Hackett, Steve & The Underworld Orchestra - Metamorpheus

Year of Release: 2005
Label: Camino Records
Catalog Number: CAMCD35
Format: CD
Total Time: 57:04:00

Delicate. That's how I would describe the first pairing of legendary guitarist Steve Hackett and the Underworld Orchestra, Metamorphosis. While calling him legendary seems more appropriate to some swashbuckling pirate or crusading knight, someone whose reputation precedes him? Oh wait, maybe it does. Classic prog fans who are fans of classic prog -- notice I didn't call you old -- will recognize the name as the one-time guitarist of Genesis, although his 8 year tenure with the band suggests something more than one-time? on the other hand, in contrast to Rick Wakeman (Yes' keyboardist), one-time (so far) is also accurate.

But I digress. Do not go into this expecting to hear anything that recalls Genesis. Do not go into this expecting Hackett to rock out at all. This release from the legendary Hackett is classic in the traditional sense - where we speak of Mozart, Handel, Bach, Beethoven, etc., etc. - and it is a stunning suite of work. Swelling orchestrations back Hackett on acoustic guitar. Delicate and precise, but not deliberate in a sense that makes these pieces seem too calculated. That is, there is an ebb and flow to his playing that is quite natural. Heard without the context of who was playing, you would swear that this music comes from an age that no longer exists, a time two, three hundred years ago. Though the closing track "Lyre" recalls for me an age not quite that long ago, but more the kind of orchestral music heard in the 40s and early 50s, though reflecting, perhaps that earlier time. As I write, however, the lyrical and peaceful "That Vast Life" is playing, showing off all the elements heard on the whole album, elements that also include brother John on flute, here for a passage.

Each piece - and there are 15 of them, though they flow together as one - is calming, relaxing? bringing about a contemplative atmosphere, but it isn't of the touchy-feely, syrupy, "feel good about yourself" variety. The music tells the story of Orpheus, a sometimes light, sometimes dark Greek myth, allegory? a tale of love, loss, faith, lack of faith? To accompany the various "chapters" in the story, the music itself either becomes more strident, as in "Under The World - Orpheus Looks Back," where one imagines Orpheus is triumphantly leading his beloved Eurydice out of the underworld, only? as the music reaches a crescendo, he does that which he must not do? he looks back and loses her forever. At least in life? Or the music is soft, romantic, yet lush. It's album that reveals new facets with each listen as you get drawn deeper in. While "Lyra" is about Orpheus' lyre becoming the constellation Lyra, the music evokes images of grand ballrooms, sweeping staircases, polished marble floors? but also is able to step forward and become quite intimate? further underscoring the dynamics of sound at work here.

While for the most part - certainly the first 5 pieces - are pastoral, peaceful ? mellow, if you will, it certainly isn't for the entire album, never mind the open tolls that portend something very dark. Listen to the vibrant "Severance," for instance, with marching violins, and a bold, brassy sound that is dark and dramatic; cinematic. Orpheus is being attacked and dismembered by the Maenads, and the violent arrangement of this piece illustrates it perfectly; just as "Elegy" reflects the grief the Muses (the other side of the Maenads) feel at what they've done. Grief, sadness and regret are very strongly felt here (restating a theme heard earlier in "That Vast Life," only a bit slower).

I initially found it difficult to review this CD; perhaps because it doesn't reveal itself on the first listen. It is too dynamic to try and comment upon after only a few listens - though I never do that anyway. But, knowing the care and attention that Hackett gave to writing and recording it, to give it any less attention as a listener would be a crime. It's not difficult to get into, more it's difficult to get out of. Like the underworld. Ironically, I suppose, here it is 2007 and I'm looking back at a release from 2005? unlike Eurydice this lovely doesn't get whisked away? though if you haven't already and excellent music appeals to you, whisk this away from your local record shop. And I'm sure more such sonic pleasures await in Wild Orchids?

Also released by InsideOut/InsideOut Music America (SPV 085-5088A CD/IOMA CD 2103)

Tracklisting:
The Pool Of Memory And The Pool Of Forgetfulness (2:14) / To Earth Like Rain (1:32) / Song To Nature (3:02) / One Real Flower (3:11) / The Dancing Ground (3:01) / That Vast Life (12:26) / Eurydice Taken (1:47) / Charon's Call (3:14) / Cerberus At Peace (2:05) / Under The World - Orpheus Looks Back (5:15) / The Broken Lyre (3:17) / Severance (3:04) / Elegy (3:17) / Return To The Realm Of Eternal Renewal (2:56) / Lyra (6:35)

Musicians:
Steve Hackett - guitar

Featured orchestral players:

Christine Townsend - principle violin, viola
Lucy Wilkins - violin
Richard Stewart - cello
Sarah Wilson - cello
Dick Driver - double bass
John Hackett - flute, piccolo
Colin Clague - trumpet
Richard Kennedy - French horn

Discography:
Genesis - Nursery Crime (1971)
Genesis - Foxtrot (1972)
Genesis - Live (1973)
Genesis - Selling England By The Pound (1973)
Genesis - Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (1974)
Voyage Of The Acolyte (1975)
Genesis - Wind And Wuthering (1976)
Genesis - Trick Of The Tail (1976)
Genesis - Seconds Out (1977)
Please Don't Touch (1978)
Spectral Mornings (1979)
Defector (1980)
Cured (1981)
Highly Strung (1983)
Bay Of Kings (1983)
Til We Have Faces (1983)
GTR - GTR (1986)
Momentum (1988)
Genesis - Three Sides Live (1982)
Genesis - Genesis Archive 1967-75 (1988)
Time Lapse (1992)
The Unauthorised Biography (1992)
Guitar Noir (1994)
Blues With A Feeling (1994)
There Are Many Sides To The Night (1994)
A Midsummer's Night Dream (1997)
Watcher Of The Skies: Genesis Revisited (1997)
The Tokyo Tapes (1997)
Darktown (1999)
Genesis - Genesis - Turn It On Again (1999)
Sketches Of Satie (2000) (w/John Hackett)
Feedback '86 (2000)
Genesis - Genesis Archive #2 (2000)
Live Archive 70s 80s 90s (2001)
Live Archive - Newcastle (2001)
To Watch The Storms (2003)
Live Archive NEARfest (2003)
Live Archive 03 (2004)
Live Archive 04 (2004)
Genesis - The Platinum Collection (2004)
Metamorpheus (2005) (w/The Underworld Orchestra)
Live Archive 05 (2005)
Live Archive 83 (2006)
Wild Orchids (2006)
Tribute (2008)
Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth (2010)
Beyond The Shrouded Horizon (2011)
Genesis Revisited II (2012)
Wolflight (2015)
THe Night Siren (2017)
At The Edge Of Light (2019)

Steve Hackett Live (VHS) (1981)
The Tokyo Tapes (DVD) (1998)
Hungarian Horizons - Live In Budapest (DVD) (2003)
Somewhere In South America - Live In Buenos Aires (DVD) (2003)
Once Upon A Time (DVD) (2004)
Spectral Mornings (DVD) (rec 1978; rel 2005)
Fire & Ice (DVD) (2011)
Genesis Revisited: Live At Hammersmith (2013)
Genesis Revisited: Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2013)
The Total Experience Live In Liverpool - Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Classics (2016)
Wuthering Heights - Live In Birmingham (2018)

Genre: Other

Origin UK

Added: January 12th 2007
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.hackettsongs.com
Hits: 4352
Language: english