New Steve Hackett Remasters Immanent

On 29 January 2007, former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett will release the latest round of remasters from his solo catalogue - 1981's Cured and Highly Strung from the following year. Cured was Hackett's first radical departure from the sound he helped pioneer with Genesis. More lengthy and complex pieces are eschewed in favor of pop songs and the Linndrum is all over the album. "Time To Get Out" and "The Show" from 1980's Defector are good reference points for most of the album.

Highly Strung is a favorite of mine. Featuring the return of acoustic drums in the form of Ian Mosley, who would join Marillion the following year. The trappings of old Genesis are still in abeyance but the songs are less straightforward and more quirky than those on Cured. It is here that Hackett really found his own voice and the album would go on to serve as a template for his future rock albums.