Hackett; Steve: Selection

2012 saw Steve Hackett revisit his past band's song-book for the quite wonderful Genesis Revisited-II, an album which found the guitarist joined by a whole host of prog's elite to re-imagine Genesis classics from 1971 to 1977. Entering the UK album charts at number 24, the album has gone on to be quite a success, Hackett being invited on to mainstream UK TV to talk about and perform his music. Since then the under rated guitarist and singer has been touring to promote ...Revisited-II, with the UK leg of the tour prompting the release of Selection, an album which collects together some of Hackett's favourite shorter tracks from the two disc GR-II for reappraisal. Added to that is a new track, a sublime interpretation of the "Carpet Crawlers", to which another ex-Genesis member Ray Wilson lends his unmistakably, husky, evocative tones. Obviously the pair never worked together in the song's parent band, however this version (which is also available as a standalone download), while true to the original is simply stunning, sounding like the pair were destined to at some point collaborate.

Stunning is also an apt description for the eight other tracks chosen for Selection, with "Dancing The Moonlight Knight" proving the virtues of ex-It Bites man Francis Dunnery's voice, while Nick Beggs' prancing bass work on "Can-Utility And The Coastliners" is a joy. Hackett is still a stunning guitar player and supreme song arranger and even though some of these tracks are hovering in and around their fortieth birthday, they still make for some of the best progressive music ever created. Whether that be through stunning versions of "Eleventh Earl Of Mar", which rivals the original, the pulsating take on "Blood On The Rooftops" or the refined "Afterglow", there's much to be admired here, offering up a fresh, but not radically re-altered vision of songs you know and love. The results are pretty damn special.

If you didn't catch up with ...Revisited II, then Selection is a wonderful way to experience the never short of captivating manner in which Steve Hackett has lovingly reworked some songs from his past. The excellent new version of "Carpet Crawlers" and its quirky addition to the Genesis time-line should be enough to persuade you on its own. Factor in contributions from the likes of Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), John Wetton (Asia/King Crimson), Francis Dunnery (ex-It Bites), Jakko Jakszyk (The Tangent), Steve Rothery (Marillion), Nick Beggs (Steven Wilson) and Lee Pomeroy (It Bites) and the reasons to invest in Selection simply stack up. Although for the full experience, you really should have Genesis Revisited II in your collection.

Track Listing
1. Carpet Crawlers
2. 11th Earl of Mar
3. The Lamia
4. Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
5. Entangled
6. Shadow of the Hierophant
7. Can-Utility and the Coastliners
8. Afterglow
9. Blood on the Rooftops

Added: May 6th 2013
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: HackettSongs
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Language: english

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