Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Hackett, Steve
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: 2016
Rating: 4.5/5
Legendary guitar virtuoso Steve Hackett has been anything but stingy with great live albums in recent years, and they feature not only performances of some of the best chapters of the man’s splendid solo career, but also some of the loveliest moments from his time with Genesis, the giants of symphonic progressive rock. »The Total Experience – Live in Liverpool« is the result of Mr. Hackett and his band’s 2015 concert tour, specifically their show in Liverpool.
Besides the classic »Spectral Mornings«, the first part of the set list featured a few pieces from his then-current solo album »Wolflight« (2015), and then, by some unwritten rule, it was time for the solo and Genesis evergreens, of which this recording has a real abundance. On bass, Hackett’s band at the time included the cult Swedish prog rock musician Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings, Transatlantic, ex-Kaipa), who is otherwise renowned as an excellent guitarist, so this recording is of interest to all fans of the Swede’s colorful career too. Stolt helped Steve out as bassist on that tour, having stepped in at the last minute for Hackett’s longtime collaborator Nick Beggs.
The theatrical singer Nad Sylvan, whose solo career also deserves special attention, once again delivers excellent vocal performances of Hackett solo and Genesis classics, with his voice, somewhere on the border between Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins, fitting like a glove. Among the performances you’ll find such gems from »Foxtrot« (1972) and »Selling England By the Pound« (1973) as »Get ’em Out By Friday«, »Can-Utility and the Coastliners«, »After the Ordeal« and »Aisle of Plenty«, which even Genesis themselves rarely played in their golden prog rock era. Among the solo concert classics, »Icarus Ascending«, which Sylvan sings with incredible fire, »Star of Sirius«, the acoustic version of »Jacuzzi« and »A Tower Struck Down« are back after a long time, while the peak of the solo numbers, as always whenever it makes the set list, is »Shadow of the Hierophant«, this time with Amanda Lehmann on lead vocals.
»The Total Experience – Live in Liverpool« gives you the full experience of a show by the only (former) Genesis member who diligently looks after their priceless musical legacy, keeping it alive with excellent live performances alongside his solo evergreens. His former Genesis comrades, who, with the exception of Tony Banks, built highly successful solo careers, could learn a thing or two from him on that front. If Steve had the final say, a Genesis reunion in the classic lineup would happen tomorrow, while his (former) buddies sadly don’t show the slightest interest in such a feat right now.
Lineup
Steve Hackett – guitar, vocals
Roger King – keyboards
Nad Sylvan – vocals, tambourine
Gary O’Toole – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Rob Townsend – saxophone, woodwinds, backing vocals, keyboards, bass pedals
Roine Stolt – bass guitar, backing vocals, guitar
GUEST MUSICIANS:
John Hackett – flute
Amanda Lehmann – vocals on “Shadow of the Hierophant”
Production
Steve Hackett
Track List
CD 1:
1 Corycian Fire Intro
2. Spectral Mornings
3. Out of the Body
4. Wolflight
5. Every Day
6. Love Song to a Vampire
7. The Wheel’s Turning
8. Loving Sea
9. Jacuzzi
10. Icarus Ascending
11. Star of Sirius
12. Ace of Wands
13. A Tower Struck Down
CD 2:
1 Shadow of the Hierophant
2. Get ’em Out by Friday
3. Can-Utility and the Coastliners
4. After the Ordeal
5. The Cinema Show
6. Aisle of Plenty
7. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
8. The Musical Box
9. Clocks
10. Firth of Fifth
