediterranean music and the famous Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia, one of his key guitar role models. On “The Sleeping Sea”, a troubadour-style melody sails him into somewhat more Celtic-tinged waters. “Portrait Of A Brazilian Lady” is another of the serenades dedicated to his Brazilian wife Kim Poor, who also happens to be the artist behind almost all of Hackett’s album covers. In a run of almost completely guitar-driven pieces, the biggest gems are “Concert For Munich”, backed by delicate flute and keyboard accompaniment, and a very good arrangement of J.S. Bach’s baroque classic “Bourée”, which all Jethro Tull fans have long known in a more rocking version. And his incredible gift for creating a rich atmosphere is proven most vividly of all by the almost heartbreaking melancholy of the closing bonus track, “The Vigil”.
“Momentum” is the natural successor to “Bay Of Kings” and a romantic treat for anyone who loves Hackett’s classical guitar vocabulary. The legendary guitarist has made yet another superb acoustic album that’s a joy for anyone who swears by pastoral romanticism, soothing melodies and instrumental finesse. Anyone who plays classical guitar, or simply likes listening to quality guitar melodies, needs to give the acoustic splendor of “Momentum” a spin at least once.
Line-up
Steve Hackett – guitar, keyboards
John Hackett – flute
Production
Steve Hackett and John Acock
Track list
1. Cavalcanti (6:13)
2. The Sleeping Sea (3:27)
3. Portrait Of A Briazilian Lady (5:15)
4. When The Bell Breaks (3:03)
5. A Bed, A Chair And A Guitar (2:44)
6. Concert For Munich (4:55)
7. Last Rites Of Innocence (5:28)
8. Troubled Spirit (2:30)
9. Variation On A Theme By Chopin (4:55)
10. Pierrot (2:53)
11. Momentum (2:38)
Bonus tracks:
12. Bourée (1:34)
13. An Open Window (9:02)
14. The Vigil (6:19)
