Steve Hackett's latest offering, Darktown, certainly lives up not only to its expectations, but also to its title and even the artwork.  It is a foreboding album, yet has a sense of serenity also present in places.  As Steve himself recommends, this album is best experienced taken as a whole.  The songs alone stand up very well, yes, and while not your traditional "concept album" it achieves its desired effect most effectively when listened to all the way through.  So take a turn, step on down, as I take you track by track through this most wonderful album!  Reader beware.. I am not very skilled at writing reviews, so apologies in advance. ;-)
 

Omega Metallicus
Wherein Mr. Hackett informs us that he is fully aware that we are currently in the late 90s.

A knockout opener for a knockout album.  Anyone with a decent stereo system will no doubt be blown away (almost quite literally) by this one.  Dynamically very expressive, and certainly an instrumental worth enlightening the neighbours down the block with.

Darktown
Not for the faint of heart.

It doesn't get much spookier than this.  With the almost reversed effect of the guitar, Steve's altered spoken vocals, and the saxophone from Ian MacDonald just crying out to be heard, one learns how Darktown can be indeed a scary place.  Those familiar with Valley Of The Kings from the Genesis Revisited album will find the immensity of the sound familiar, though within an equally grand, yet perhaps more sinister context.

Man Overboard
Yes folks, we have a voice.

Excellent acoustic track, with an intro that's calls up traces of "Lost Time In Cordoba", providing a bit of relief from the previous two selections, yet still a bit unnerving nonetheless.  The music is soothing, and in the traditional acoustic Hackett style, yet the lyrics suggest maybe something more frightening has occurred.  And yes, have I forgotten to mention that Steve has finally found his voice?  For those wondering, he sounds very similar to Pink Floyd's David Gilmour!  At least that's what I thought when I first heard him here.

The Golden Age Of Steam
Steve Hackett, history professor.

A very World War II-ish sounding track, somewhere between Genesis' "Driving The Last Spike" and John Williams' score for "Schindler's List".  The strings, flute, and choir all contribute to a 1940s european feel, if you imagine it along with the lyrics.  The excerpt from what could only be an old film or radio broadcast at the end over an almost Yiddish or Hebrew chant by the choir certainly adds to the song, bringing it that much deeper into the reality it explores, regardless of how the song is divided between fiction and fact.

Days Of Long Ago
Sincerity at its finest.

The only track not featuring Steve's vocals (instrumentals notwithstanding) is this very fine acoustic ballad augmented by strings and choir, penned by Steve and Jim Diamond, who some listeners may be familiar with from his work with Tony Banks on "You Call This Victory".  Perhaps the simplest song on the album, and certainly one of the least 'frightening', it brings the mood up a bit as we delve full force into the middle of the album, which has no intent of slowing down.

Dreaming With Open Eyes
Ensure that your headlights are on and seat belt fastened, you're in for a ride.

Providing atmosphere that Steve is so adept at doing, this tune explores that feeling one gets from driving for endless hours on the road.  Interesting to note is that the percussion on this track is in fact sounds from an acoustic guitar - not necessarily from the strings - that are altered in such a way that they provide a subtle, and very effective percussion base.  Multi-tracked vocals guide our way through the rainy night drifting into semi-consciousness behind the wheel, under the hypnotic effects of the windscreen wipers and lines on the road.  Just driving...  neither here nor there.
 
 

Steve Hackett - your escort through DARKTOWN

Twice Around The Sun Perfection. The apex of the album, at least for me, is this spotless instrumental.  Beginning with an essentially 'remastered' mellotron strings passage, this song can go nowhere but up.  Not that I believe that the Mellotron is the only synth in the world worth listening to, but the use it is put to in this song is ideal.  With spectacular guitar work, the layers of this song mesh into a sonic dreamscape.  To say more would only detract from this attempt to describe it.  And in case you're wondering, the famed sustained guitar note that concludes the piece clocks in at...  ...perhaps I'll not spoil it for those who may be using this review as a factor in deciding to get the album... (you should, really!)  Rise Again Quoth Steve Hackett, Steve Hackett. With a deep and resonant vocal from Mr. Hackett, here we find an examination of the existence hereafter, which actually is just a second take at what we tried the first time.  Another Hackett signature resurfaces

Jane Austen's Door
Here's to you, wherever you are.

One of the most straightforward songs on the album, presentation-wise.  The second ballad on DARKTOWN is just as effective as the first.  Rather than direct expression, this song finds reflection a means for wishing someone the best.  With a middle portion worthy of goosebumps, a few lines of french, and Steve's last Shine on... the song gives way to a subtle repeated guitar phrase meant merely to bring emphasis to a simple statement.

Darktown Riot
No one ever told me there was a Waiting Room in DARKTOWN!

Another experiment into ordered chaos finds itself here, though remaining within DARKTOWN city limits.  A second look at the title track, the darker side of Darktown is explored... not that it was very bright and sunny to begin with!

In Memoriam
An album which does not end, but is concluded.

Very sorrowful and almost bittersweet, In Memoriam closes off the album in the most ideal of ways... leaving the listener to feel that nothing has been left out of the story.  Haunting spoken vocals coupled with the one-line sung chorus keep the tone low and indeed almost dark, but no longer is the atmosphere so foreboding.  We are gently led out of DARKTOWN with the assurance that we have heard all that is to be said... at least until the next time the album is played!

So what do I think?  Obviously I must find this a very good album.  Indeed, Steve's latest hits the mark with hardly a fault to be found.  In summary, some important statistics, based on my experience...

Out of 10...

Repetition Index: 10 (it gets better every single time!)
Continuity: 10

If you only buy one Hackett album, make it DARKTOWN... the other ought to be "Voyage Of The Acolyte".

So where does one find DARKTOWN???

Here.