Steve Hackett - The Circus And The Nightwhale

Steve Hackett, luminary guitarist of many colours (prog, rock, jazz, instrumental, acoustic, classical et al) has been on an extraordinarily good – and highly creative – run of studio album form since the turn of the century (and his earlier solo catalogue isn’t exactly too shabby).
No surprise then to hear that The Circus And The Nightwhale is another outstanding, multifaceted yet cohesive offering.
Steve Hackett fans will also be delighted to hear that the album is a conceptual work, a rite-of-passage tale based around a young character by the name of Travla (there are also elements of the autobiographical).
Nor does it hurt that Hackett is once again in the company of some talented and long-standing musical companions, including Roger King (keys, programming, orchestral arrangements), Rob Townsend (sax), Jonas Reingold (bass), Amanda Lehmann & Nad Sylvan (vocals) and Craig Blundell (drums).
A number of guest players also feature, including Nick D’Virgilio & Hugo Degenhardt (drums), Malik Mansurov (tar) and John Hackett (flute).
The album opens by returning to the past and the 'People Of The Smoke' who reside in post-war London (both the start of young Travla’s journey and a nod to Steve Hackett’s childhood in Battersea).
A brilliantly conceived, ever-shifting steam-punk meets prog piece that features a harmonised vocal lead from Steve Hackett and Amanda Lehmann, 'People Of The Smoke' invokes images of a gritty, grimy, and recently war torn city, interspersed with some wicked rock guitar from Hackett and great drum work from guest player Nick D’Virgilio.
No surprise then to hear that The Circus And The Nightwhale is another outstanding, multifaceted yet cohesive offering.
Steve Hackett fans will also be delighted to hear that the album is a conceptual work, a rite-of-passage tale based around a young character by the name of Travla (there are also elements of the autobiographical).
Nor does it hurt that Hackett is once again in the company of some talented and long-standing musical companions, including Roger King (keys, programming, orchestral arrangements), Rob Townsend (sax), Jonas Reingold (bass), Amanda Lehmann & Nad Sylvan (vocals) and Craig Blundell (drums).
A number of guest players also feature, including Nick D’Virgilio & Hugo Degenhardt (drums), Malik Mansurov (tar) and John Hackett (flute).
The album opens by returning to the past and the 'People Of The Smoke' who reside in post-war London (both the start of young Travla’s journey and a nod to Steve Hackett’s childhood in Battersea).
A brilliantly conceived, ever-shifting steam-punk meets prog piece that features a harmonised vocal lead from Steve Hackett and Amanda Lehmann, 'People Of The Smoke' invokes images of a gritty, grimy, and recently war torn city, interspersed with some wicked rock guitar from Hackett and great drum work from guest player Nick D’Virgilio.
Short instrumental 'Passing Clouds,' led by Steve Hackett’s airy, melodic guitar, leads to the darker, off-kilter rock blues of 'Taking You Down,' featuring Nad Sylvan on (treated) vocals.
Rob Townsend’s unsettling sax solo adds to the darkness of a number that sees Travla in dubious company ("He’ll fill your cup and watch you drink, lead you to the brink and watch you sink!").
Another short piece, 'Found And Lost,' is a slow and forlorn pseudo jazz-blues that speaks of first love before Travla is invited to 'Enter the Ring,' a flighty and proggy folk-rock affair that features a harmonised Amanda Lehmann lead vocal, jaunty flute-led passage from John Hackett and a nod to Genesis (in vibe and musical spirit).
Conflict looms for Travla (and a younger Steve Hackett) on the slower and, again, off-kilter (played in 6/8, prog lovers) 'Get Me Out,' another dark number where Travla’s personal and musical lives are in conflict, whilst being controlled by others (anyone who has read Steve Hackett’s autobiography will realise this also parallels part of Hackett’s life).
Additionally, Hackett’s own comment that the song is akin to "a rock-noir version of the Perry Mason theme" isn’t far off the mark.
Lighter contrast is then provided by two love songs in one, 'Ghost Moon And Living Love.'
Amanda Lehmann is beautifully operatic on the 'Ghost Moon' intro before Steve Hackett takes a very assured lead, accompanied by harmony guitar and a soft, Genesis-esque finale featuring Lehmann & Hackett in perfect vocal harmony. A surprise highlight of the album.
Chaos returns with the short and sharp 'Circo Inferno,' a wild and frenzied mix of eastern stylings (Malik on tar overdrive) and angular rock; Travla then makes a 'Breakout' on a quick-fire riff-rock number that features some serious rhythmic bite from guest drummer Hugo Degenhardt.
'Breakout' segues to 'All At Sea,' a short sound effects piece that invokes images of being adrift on a storm blown ocean, a situation that becomes worse for our adventurer when he finds himself swallowed straight 'Into The Nightwhale.'
A piece of building, belly of the beast suspense music (Steve Hackett playing bass tuned down an octave adds to the eeriness), Travla finally surfaces, saved by the light and love of an uplifting, keys backed finale with Steve Hackett in fine, higher-range voice ("Love is real now that I’ve found you, I’ll be there when darkness surrounds you").
That finale doubles as the intro to 'Wherever You Are,' a romantic power-rock ballad that features one of Steve Hackett’s best vocals performances and a heavyweight rock-instrumental passage.
As such, it becomes yet another highlight.
The album ends at acoustic peace with itself on the perfectly named 'White Dove,' a delicate and beautiful finale where Steve Hackett again shows he’s as adept with the Spanish guitar (and Spanish guitar music) as he is rocking it up on the electric.
The Circus And The Nightwhale. Rock Theatre And Prog Fantasia. Melodic Light And Angular Shade.
It can only be another excellent Steve Hackett album.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Rob Townsend’s unsettling sax solo adds to the darkness of a number that sees Travla in dubious company ("He’ll fill your cup and watch you drink, lead you to the brink and watch you sink!").
Another short piece, 'Found And Lost,' is a slow and forlorn pseudo jazz-blues that speaks of first love before Travla is invited to 'Enter the Ring,' a flighty and proggy folk-rock affair that features a harmonised Amanda Lehmann lead vocal, jaunty flute-led passage from John Hackett and a nod to Genesis (in vibe and musical spirit).
Conflict looms for Travla (and a younger Steve Hackett) on the slower and, again, off-kilter (played in 6/8, prog lovers) 'Get Me Out,' another dark number where Travla’s personal and musical lives are in conflict, whilst being controlled by others (anyone who has read Steve Hackett’s autobiography will realise this also parallels part of Hackett’s life).
Additionally, Hackett’s own comment that the song is akin to "a rock-noir version of the Perry Mason theme" isn’t far off the mark.
Lighter contrast is then provided by two love songs in one, 'Ghost Moon And Living Love.'
Amanda Lehmann is beautifully operatic on the 'Ghost Moon' intro before Steve Hackett takes a very assured lead, accompanied by harmony guitar and a soft, Genesis-esque finale featuring Lehmann & Hackett in perfect vocal harmony. A surprise highlight of the album.
Chaos returns with the short and sharp 'Circo Inferno,' a wild and frenzied mix of eastern stylings (Malik on tar overdrive) and angular rock; Travla then makes a 'Breakout' on a quick-fire riff-rock number that features some serious rhythmic bite from guest drummer Hugo Degenhardt.
'Breakout' segues to 'All At Sea,' a short sound effects piece that invokes images of being adrift on a storm blown ocean, a situation that becomes worse for our adventurer when he finds himself swallowed straight 'Into The Nightwhale.'
A piece of building, belly of the beast suspense music (Steve Hackett playing bass tuned down an octave adds to the eeriness), Travla finally surfaces, saved by the light and love of an uplifting, keys backed finale with Steve Hackett in fine, higher-range voice ("Love is real now that I’ve found you, I’ll be there when darkness surrounds you").
That finale doubles as the intro to 'Wherever You Are,' a romantic power-rock ballad that features one of Steve Hackett’s best vocals performances and a heavyweight rock-instrumental passage.
As such, it becomes yet another highlight.
The album ends at acoustic peace with itself on the perfectly named 'White Dove,' a delicate and beautiful finale where Steve Hackett again shows he’s as adept with the Spanish guitar (and Spanish guitar music) as he is rocking it up on the electric.
The Circus And The Nightwhale. Rock Theatre And Prog Fantasia. Melodic Light And Angular Shade.
It can only be another excellent Steve Hackett album.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ