Steve Hackett
Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth

The return to prog for Steve Hackett after "Tribute," an album of pieces for classical guitar alone, is a triumphant one. This "Out of the Tunnel's Mouth" once again confirms how the former Genesis guitarist is one of the most creative and versatile musicians around, someone capable of consistently maintaining an extremely high standard of quality in all his work.

We could use more musicians like him...

As with all his solo works, this one also requires more than one listen to be properly digested. There's a lot at play here, as our artist gives free rein to his creativity without setting any limits, effortlessly moving from acoustic moments to more aggressive ones, from sounds with an oriental flavor to instances where he lets his guitar delight the listener's ears. There are truly many highlights in an album like this.

The strength of Steve Hackett, in my opinion, lies in thinking first as a composer rather than as a guitarist, without trying at all costs to showcase his instrumental skills, but rather prioritizing the expressive side of the instrument, always trying to convey something to the listener. Besides this, I like to emphasize how over time he has managed to improve vocally; the impression, in particular, is that he has understood how to use his voice best in his compositions.

The quality of the album is very high; it's rare to encounter dull moments, and among the eight tracks offered, the opener "Fire On The Moon" stands out, which I personally consider one of the most beautiful pieces ever written by Hackett. It features a verse marked by the notes of Roger King's keyboard, reminiscent of the sound of a music box, counterbalanced by a solemn chorus, all framed by a couple of spine-chilling guitar solos. The following track, "Nomads,” is characterized by a classical guitar that recalls flamenco-like sounds and culminates in an ending where Steve's guitar takes the lead once again, and "Sleepers,” still predominantly acoustic, but in the central section becomes more aggressive and experimental.

Ultimately, we are talking about a very valid album, but those who know Hackett know they can always expect quality music from him. After the successes with Genesis, he chose to prioritize an artistic path dedicated to experimentation, even though this might have precluded him from reaching a broader audience.