STEVE HACKETT

SURRENDER OF SILENCE

Inside Out Music 10/10

While Steve is known as ex-member of Genesis, his solo career has been both longer and arguably more fruitful. It features well arranged and often lavishly epic music with numerous guitar highlights. That’s the case with Surrender Of Silence, an album brimming with great band interplay and orchestral moments. Opening instrumental, The Obliterati is a showcase for Steve’s chops which run the gamut of blazing legato phrases, doom riffs and exotic string bends. Natalia is powerful, with rousing guitar, while the dreamy opening of Relaxation Music For Sharks (Featuring Feeding Frenzy), morphs into a huge groove with Steve flying around the fretboard. Wingbeats has a strong African flavour with pounding drums, vocal chants and Steve’s oboe-esque guitar melody; jubilant indeed. The Devil’s Cathedral is storming, with classy whammy bar work and crazy legato runs. Fox’s Tango is a dark riffer over which Steve’s guitar sings and screams. As for his nylon-string playing, something at which Steve specialises, the closer Esperanza is short and beautiful. Steve remains as vital today as he did all the way back in the 70s. A true master.