Coming from a fine pedigree of musicians and musically inclined parents, U.K. prog-rocker John Hackett returned in 2020 with a fantastic D-I-Y album recorded during the Pandemic of 2020 called The Piper Plays His Tune, released on his own Hacktrax recording company. Although he has worked extensively with a range of great artists, including performing his trademark flute sound on albums by his well-regarded brother Steve Hackett, John’s new 2020 10-track album, The Piper Plays His Tune is quite unexpected in some regards. Writing, performing all the instruments and singing lead on all the songs, the entire album is quite a feat, and surprisingly it sounds like a full-on prog-rock band. Prog in this case of The Piper Plays His Tune ventures into not too far-out progressive influences like Brian Wilson as well as shades of brother Steve’s Genesis influence and also the late great Chris Squire, who I know would like this album. John's guitar and keyboard / programming skills are also in fine form on The Piper Plays His Tune. The whole album was made completely solo because during the pandemic he couldn’t record with his band. The whole year of 2020 was crazy but the net result in John Hackett's case is an album of thoroughly brilliant music-making. The Piper Plays His Tune is right up there among the great pop albums of 2020. www.hacktrax.co.uk

 

 

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