Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Hackett, Steve
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: 2006
Rating: 4.5/5
Master Hackett is like fine old wine. The years haven’t touched him one bit, quite the opposite. He’s still making music every bit as thrilling as when he started out. Unlike the previous album “Metamorpheus” (2005), which was steeped in classical music with extensive use of orchestration, Steve has this time limited the orchestra to a handful of tracks and gone back to his prog rock roots. The result is another wildly diverse album that thrills the music connoisseur from start to finish. Even Steve’s vocals haven’t sounded this good in ages, especially in terms of emotion and variety. In fact, “Wild Orchids” has a surprising number of vocal parts, with just two instrumentals on the whole record. As for his incredible mastery of electric and acoustic guitar, there’s really no need to point it out any more, except to say that he once again surprises with a few new sounds. While keeping his trademark sound, which is built primarily on classical music, Steve hops between musical styles on “Wild Orchids” like he hasn’t in a long time: from classical interludes, intense orchestration, his signature prog rock and blues all the way to American folk rock. And of course, as the styles of the individual pieces change, so does the mood of the album, something Steve has always been a master of. On top of that, individual pieces still catch you off guard with some original ideas he’s never used before. Among his longtime collaborators, his brother John is here again on flute, along with the ever-excellent keyboardist Nick Magnus.
“A Dark Night in Toytown” opens with wound-up, dramatic orchestration and Steve’s classically flavored, precise strumming, backed by his mysterious vocals. It’s a fast and intense track with plenty of orchestral passages in between and punchy choruses. Steve’s hard-hitting hard rock solo in the middle section stretches the song out even further and lifts its second half to an even higher artistic level. Gorgeous orchestral passages with incredible electric guitar work keep the mood dramatic and complex throughout. A fitting start to the album that wows in every respect and tells the listener that Steve is still indestructible. The transcendental psychedelic “Waters Of The Wild”, where Steve masterfully switches between two traditional Indian instruments, the acoustic sitar and the electric sarangi, opens with oriental ethnic drums and sitar. The result is a true ambient, transcendental psychedelic masterpiece that even the likes of The Beatles from the late 60s wouldn’t be ashamed of. Steve more than successfully combines oriental rhythms with his guitar solos. These oriental flourishes sound even better when the flute joins in. Steve impresses with psychedelic-sounding vocals too. The final section is simply phenomenal, with numerous solos on the electric sarangi. With “Set Your Compass”, Steve has created a signature Steve Hackett track built on a mystical atmosphere. Dreamy vocals and acoustic guitar build the central, utterly tender melody. The unusual “Down Street” is the longest piece on the album, and its first part has an offbeat, humorous vibe. That Steve has an offbeat sense of humor has long been known, but this piece also features his hugely witty narration in the style of someone like Frank Zappa (in fact, the whole piece is a bit reminiscent of some forgotten Zappa work). The basic motif could easily belong in a gangster movie. Its rhythm is backed by outstanding hard rock passages on guitar and witty percussion. Inside, Steve treats himself to an excellent solo that will charm every last listener. The long instrumental section with plenty of tasteful guitar solos and gangster-movie-style piano overtures, joined at the end by the orchestration, sounds fantastic. This might even be the most complex piece on the album. “A Girl Called Linda” is Steve at his most romantic. An exquisite, slightly psychedelic romantic folk ballad on acoustic guitar with wonderful romantic vocals, it sounds like it came straight out of the late 60s. The excellent flute solo and the central melody on acoustic guitar are the main gems of this track. A candidate for one of his most beautiful pieces ever, with which Steve once again proves that he’s one of the last great romantics of rock music. The indescribable romance continues with “To A Close”, another outstanding piece with nostalgic choral singing and a gorgeous acoustic guitar that also sounds like it came from some long-ago time of forgotten legends. The part where the violins come in is especially great, followed by an incredible atmosphere on keyboards and choral singing. Unforgettable! “Ego & Id” is the complete opposite and a big treat for all fans of excellent modern prog rock (say, in the style of current-day King Crimson) with great electric guitar solos and Steve’s distorted vocals. The guitar solos are incredibly witty, with plenty of tremolo bar dives, joined by a slick rhythm line. A real feast for all lovers of modern prog rock. Steve also did a great cover of the Bob Dylan classic “Man In The Long Black Coat”, which is American folk rock, but under Steve’s direction. After an intro of croaking frogs, harmonica and acoustic guitar, Steve sings the song in a baritone that leans slightly toward Leonard Cohen. He wows with excellent blues passages on electric guitar too. The dramatic “Wolfwork” has excellent orchestration and good vocals from Steve, at times distorted, and a great ebb and flow between raw, heavy drum rhythms and sophisticated orchestration. It’s a great, undulating track full of stylistic contrasts. “Why” is a very short but burlesque overture with sounds and singing in the style of Charleston or some black-and-white comedy. “She Moves In Memories” is the orchestral peak of the album, with excellent arrangements. With its excellent classical orchestral intro and later symphonies that would rank among the masterpieces of classical music of this century, every classical music connoisseur will enjoy it immensely. “The Fundamentals Of Brainwashing” is certainly the most melancholic piece on the album, with Steve’s melancholic vocals, slow rhythmic backing, piano and melancholic choruses with occasional orchestral arrangements. Then, in the part of the song where Steve’s subtly melancholic solo comes in, the mood gets even sadder. The closing instrumental “Howl”, with its demonic rhythms and varied, furrowed guitar sounds, slightly recalls one of Steve’s first solo pieces, “A Tower Struck Down” (Voyage Of Acolyte, 1975). Subtle piano solos take the edge off the otherwise tense, apocalyptic mood.
With “Wild Orchids”, Steve has made a very successful return to his classic progressive roots and proven that he’s still one of the best solo musicians in (progressive) rock and beyond. If “Metamorpheus” was his orchestral album, aimed mainly at classical music, “Wild Orchids” is another turnaround back to his roots. Which is something that will surely delight most fans of his earlier (and best) work. With an incredible mix of countless ideas (which is his trademark, but still), Steve has once again made one of his best albums and more than lived up to the high expectations before its release. “Wild Orchids” is thus an album where Steve brought together all the best elements of his career without neglecting some novelties, which will thrill his traditional fans as well as newer listeners. And all the great music romantics too, who miss the days when rock music was still made with soul and heart.
Line-up
Steve Hackett – guitar, electric sitar, harmonica, modern lyre, optigan & sounds
Roger King – keyboards & programming, rhythm guitar
John Hackett – lead flute & riff guitar
Rob Townsend – saxophone, lead flute, alto flute, tin whistle & bass clarinet
Nick Magnus – keyboards
The Underworld Orchestra:
Christine Townsend – lead violin, viola
Richard Stewart – cello
Dick Driver – double bass
Colin Clague – trumpet
Chris Redgate – oboe, English horn
Production
Steve Hackett
Track list
1. A Dark Night In Toytown (3:42)
2. Waters Of The Wild (5.35)
3. Set Your Compass (3:38)
4. Down Street (7:34)
5. A Girl Called Linda (4:44)
6. To A Close (4:49)
7. Ego & Id (4:08)
8. Man In The Long Black Coat (5:07)
9. Wolfwork (4:49)
10. Why (0:47)
11. She Moves In Memories (5:00)
12. The Fundamentals Of Brainwashing (3:01)
13. Howl (4:31)
Album length: 57:25
