Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisited: Seconds Out and More -

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5 Stars

*Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisited: Seconds Out And More.*

Audio CD (paid link)

When Steve Hackett left Genesis in 1977, the whole of the Rock World thought he had gone mad! Genesis had successfully recovered from losing their charismatic lead singer Peter Gabriel, but then to lose your lead guitarist as well did not bode well for either party. But as it turned out, Genesis went on to bigger and better things. (Becoming a bit of a hit singles band to boot.) Whilst our hero went onto a very successful solo career, although never ignoring his past, and in fact welcoming it.

Left to his own devices, Steve was able to fully develop his talents. According to Guitar World, “Hackett’s early explorations of two-handed tapping and sweep picking were far ahead of their time, influencing the likes of Brian May and Eddie Van Halen.”

*Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisited: Seconds Out And More Triple A*
*pass signed by the man himself. Obtained by Truck Man Gus*
*(Cyclops) Carey driving a Volvo FH 460 for the Steve Hackett Tour*
*of Britain in 2022.*

So far, there have been twenty rock studio works, six classical albums, a blues album, plus twenty live albums. This album is number seven of the Genesis Revisited albums. Hopefully there will be another soon, as Steve Hackett and his band are currently touring Genesis Revisited – Foxtrot at Fifty + Hackett Highlights before returning throughout 2023 worldwide, and continuing the Seconds Out tour. Busy man is our Steve.

Click here to ramble through the archives

Is it a good idea to keep on releasing live albums of your previous band’s achievements? Yes, of course it is. The thousands of fans buying them makes it pointless for the bootleggers doing it, as well.

So what do we get this time around?

Steve has put together a magnificent band with members who know each other well. One feels that apart from complimenting each other in the studio and live on stage, they all get along as friends as well. Roger King, the keyboard wizard, and Rob Townsend blowing amazing saxophone and flute, amongst other duties, have been with Steve since 2001. Far longer than he was actually in Genesis!

The first CD opens with Steve Hackett’s solo material, a well-chosen selection of highlights, starting with the ‘Apollo Intro’ with the sound of tolling bells. This leads us to ‘Clocks,’ with the sounds of, well yes, clocks, as the band takes up their positions on the stage at the Manchester Apollo on 24th September 2021. Segueing into ‘The Angels of Mons,’ a classic start to a fully-fledged rock gig. The band is nicely balanced as they launch into the riff, obviously in prime form. At first, keyboards herald the start of the music, then Craig Brundell on drums comes crashing in and we are away.

*Steve Hackett at the front in a previous life.*

‘Held in Shadows’ from the album “Surrender of Silence” (2021) brings us our first epic. Beautiful vocal harmonies are immediately impressive, as guest guitarist/vocalist Amanda Lehmann makes a good showing. As the song takes us onwards and upwards there is some really impressive interplay between Steve Hackett’s guitar jamming with Rob Townsend’s saxophone. ‘Every Day’ is a fan favorite, with Jonas Reingold showing his bass chops. But it’s Steve Hackett’s name on the packaging and his guitar playing steals the day.

Things are taken at a different pace for ‘The Devil’s Cathedral,’ also off the latest studio album. The spooky, medieval sounds of Roger King’s keyboards lead us down the storyteller’s path, taking us by surprise so early in the set. Nad Sylvian’s vocals shine out. A very welcome change of pace.

The texture of all Steve Hackett Band music is deceptively heavy, with hypnotic rhythms swirling one along in its bow.

Amanda Lehman’s vocal delivery is crystal sweet during a full version of ‘Shadow of the Hierophant’ from Steve Hackett’s debut solo album “Voyage of the Acolyte” (1975). Rob Townsend’s flute is beautiful, whilst Steve Hackett’s guitar builds and builds, taking us to a thunderous conclusion.

*See? What did I tell you? Everyone has a CD collection.*

This is where we leave Steve Hackett’s highlights, moving on to the much-vaunted “Seconds Out” delivery. There is no grand announcement—the songs just meld together from one era to the next. It certainly packs a punch.

As ‘Squonk’ plays in, the excitement is palpable.

Immediately, you’re taken by the fact that Nad Sylvian’s vocals are neither a copy of Steve Hackett’s previous bands’ vocalists, Peter Gabriel or Phil Collins, but somewhere in between. So he is able to do justice to the originals whilst making his own footprints.

The songs are all presented nicely and in the same order as on the original live album. Is there much difference? “By heavens Jeeves, Yes.” The most obvious musically is Rob Townsend’s contributions, adding exhilarating textures to most of the songs with saxophones, etc. These were not really in Genesis’s bag. Roger King’s keyboard work is much more rock orientated than some of the Genesis more theatrical sounds. The rhythm section takes it all to another level, with the drive not always so prominent before.

Once ‘Carpet Crawlers’ slithers out your speakers, goosebumps set in, and magic is in the air.

‘Firth of Fifth,’ originally off the Genesis studio album “Selling England By The Pound” (1973), is the first classic to be taken apart and reconstituted, taking it to over ten minutes of pure musical joy. Still instantly recognizable, a dazzling display on the piano by Roger King introduces the well-known riff, but here the band takes the song to new outer limits. The soloing from all of the musicians is worthy of wizards. Some people think there is no jamming in progressive rock; well it sure sounds like it here to me. Horses eyes time, looking out for what others are doing. The interplay is mesmerizing. When Craig Blundell’s drums come in, the band follows eagerly. Don’t get me wrong, nobody misses a beat, but it certainly sounds like fun.

*The man himself ripping it up live on stage.*

Genesis’ first hit single, “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe),” gets similar treatment. With Nad Sylvian having a ball with the introduction. The crowd dials in, singing the chorus at the top of their voices. If you close your eyes you can hear them jigging about and clapping their hands. Once a pop star! The Steve Hackett guitar solo here takes scalps off.

‘Lamb Lies Down On Broadway’ gets a run-through followed by the dramatic closing stages of ‘Musical Box.’ Most bands could finish at this point, leaving the audiences satisfied. But no. This band ploughs on. At any concert with anything related to Genesis, the highlight is a rendition of the ultimate progressive rock epic, ‘Supper’s Ready,’ and this set is no exception. In supreme fashion, the band wrings every nuance of the song together. I’m sure if you have read this far into this review you need no further information on this particular piece. Over twenty-five minutes of musical genius.

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From here we are storming down the expressway to the off-ramp. Each song has a real bounce to it. The enthusiasm these guys bring to all this is commendable on its own, but extolling the songs so eloquently is truly excellent. Finally coming to a conclusion as it did on “Trick of the Tail” (1976) is ‘Los Endos’ leaving the crowd exhausted with excitement. So many highlights.

If you enjoy the music on these CDs, you should head straight out and get the DVD too, so you can have complete fulfilment of the senses. The only better way is to actually go to a concert. Wherever you are in the world, Steve Hackett and his progressive rock warriors will be knocking on the door of a Rock’n’roll venue near you within the next 12 months.

I suggest you go.