Steve Hackett - Live Magic At Trading Boundaries

Steve Hackett – Live Magic At Trading Boundaries

Yet another Steve Hackett live album? A question you may be asking yourselves when reading about this latest release. And that would be a fair comment when for over the last decade or so, every new tour has had an official live release to commemorate it. The exception here worth taking note of, is that this is essentially an acoustic live album, performed with a smaller amount of musicians, and all of the music done in a very stripped down fashion. For me personally, there has always been 2 distinct sides to Steve’s music through-out his career. Firstly his band compositions, often electric, and created to be performed by several musicians together. And then there’s his acoustic music, sometimes written to be performed solo by him on classical nylon strung guitar, or acoustic guitar. And I’ve always had a huge love for both sides of the music he has produced over the 54 years of his recording career so far.

I watched Steve Hackett perform on several tours in the late 70’s & early 80’s, yet one of my favourites was watching him play back in 1983, with his brother John accompanying him on flute on certain songs, to promote his latest release back then, which was the acoustic inspired album, Bay Of Kings. The intimacy of that performance, often just him alone playing instrumental guitar passages, was a highly influential moment in my life. One I’d often hope he would take out on tour again, perhaps in smaller venues than the typical hall size ones he regularly plays in the UK. I’d also heard about his annual Trading Boundaries shows, in which he would do stripped-back versions of some well-loved solo & Genesis tunes, as well as playing his renowned one-man guitar pieces. The idea of him releasing a live album from one of these shows obviously appeals to me, considering I once made a mix-tape of all his acoustic numbers to compile my own personal mini-album of Steve’s acoustic material, well before he did his Bay Of Kings album.

Steve Hackett at Trading Boundaries

The performances captured on this latest live album have been taken from several shows over the years, all played at the Trading Boundaries, located in Fletching, East Sussex. It’s primarily a hotel/restaurant that is popular for holding weddings functions etc, yet has a charismatic function room that has held many live music events there, including what has become an exclusive annual show in recent times, by Steve Hackett & friends. It’s become a much-anticipated part of Steve’s calendar, with it being such an alternative style of show, and with Steve having a deep admiration for this venue in particular. Clearly, multiple recordings have been made there over several years, likely with the intention of perhaps releasing them in some form for public appreciation. And finally it has happened with this collection of mainly instrumentals, alternative renditions, and some tunes that you’d never get to hear performed at a regular Steve Hackett concert.

This set of tunes is definitely what I’d refer to a proper ‘listening’ show, where the audience give their full undivided attention, no distractions, and just soak in the music like you would a good hot bath. I think the intimacy of this smaller venue gives that perfect atmosphere, where a performance like this is being showcased in ideal surroundings. The overall production & recordings do extremely well to capture and recreate that vibe, for an audience experiencing the show after the event, and in audio form only. In fact it’s so good, it makes me wish I had experienced this first-hand as part of the audience, as I’m sure it was an incredible atmosphere on the evenings that these gigs have taken place. I am however very biased as I really do have a enormous soft spot for Steve playing acoustic instruments, and could listen to him play endlessly for hours & hours. As he has such a gorgeous playing style, and some of the chords he has incorporated in his songs remain magnificent, and so hauntingly beautiful.

The first batch of songs on this album are purely Steve Hackett on his own, playing classical guitar. Even though these recordings have come from different shows over several years, they appear to have been assembled in an order that would give the impression that you are experiencing a full evening show, from start until finish. Opening up the proceedings is a tune titled Improv, which I’m guessing is exactly that, with Steve playing some off-the-cuff noodlings, almost like a warm-up exercise, yet all done very tunefully and tastefully. It’s a short track at around 2 minutes long, and is then followed with another brief number, the acoustic introduction to the Genesis classic, Blood On The Rooftops. This is immediately followed by abridged versions of Barren Land and Black Light, both originally appeared on the Bay Of Kings album. And the final part of this one-man opening section is the evergreen Horizons, which still sounds as amazing as when it was first recorded back in 1972. The entire run of these first 5 songs clocks in at around 9 minutes in total, and honestly, I wish it was more, as I never tire of listening to the maestro on his own in full flow.

Steve Hackett at Trading Boundaries

From then on the album takes a slightly different direction, with Steve being joined on stage by regular Steve Hackett Band contributors, Roger King on keyboards, Rob Townsend on soprano saxophone & various woodwind, and Steve’s brother John on flute. Jacuzzi is the first of these instrumental numbers to receive extra musical accompaniment. I really love how both John & Rob are playing the lead lines together, whether in unison or in harmony, it’s absolutely gorgeous to listen to them play so proficiently. Next up is a trio of Genesis numbers, starting off with a small piece of Supper’s Ready, which is the short bridging section of music between Willow Farm and Apocalypse in 9/8. This is then followed with the first half of After The Ordeal, and in turn is rounded off by an acoustic rendition of Hairless Heart, which is extended with some improvisation added to the back half of this track. It’s such a beautiful melody, and extending the tune in this form gives it more scope, as I always felt it was way too good a composition to last only a couple of minutes on The Lamb Lies Down album.

Roger King, Rob Townsend & John Hackett at Trading Boundaries

Jazz on a Summer’s Night is marvellous ditty, flute led for the main melodies, and perfectly accompanied by Steve on classical guitar. It’s got that Jethro Tull/Bourée, Focus/House Of The King vibe going on at times, and sounding very English during it’s more pastoral sections. Gnossienne No1 is one of the most beautifully captivating tunes ever written, even though it’s a cover of a solo piano composition from over 130 years ago. If you don’t know the tune by name, you will most certainly recognise it the instant you hear it’s opening melody. This has been adapted to have flute as the leading instrument, which gives it an even more eerie haunting feel. And it’s no wonder that Steve has chosen to cover this tune as you can hear elements of this in aspects of his own song writing. Walking Away From Rainbows finishes off this mid-section of the show. Fabulously showcasing the talents of Rob Townsend on saxophone, as well as Steve on classical guitar, and so tastefully backed with gorgeous strings from Roger King’s vast range of keyboard sounds.

From the opening track through to this section, this album has been a solid 10 out 10 for me so far. However it’s the next track, Poulenc Organ Concerto which leaves me a little cold. It starts and ends with a huge sounding church organ, and some big dramatic dissonant chord stabs. Yet sandwiched in between this is some improvised experimentation, not too dissimilar to the ending section of Dancing With The Moonlit Knight, with a little bit of jazz noodling thrown in there too. I know that Steve always likes to have some improv going on at least at some point in one of his shows, but unfortunately this one missed the mark for me. Yet this is quickly redeemed with the stunningly atmospheric Red Flower Of Tachai Blooms Everywhere, complete with its oriental melodies, and the incredibly noble vibe that it exudes. After that it’s Hands Of The Priestess from Steve’s debut solo album, and I still find this to be one of the most brilliant pieces of music that Steve has ever written. Once heard, it will haunt you the rest of your day, as it’s about as close to perfection as you can get.

Steve Hackett, Rob Townsend & John Hackett at Trading Boundaries

The next two numbers feature Amanda Lehmann on lead vocals, with this ensemble now performing two songs that she had written, and both appear on her own solo album, Innocence and Illusion. The first is Memory Lane, which is a slow reflective number, and slots in well with the material that has been previously played. The second one is Only Happy When It Rains, which has that American jazz/blues vibe of the 1930’s, in an almost Billy Holiday style. This tune also features Steve Hackett on harmonica, as it does on the original studio version too. A slightly more up-tempo number, it brings about a different element to the proceedings, and a chance for Steve to play something other than just guitar.

Steve Hackett & Amanda Lehmann at Trading Boundaries

The set closer (not really sure on the original running order when performed), is a superb version of Ace Of Wands. I wasn’t too sure how this would translate over to being an acoustic rendition, yet this works fantastically well. For me, one of the stand-out moments of this album. And the very last song in this collection (the encore, I’m guessing) is a gorgeous version of The Journey. Just Steve on classical guitar along with some beautifully rich-toned strings, courtesy of Roger King’s amazing keyboard sounds. What a way to end things off.

I really do like this compilation of live acoustic recordings from the magical hands of Steve Hackett, and the excellent set of musicians he has accompanying him. The song choices are pretty much perfect, the execution of them is flawless, and the entire album has a really nice flow to it all. If the concept behind this was to make you feel a part of a small audience in intimate surroundings, feeling honoured to be listening to a unique special performance, then I’d say mission very much accomplished. It’s not a long album, with its total running time being a little less than an hour. Yet for music of this style it’s probably an ideal length. As I have said previously, this really is an album you want to put on and truly listen to it without any distractions. To allow yourself to be in the moment, and imagine yourself as part of the audience experiencing all this first- hand.

I also think this is a brilliant addition for any fans of his music that already have one or more of his many live releases in their collection. Because this one is very different indeed, focusing on Steve Hackett’s softer side to his music, and performing alternative renditions & selections to what you would normally expect to hear from him at one of his typical live shows. Thanks to InsideOut Music for releasing this marvellous selection of music. It might have been a few years in the making, but at last it’s here, and very much worth getting a hold of. And on a final note, I’d like to urge Steve to consider taking this style of show further afield in the UK, in the right kind of suitable environments, of course. If the right venues could be sourced that were conducive to an evening of acoustic-orientated Steve Hackett music, then that is something that I would truly look forward to seeing, as I’m sure a lot of his fan would too.

[We have included some of TPA’s Chris Simmons photos taken at these special Trading Boundaries concerts to give a flavour of the event and surroundings]

TRACK LISTING
01. Improv (1:54)
02. Blood On The Rooftops (1:15)
03. Barren Land (1:34)
04. Black Light (1:12)
05. Horizons (1:29)
06. Jacuzzi (3:20)
07. Supper’s Ready [excerpt] (1:40)
08. After The Ordeal (2:01)
09. Hairless Heart (5:04)
10. Jazz On A Summer’s Night (3:48)
11. Gnossienne No1 (3:00)
12. Walking Away From Rainbows (3:28)
13. Poulenc Organ Concerto [excerpt] (3:45)
14. The Red Flower of Tachai Blooms Everywhere (2:19)
15. Hands Of The Priestess (5:39)
16. Memory Lane (5:12)
17. Only Happy When It Rains (4:08)
18. Ace Of Wands (3:37)
19. The Journey (3:36)

Total Time – 58:00

MUSICIANS
Steve Hackett – Guitars, Harmonica
Roger King – Keyboards
Rob Townsend – Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Penny Whistle
John Hackett – Flute
Amanda Lehmann – Lead Vocals, Guitar

ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: InsideOut Music
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 17th January 2025

LINKS
Steve Hackett – Website | Facebook | X | Instagram