Steve Hackett – Live Magic At Trading Boundaries – review

Preface:

It is dark and gloomy. The blues of the endless gray, cold days after Christmas and New Year’s Eve make people retreat into their homes, listen to music, read, drink warm beverages, and dream of past summer days. It is then that a colorful group of musicians makes their way to a place called Trading Boundaries in the middle of sleepy Sussex to enjoy the magic of hours of pure music-making. Some brave souls follow them to listen to this music while enjoying good food.

The Location:

What kind of place is this, located less than two hours by car from the Greater London area? The building was constructed in 1777 as a post station. Due to its convenient location on the main road to Brighton, it was popular as a resting place for traders and tourists. It survived the years as a hotel, pub, and center for the public. In 1996, the house was purchased by a couple and developed into a meeting place for art, music, festivities with hotel rooms, small shops, a petting zoo, and manufactories. A place full of cultural vibrancy has emerged

Thanks to the owners’ penchant for (progressive) rock music, Trading Boundaries has become a hub for concerts. Musicians from the Genesis circle, such as Noel McCalla, Amanda Lehmann, and the Rocking Horse Music Club, have performed there. Even Bill Bruford will grace the venue with two colleagues in the spring of 2025. Besides the concert venue, there is also a gallery featuring artworks by cover artist Roger Dean (Yes).

The Concert:

Steve Hackett has been playing acoustic concerts at Trading Boundaries for years during the pre-Christmas season or in the dark January on two consecutive days. Like all artists, he enjoys the warm, intimate atmosphere of the premises with their Indian flair. It’s not just that the inclined listener listens to the music with perhaps a drink in hand; no, there is festive dining as well. There are only a few standing tickets, with the focus being on the two-course menu with music offer.

The Band:

Steve (guitar, harmonica) is usually accompanied by his brother John Hackett (flute), Roger King (keyboards), Rob Townsend (flute, saxophone), and Amanda Lehmann, who has been contributing the opening act or a show the day before at least since the release of her solo album (guitar, vocals). Nick Magnus (keyboards) has also been part of the lineup.

The Songs:

Improv, 2:10

The concert begins with an improvisation by Steve on the acoustic guitar. A breathtaking finger exercise that he often plays in the acoustic sets of his rock shows.

Blood On the Rooftops (Excerpt), 1:16

Steve then treats us to the familiar “overture” of Blood on the Rooftops. However, just as one expects the keyboards and vocals to kick in, the piece ends abruptly.

Barren Land, 1:46

Steve sticks closely to the studio template from the Bay of Kings album. The reverb from there is missing, so the piece enters the ears in a more streamlined, direct way. The gentle ending is beautifully played.

Black Light, 1:20

Another piece from Bay of Kings follows. Steve fantastically plucks the strings of his acoustic, letting the sounds float through the room. A dream that is far too short and transitions into …

Horizons, 1:47

No words need to be said about this masterpiece from Steve’s oeuvre. It fits wonderfully into the Victorian atmosphere of the house and brings old England back to life.

Jacuzzi, 3:28

Now it’s time for the band to take the stage. John and Rob intone the fantastic flute part of the song from Defector, Steve joins in, and they continue to meander musically. From minute 2:06, Steve takes the lead, then joins his two flutists for the finale furioso. You can hear Roger filling the spaces in the background. A perfectly coordinated team delights its audience.

Supper’s Ready (Excerpt), 1:41

The flute solo of the quiet, threatening part at the end of Willow Farm before the Apocalypse, played by John, captivates the audience. Steve and Roger follow. Unfortunately, the excerpt ends just before the “thunderclap,” although one already seems to hear the Guards of Magog.

After the Ordeal, 2:10

The confusion is further heightened as the classicist beautiful play of After the Ordeal seamlessly follows, which Steve and Roger initially master as a duo, then John and Rob join in. The wonderful interplay of the four unfolds the true splendor of the instrumental from Selling England by the Pound.

Hairless Heart, 5:04

Without interruption, the piece from The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway follows and concludes the Genesis suite. This is a brilliant presentation of one of Genesis’ most beautiful instrumentals. Floating, weaving dreams, sinking into harmony, it plays away from the original. How fantastically Roger solos here, finally accompanied by Steve as the piece fades out. The highlight of the album!

Jazz On a Summer’s Night, 3:57

We first heard this piece on the Hungarian Horizons album and the concerts it was based on. A piccolo flute chirpingly heralds the jazz. The guitar takes up the melody, a flute joins in, and the keyboard accompanies discreetly. But is this jazz? Perhaps folk jazz with a baroque feeling? Well, Bach would certainly have enjoyed the lively tune.

Gnossiene No. 1, 3:09

The showpiece for John’s flute artistry from the Sketches of Satie album. Slowly swaying, magically captivating the listener, the melodies of the flute, accompanied by guitar and string sounds from the keyboard, drift through the room and create an otherworldly atmosphere.

Walking Away from Rainbows, 3:37

The beautiful, transfigured instrumental from Guitar Noir, and thus one of Steve’s most beautiful compositions ever, picks up on the otherworldly atmosphere. It continues the journey into infinite spaces of harmony. The sound web of Roger’s keyboards somehow catches Steve’s guitar playing. Rob’s alto saxophone takes over the guitar melody and engages in a duel with the guitar. No, it’s a dance that both instruments perform.

Poulenc Organ Concerto (Excerpt), 3:46

Mighty organ sounds flood the hall. Roger is in his element. The piano finally frees the listeners from the organ’s noise, guitar and flutes join in. Together, they make Poulenc shine in a jazzy guise. Finally, the organ owns the last half minute to say goodbye with force. A successful bow to the great composer and piano virtuoso of the 20th century.

The Red Flower of Tachai Blooms Everywhere, 2:18

If not this piece from Spectral Mornings, which one would better fit the Trading Boundaries stage reminiscent of a Buddhist temple with its Far Eastern flair? The flutes, especially the bamboo flute, solo in front of Steve’s guitar arpeggios and create this atmosphere. Quiet and sustained, the melodies dissipate in the eternal roar of the Pacific Ocean…

Hands of the Priestess, 5:50

Heard countless times, yet always enchanting. How gladly would the reviewer like to fall into the hands of the priestess to be gently rocked in her music. May this music never end. Incredibly beautifully played, especially by Rob on the saxophone and John on the flute. Another highlight!

Memory Lane (Amanda Lehmann), 5:23

Now the stage is prepared for Amanda. Accompanied by Steve and Roger, she sings heartbreakingly about her mother’s dementia. Rob’s saxophone beautifully wraps around the vocals. The lyrics of the song are printed on the inner cover.

Only Happy When It Rains (Amanda Lehmann), 4:21

Steve opens for Amanda with a bluesy solo on the harmonica. She doesn’t need to be asked twice and begins to shine with powerful, … seductively sounding vocals, entirely mimicking a diva of the twenties. She accompanies herself on the guitar, piano and flute mix in.

Ace of Wands, 3:56

Afterwards, Steve invites John, Rob, and Roger back on stage to perform a brilliant Ace of Wands from his first solo album Voyage of the Acolyte. Intoxicating, fast, and playing together like sleepwalkers, the band makes the electric original pale in comparison. What excellent musicians are standing, or rather sitting, on that stage. A wonderfully presented classic!

The Journey, 3:51

The album concludes with the quiet, floating journey from Bay of Kings. Steve and Roger are united in their melodies. How fitting it is to sing about a journey in a former post station and to take the listeners along on it. Here and now, it comes to a soulful end.

All in all:

“I love the delicate dreamlike quality of this show with John and Rob interplaying beautifully on flute and sax, interspersed by surprising moments of power, such as the point when Roger’s keys become the sound of a full blown pipe organ! Amanda’s lovely vocals on her own spellbinding songs also provide a special contrast.”⁸

There’s not much to add to these words from Steve. The album beautifully captures the quality of his acoustic shows, which have always been rare, intimate moments. It’s a joy to listen to the musicians, admire their perfect interplay, and be carried away by the music into harmonious worlds. Even the pieces of electric rock music are transformed through their reduction to the play of quiet, acoustic instruments into adventurous landscapes to be rediscovered.

Yes! An acoustic show

Finally, we can hear an acoustic show of Steve’s live on record again. Long after the release of the Live Archive series. Unfortunately, only hear, because the show has not been filmed.

Nevertheless, I highly recommends letting oneself be enchanted by the magic of a Steve Hackett concert at Trading Boundaries. The setlist covers his extensive solo work very well and presents us with a few highlights from Genesis’ oeuvre. Amanda’s songs fit in wonderfully. They provide a nice complement to Steve’s floating sound dreams. She grounds the concert and arouses curiosity about her work.

A small, quiet jewel has seen the light of day. Not just a consolation prize for those who don’t want to or can’t make the journey to wintry Sussex, but wonderful music that enchants everyday life.

Author: Thomas Jesse

The album is available as a 2LP in FOC and CD in Digipak on January 17, 2025. Order it from InsideOut USA, InsideOut Europe, Burningshed and Steve’s webstore (UK), as well as Amazon and JPC in Germany (among others). On that day, Amanda Lehmann will perform her show at Trading Boundaries. Steve’s concerts will follow on the two subsequent days.

References

*1 see here
*2 see here. Some GNC Editors have also visited the place
*3 see here
*4 see here and here
*5 see here
*6 2018
*7 see here
*8 Linernotes of the album.
*9 see here
*10 see below

Discussion

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