Defector (Steve Hackett album)


Defector is the fourth studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett, released in June 1980 on Charisma Records. After touring in support of his previous album, Spectral Mornings, Hackett took his band into Wessex Sound Studios to record a follow-up. Many Hackett fans consider this to be the last album from his classic solo period.
The album remains Hackett's highest charting album on the UK Albums Chart, reaching No. 9. "The Show" was released as a single. In 2005, Defector was remastered and re-released on Virgin Records. The new edition features updated liner notes and five bonus tracks. A surround mix was included in the Premonitions: The Charisma Recordings 1975–1983 box set.

Background

By early 1980, Hackett had finished touring his previous album, Spectral Mornings which at the time of release, became his strongest selling album. Hackett wanted to capitalise on the commercial momentum he had achieved by rehearsing new material for a follow-up with his touring band prior to recording it in a studio. This way, he could finish it quickly and resume touring. Hackett found new sources of inspiration in his writing, specifically the 1970 political drama film The Conformist as a model for the imagery that he conjured in his mind and uses to write songs. He had spent Christmas of 1979 in Washington, D.C. which resulted in "more and more thoughts about less romantic things". "Slogans" reminded him of an out of control vehicle, and thought of "a mob feel; something run riot", futuristic, and propaganda themes. Though the album is a collection of songs, Hackett described its underlying theme: "There's a lot of heavy kind of claustrophobic kind of feelings from the idea of someone being trapped in a situation and having to move away to something else, somewhere else, somebody else... I see it more in terms of 'Defector' as a metaphor really and music as the supreme language of metaphor".

Recording

Defector was recorded in the spring of 1980 at Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, north London. As the material was already rehearsed, Hackett noted that recording was quickly done, yet without cutting corners on the production as he had typically spent more time "getting things right" in the past. Following its release, Hackett had become increasingly aware of the musical direction of his past albums, and aimed for his next one to sound "less monumental".

Release

Defector reached No. 9 on the UK Albums Chart, and remains Hackett's highest charting album in the UK. "The Show" was released as a single. Hackett supported the album with a sell-out UK tourIn additional, he performed for the first time as a solo artist in North America.

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Hackett, except where indicated.
Side 1
  1. "The Steppes" – 6:05
  2. "Time to Get Out" – 4:11
  3. "Slogans" – 3:46
  4. "Leaving" – 3:16
  5. "Two Vamps as Guests" – 1:58
Side 2
  1. "Jacuzzi" – 4:36
  2. "Hammer in the Sand" – 3:11
  3. "The Toast" – 3:42
  4. "The Show" – 3:40
  5. "Sentimental Institution" – 2:44
2005 Remaster Bonus Tracks
  1. "Hercules Unchained" – 2:44
  2. "Sentimental Institution" – 3:02
  3. "The Steppes" – 6:33
  4. "Slogans" – 4:19
  5. "Clocks – The Angel of Mons" – 5:54
2016 Remaster Bonus Tracks and DVD - New Pseudo 5.1 Surround Sound Up-mix From The Original Stereo Master Tapes
  1. "The Air Conditioned Nightmare" – 4:42
  2. "Every Day" – 6:48
  3. "Ace Of Wands" – 6:45
  4. "Funny Feeling" – 4:17
  5. "The Steppes" – 6:12
  6. "Overnight Sleeper" – 4:52
  7. "Slogans" – 4:42
  8. "The Tower Struck Down" – 3:13
  9. "Spectral Mornings" – 6:10
  10. "The Show" – 4:32
  11. "Clocks - The Angel Of Mons" – 6:05

    Personnel

Credits taken from the album's 1980 liner notes.
Production