Steve Hackett – Voyage of the Acolyte (1975) Review | The Journey of a Thousand Smiles

Kronomyth 1.0: Sirius of Sunhillow.

Steve Hackett became the first member of Genesis to release a solo album, and what an album! Mixing progressive rock with the fiery energy of fusion (think Brand X or Al DiMeola), Voyage of the Acolyte is a trip unlike any other in the Genesis family tree. Over the years, Hackett has remained the most faithful steward of Genesis’ progressive roots, and Voyage is his finest hour. The opening first side is nearly flawless, even as it manages to throw everything including the kitchen sink at you in its initial five minutes. Ace of Wands is a musical roller-coaster ride that yields to the pastoral Hands of the Priestess for three minutes of deceptive calm, only to plunge into the heart of darkness itself with A Tower Struck Down. If you’re not floored after the first fifteen minutes of this Voyage, you’re a salty dog indeed. The state of Steve Hackett’s voice is South Dakota to Steve Howe’s North Dakota, though heavy masking on The Hermit makes it more bearable. Star of Sirius fares better thanks to Phil Collins and would have felt right at home on A Trick of the Tail. A short guitar interlude, The Lovers, provides a cleansing break before the big finale, Shadow of the Hierophant. The hierophant (a kind of chief priest) casts a longer shadow in the second half and might be the heaviest thing Hackett has ever done. While Steve Hackett is clearly the captain of this voyage, credit belongs to his crew, which includes current Genesis mates Collins and Mike Rutherford plus brother John, John Acock, future Brand X bassist Percy Jones and several other notable prog figures. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, Voyage of the Acolyte is a classic from the ancillary prog canon, alongside Olias of Sunhillow, The Geese & The Ghost and Rick Wakeman’s Six Wives. If you found it hard to follow Genesis after …And Then There Were Three, set fourth on this musical voyage and discover a parallel world you never knew existed.

The Product

A1. Ace of Wands (5:25)
A2. Hands of the Priestess Part I (3:28)
A3. A Tower Struck Down (Steve Hackett/John Hackett) (4:53)
A4. Hands of the Priestess Part II (1:34)
A5. The Hermit (4:49)
B1. Star of Sirius (7:08)
B2. The Lovers (1:50)
B3. Shadow of the Hierophant (Steve Hackett/Mike Rutherford) (11:45)

All songs written by Steve Hacket unless noted.

CD reissue bonus tracks
9. Ace of Wands (live)
10. Shadow of the Hierophant (extended playout version)

The Players

Steve Hackett (electric & acoustic guitars, mellotron, harmonium, bells, autoharp, vocal, effects), John Acock (Elka Rhapsody, mellotron, harmonium, piano), Phil Collins (drums, vibes, percussion, vocals), John Hackett (flute, Arp synthesizer, bells), Mike Rutherford (bass guitar, bass pedals, fuzz 12-string) with Johnny Gustafson (bass on B1), Percy Jones (extra bass on A3), Robin Miller (oboe, cor anglais), Sally Oldfield (vocals), Steve Tobin (parrot and cough), Nigel Warren-Green (solo cello). Produced by Steve Hackett/John Aockc; engineered by John Acock.

The Pictures

Album cover paintings by Kim Poor.

The Plastic

Released on elpee in October 1975 in the UK (Charisma, CAS 1111), the US (Charisma, CHR 1112), Canada (Charisma, CA-1-2170), France (Charisma, 9103 106), Japan (Charisma, BT-5168) and worldwide (Charisma, 6369 970) with gatefold cover. Reached #26 on the UK charts and #191 on the US charts.

1. Re-issued on elpee and cassette in the US (Charisma, PV/PVT 41112).
2. Re-issued on elpee in the UK (Virgin, CHC 47) with gatefold cover.
3. Re-packaged with Please Don’t Touch on 2-for-1 cassette in 1983 in the UK (Charisma, CASMC 105).
4. Re-issued on compact disc in the UK (Virgin, CASCD 1111).
5. Re-issued on compact disc in Germany (Virgin, 787452).
6. Re-issued on compact disc in Japan (Virgin, VJD 28207).
7. Re-issued on compact disc in the Netherlands (Virgin, R42681).
8. Re-issued on compact disc on June 19, 1991 in the US (Caroline, CAROL 1863-2).
9. Re-issued on expanded, remastered compact disc on September 19, 2005 in the UK (Virgin, CDSCDR 1111) and on February 15, 2006 in Japan (Virgin/Charisma, VJCP-68773) with 2 bonus tracks.
10. Re-issued on expanded, remastered compact disc on January 24, 2006 in the US (Astralwerks, 37242) with 2 bonus tracks.