STEVE HACKETT

STEVE HACKETT
PLEASE DON'T TOUCH (1978)
320 KBPS

Having become frustrated with the lack of compositional input which he was allowed to make within the confines of Genesis, Steve Hackett decided to leave and pursue a solo career. Spurred on by the success of his debut album "Voyage Of The Acolyte", made during the group hiatus after Peter Gabriel's departure, this second solo album and first after his departure from Genesis sees Hackett tackling a range of styles within his songwriting.
The interesting thing about "Please Don't Touch" is the use of American vocalists. It was as if Hackett was consciously wishing to move away from his English prog rock roots. Having the likes of Ritchie Havens and Randy Crawford sing against a backdrop of ethereal rock with Hacketts trademark sustained guitar tone made for unusual if not disconcerting listening. However it does work, mostly. "Hoping Love Will Last" is a beautiful song, made even more so by Randy's vocals. Steve Walsh from Kansas gives "Narnia" and "Racing In A" a cool veneer and Richie Haven's gruff voice adds a gloomy air to "Icarus Ascending". Other tracks such as "Carry On Up the Vicarage" is pure Genesis of the "Harold the Barrel"/"I Know What I Like" school of English eccentric whimsy. But it's the title track that really stands out. A typical Hackett explosive instrumental, clearly and emphatically showing what Genesis would now be missing.
In some ways this is a bit of a hodge podge of an album, though one I still quite like for all that. I think the use of guest vocalists, though largely effective does in some way sit uneasily with the material and give the album as a whole a less than cohesive feel. Also some of the material seems a bit sketchy, lacking the emphatic nature of "Voyage Of the Acolyte" as a whole piece. That concluded with the epic "Shadow Of The Hierophant", but "Icarus Ascending" doesn't seem to gel the same with the instrumental sections not really going anywhere. But for all that this album still has plenty to recommend it.
The live version of the title track, included here as a bonus is excellent and the remastering is a breath of fresh air. The album artwork by Kim Poor is amongst my favourites of hers. I always felt she was the best sleeve artist Genesis never had!

1. Narnia
2. Carry On Up The Vicarage
3. Racing In A
4. Kim
5. How Can I?
6. Hoping Love Will Last
7. Land Of 1000 Autumns
8. Please Don’t Touch
9. The voice Of Necam
10. Icarus Ascending
Bonus Tracks
11. Narnia (John Perry Vocal)
12. Land Of 1000 Autumns/Please Don’t Touch (Live)
13. Narnia (Steve Walsh Vocal)