Steve Hackett
At the Edge of Light

I find myself reviewing "The Night Siren" almost two years after its release, on the very day of Steve Hackett's 69th birthday (wishing him a long life), coinciding with the San Remo Festival... and immediately a simple thought comes to mind: our hero's creative vein is far from fading! A fate quite different from that of his illustrious former bandmates: Gabriel and Collins, better this way, if only there were more Hacketts around at this level! Speaking of "circulation," Steve will be around our parts in the spring with four unmissable dates evoking the absolute masterpiece: "Selling England by the Pound," probably still with the excellent Nad Sylvan in the role of Gabriel.

But let's come to "At the Edge of Light" which ideally and sonically resumes the discourse started with "The Night Siren," an album where the author wanted the listener to reflect on the direction taken by our troubled world, particularly referring to the unfolding environmental disaster whose more or less evident effects have already manifested, see for example the topics of "El Nino." The beginning unfortunately does not bode well, permeated as it is with pressing, heavy, and dark atmospheres; however, the development of the album does not end in despair. On the contrary, and as the emblematic title highlights, we are "At the Edge of Light," so there is a light of hope: it is up to us to follow it, overcoming our fears and the tough challenges of the third side. "Turn and face whatever you most fear," reads the fourth side of the vinyl, the blind side, so Steve's invitation is to "turn the page and face what we fear most," and indeed the third side starts with "Hungry Years" with more relaxed and conciliatory tones, continuing with the "Descent," an accelerating bolero that preludes the decisive "Conflict" between good and hostile forces, a decidedly arduous piece, where the author's notes, in my opinion, impeccably render what they want to describe, with heavy phases alternating with sweet harmonies. The conclusion is happy, and to "Peace," Steve himself accompanies us with his song.

Musically, the standout elements are the overall symphonic nature of this work, absolutely evident in "Those Golden Wings": a masterpiece suite that I truly hope to hear live and the commendable use of World Music elements, mainly from the Middle and Far East (notably Sheema Makherjee on the sitar), evidently as dear to Steve as to his former companion Peter, all seasoned with Hackett's undeniable guitar class in that progressive matrix that unlike other Genesis members, he has never abandoned. See for example another decidedly strong track like "Shadow and Flame," but already evident from the opening "Fallen Walls and Pedestals" or the subsequent "Beasts in Our Time" with a valuable tenor sax cut from Rob Townsend. Equally interesting is the choral dialogue in "Underground Railroad" between the author and the McBroom sisters.

An interesting note at the end of the first side is "Under the Eye of the Sun," which in several points seems to be a tribute to Yes's greatest masterpiece, "Tales from Topographic Oceans"; another curiosity is the fourth blind side engraved in copy to the album cover, something decidedly unusual. Obviously, as is now customary, Hackett's work is also offered in CD+DVA with 5.1 mastering, though I personally preferred to follow tradition and judging by the quality of the recording, I do not regret it at all.

In conclusion, our hero demonstrates an enviable vein and as far as I'm concerned, fully in line with expectations. As for the score, if I wanted to go a bit overboard with "The Night Siren," here I'd prefer to recover the debt, even if we are still above 4 stars. But I am almost certain that upon re-listening to the work, I will regret my prudence. Enjoy the listening.