John Hackett Band - Red Institution
PV005
Finally after what seems like ages, I finally got my hands on this new album from the John Hackett Band, I'd kept abreast of developments during its creation and recording thank to both Nick Fletcher and Duncan Parsons who gave me regular updates about its progress and its release.
In addition I had been fortunate enough to witness several of the tracks as they were added to the JHB sent list for shows in Sheffield, Kidderminster and Reading. Shows I attended.
So it is a real joy to Review this album at last. Firstly it doesn’t disappoint me at all and having 12 strong tracks , of which Stella, the opening track had featured well in their live shows, The album was largely recorded at John’s own home studio, Hacktrax in Sheffield and was Produced by Duncan Parsons and the John Hackett Band , with much of the artwork being delivered by some familiar friends in Prog circles, like Marc Auger and Chris Simmons. The design is fairly simple and straightforward which serves to focus on the actual music being offered up here, of the albums 12 tracks, Seven are vocally led by Jeremy Richardson although John Hackett’s sings on the track Too Easy, the other five tracks are instrumentals that allow room for The bands collective .and not inconsiderate skill a good platform from which to take flight, especially the exciting and free spirited guitar pyrotechnics of Nick Fletcher who tears the fretboard up with aplomb.
It has been some considerable time since the previous John Hackett Band Release , We Are Not Alone in 2017, Since which time a lot has changed in both that the world has changed dramatically , Also in that each group member has been involved in other projects, John has worked with his brother Steve also releasing a solo album The Piper Plays His Tune in 2020, Nick Fletcher has released 4 Jazz Fusion type albums with a fifth coming this year, Duncan Parson has released at least 2 albums.
On Earth As It is in 2022 and a compilation from his earlier albums along with a few newer pieces entitled I’m Here All Weak in 2023, he is also a leading light in Sheffield’s Lantern Theatre which offers a diverse events program throughout the year, they recently hosted the Pete Roth Trio with Bill Bruford for example.
Jeremy Richardson used the period to uproot and move to Wales, amongst other activities, However the lure of new music and continued friendship lives on and has resulted in this new collaboration and meeting of kindred spirits on this rather wonderful new album.
The album is a great listen, one the really sticks with you, with some very strong songs and great instrumental pieces
Starting with the excellent Stella a song which speaks of two folks who are growing together in their relationship this song is full of warmth and is very upbeat and with a good hook in the chorus, a fine opener indeed it also has great little guitar fills and touches from Nick Fletcher, the song is actually a reworking of a poem from Elizabethan sonnet cycle written by sir Philip Sidney and us bazed around the characters Astrophil and stella. Reimagthem as .modern day contemporaries ot Elizabethan people.
This is followed by Theme and Rondo which has been included in the set list for the past year or so at least. The piece is a very interesting track consisting of a theme that is repeated that alternates with contrasting sections, Yet is also the first opportunity for Nick Fletcher’s guitar to soar and also for some strong flute from John Hackett, I really like the interplay contained within this track.
This in turn is followed by the deceptively jolly song Who Let The Rain In? Which is actually a commentary on connection and communication issues, I is all about how technology is drawing us all the time with calls on both our time and attention often at the cost our real relationships and real lives
Again this is another very upbeat track with another great guitar part from Nick, this is followed by the fabulous instrumental Clare’s Tango which begins with some great keyboards from John which lead to some very fluid sinewy snaking guitar leads and strong rhythmic support from Jeremy on Bass and Duncan Parsons subtle drums which are always on point and fit in extremely well in providing a strong but powerful beat as required. This is another excellent piece of music, I just wish it were longer really!
Next track MDLXXXIX (1589 in roman numerals) is both the album longest but also one of its finest building from a strong riff based on Bass and guitar and overlaid with John’s flute. The song is about a soldier in the 1589 wars in the Spanish main and the battles he gets drawn into against his will and ultimately the price he pays for it, I.E. he loses his life in the process.
We then have a very personal and important song for john in his own take on the King Crimson classic I Talk To The Wind , A song which john heard With his brother Steve at a king Crimson concert and John was very taken by the flute playing from Ian McDonald, that retook up the flute fir himself, The rest is history, on the version it is intrinsically the same button can feel the reverence and respect John shows the song, sung gently by Jeremy Richardson who is joined by Amy Birks of the Beatrix Players with whom John has performed fairly frequently, This track is another outstanding track of the album.
John Hackett sings the next track, Too Easy which appears to be about a failing relationship, this opens jauntily enough but the lyrics are certainly very sad in tone, This This song does however give enough room for a bit of fun between the instruments, especially with Nick and Jeremy who both rise to the challenge admirably,
Next is the offbeat track The Committee which was composed by Duncan Parsons and this is apparently about the 1963 Warboys committee when they standardized Road signs in the United Kingdom, as I say an offbeat subject for a nonetheless interesting track.
Brotherhood follows and is another brief instrumental track, Country Gentleman is about evolution of a caterpillar into a butterfly and the fear of the change he faces again this is an unusual material for a song but this band gave to talent, Imagination and Experience to be able to pull that off with style.
Final Track of this fine album is the title track Red Institution which Jeremy informed me is about how the Internet has become somewhat of a paradox in that information is available all the time and everywhere yet in that you have the fact that people are addicted to their phones to the extent that their personal interaction suffers as a result.
Plus you have trolling and the lack of accountability for things said on there, it all becomes a bit problematic really,
We can be hemmed in by a prison of information and opinion that exists in “The Cloud”
It is our brave new world, which is not actually brave at all it is just different to how we thought the future would be.
Well that’s it the rather splendid follow up to We Are Not Alone from the Mighty John Hackett Band, It is really good and well worth your time.
Info here: https://hacktrax.co.uk