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Voyage of the Acolyte, Steve Hackett's first solo album, was released in 1975, when he was still a member of Genesis. The album was recorded during the sessions for A Trick of the Tail; Hackett was the first member of Genesis to record a solo album, collaborating with Collins and Rutherford.
The album's title refers to the theme of the initiatory journey of the tarot, and the song titles, starting with "Ace of Wands," all reference divination cards, especially the Major Arcana: the Hands of the Priestess, the Tower Struck Down, the Hermit, the Star of Sirius, the Lovers, and the Hierophant from "Shadow of the Hierophant."
Instrumental music is prevalent throughout the album, with themes recurring in several tracks: the final theme of "Ace of Wands" and the oboe theme of "Hands of the Priestess, Part 2" both resurface in "Star of Sirius"; the coda of "The Lovers" is the instrumental section of "The Hermit" played backwards, as the themes of the two titles, the Hermit and the Lovers, are opposites; other fragments of "Ace of Wands" are hinted at in "The Hermit" and in "Shadow of the Hierophant," which is a combination of two tracks, the first part by Steve Hackett and the second, instrumental, by Mike Rutherford.
Some notes on the tracks:
Ace of Wands is the opening track, powerful and complex, with stunning guitar work and great melodies.
Hands of the Priestess (Parts I and II) is animated by a splendid flute and 12-string guitar, creating a pastoral atmosphere.
"A Tower Struck Down" is the most aggressive and powerful track.
"Star of Sirius" features a very Genesis-style vocal by Phil Collins.
"Shadow of the Hierophant" is an epic piece lasting about 11 minutes, in my opinion the most beautiful track on the album, from the almost baroque opening to the instrumental part with keyboards and great solos.
An album that contains variations from pure rock to pastoral ballads, a must-have for fans of Genesis classics (and not only). It's made up of excellent songs. While Genesis was beginning to change their sound, Steve Hackett was pushing a more complex progressive rock style, becoming a point of reference for all of us fans.
The cover features paintings depicting the Acolyte (on the front) and the Hermit (on the inside), by Brazilian painter Kim Poor, who later became Hackett's wife. This cover won the "Cover of the Year" award.
This is my favorite Hackett album, along with "Spectral Mornings," but let's not forget his latest work, "The Circus and the Nightwhale," from 2024, which is truly beautiful, and the latest in a series of works he developed with Djabe, namely "Djabe & Steve Hackett," the truly excellent "Freya Arctic Jam," from 2025, which, in my opinion, has gone too far under the radar. An artist I adore, who never ceases to make top-quality records, spanning different genres, constantly reinventing himself, and always leaving his unique and unrepeatable mark—that of one of the most beautiful guitars you'll ever hear in music. This artist has collaborated extensively, and he leaves his mark on every project he's involved with.
Tracklist
1. Ace of Wands (5:23)
2. Hands of the Priestess, Part I (3:28)
3. A Tower Struck Down (4:53)
4. Hands of the Priestess, Part II (1:31)
5. The Hermit (4:49)
6. Star of Sirius (7:08)
7. The Lovers (1:50)
8. Shadow of the Hierophant (11:44)
Running Time: 40:46
Lineup
- Steve Hackett - electric and acoustic guitar, Mellotron, harmonium, bells, autoharp, vocals (5), effects, arrangements, and co-producer
Featuring:
- Sally Oldfield - vocals (8)
- John Acock - Elka Rhapsody synthesizer, Mellotron, harmonium, piano, co-producer
- Mike Rutherford - bass and bass pedals, 12-string fuzz guitar Strings
- Percy Jones - bass (3)
- Johnny Gustafson - bass (6)
- Phil Collins - drums, vibraphone, percussion, vocals (6)
- John Hackett - flute, ARP synthesizer, bells
- Robin Miller - oboe (6), cor anglais (5)
- Nigel Warren-Green - cello (5)
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.
