Till We Have Faces

by Steve Hackett

Overview

Though you will see Till We Have Faces often mentioned as the first rock album to draw from world music influences, that's not quite true. Santana, John McLaughlin, Os Mutantes, the Police, Jade Warrior, and others were doing it long before. That said, the album was done before Paul Simon ushered it in as a trend with Graceland. Recorded in Rio de Janeiro and mixed in London, it's a step away from the progressive rock he'd become recognized for and is a mostly successful venture. A couterie of Latin percussionists flesh out the almost all Brazilian band that graces the album, adding layers of complex rhythms. These rhythms are the core of the album and make such songs as "A Doll That's Made in Japan" and "What's My Name" more exotic and interesting; they creatively juxtapose Oriental and South American styles. The re-released version (besides re-arranging the song order) is also remixed, with the most noticeable difference being in "Matilda Smith-Williams Home for the Aged," which has new parts added in and overdubbed in places. In some ways this song is the centerpiece of the album, incorporating Hackett's signature melodic guitar work and an extended jam by the percussionists. This version also contains two songs not on the original album, "The Gulf" and "Stadiums of the Damned." The first fits in well with the other songs, the second doesn't quite make it, being a bit too glossy and synthesizer heavy. Similarly, the bluesy "Let Me Count the Ways" contains some of his most expressive guitar work, but is a little out of place among the other tracks. All in all, though, it's an album with inventive songs and skilled playing and is worth seeking out. ~ Rob Caldwell

Product Details

Release Date:	05/24/2024
Label:	Inside Out
UPC:	0196588702013
Rank:	146399

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Steve Hackett   Primary Artist,Koto,Guitar,Vocals,Marimba,Harmonica,Keyboards,Rainstick,Percussion,Guitar (Synthesizer)
Junior "Junno" Homrich   Percussion
Peninha   Percussion
Clive Stevens   Synthesizer,Wind Synthesizer
Weldemar Falcao   Flute,Percussion
Zizinho   Percussion
Rui Motta   Drums
Serginho   Drums
Fernando Moura   Guitar,Fender Rhodes
Kim Poor   Voices
Ronald Diamante   Bass
Sidinho Moreira   Percussion
Ian Mosley   Drums,Percussion
Nick Magnus   Vocoder,Emulator,Keyboards,Linn Drum,Percussion,Synthesizer,Moog Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Ned Washington   Composer
Gerry O'Riordan   Engineer
Steve Hackett   Composer,Producer
Weldemar Falcao   Engineer,Producer
Gwyn Mathias   Engineer
Felipe Nervy   Engineer
Andy Mills   Engineer
Jerry Peal   Engineer
Kim Poor   Artwork,Cover Illustration
Jack Paulino   Assistant Engineer
Nick Ryan-James   Assistant Engineer
Carlos Cesar   Engineer
John Acock   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Leigh Harline   Composer
Nick Magnus   Composer,Producer,Memory Moog,Drum Programming