The Steve Hackett / Chris Squire project – the amusingly titled Squackett – from 2012 gets a remaster and 5.1 mix to boot.

Release Date: Available now

Label: Esoteric Antenna / Cherry Red Records

Format: CD / 5.1 Bluray

Confession time – never heard this! Just hope none of my Yesfan or Hacketeering friends will read this. As a staunch Hackett and Yes fan, that’s quite some oversight yet the chance for not just a fresh appraisal – remaster and 5.1 – but actually hearing Life Within A Day with a totally fresh pair of ears, some 12 years since the original release, is an opportunity not to overlook ton this occasion.

Not only an amusing portmanteau but also, thanks to Wiki, we learn the graphic on the album cover that resembles a Chinese character is the word Squackett written using square word calligraphy, by artist Xu Bing. With that information you can likely work out the graphic and happily enter into what Chris and Steve were up to in 2012.

Their partnership and friendship goes back, as does some of the music that finally appeared as ALWAD. The duo are joined by Hackett’s right hand man Roger King with some top notch drum work from King Crim contributor Jeremy Stacey, a contrast in backing vox from Amanda Lehmann and added strings at various points.

Musically, the ball is very much in the Hackett court. Much like Chris has come onboard the good ship Hackett alongside first lieutenant Roger King, rather than Hackett heading in a Yes-wards direction. Maybe such is the natureof the bass guitar, yet with Squire, it’s never going to be under the radar. The bassline on Tall Ships for example is right to the fore and provides the core of a funky little piece that follows the scene setting title track. The latter one of the typically grandiose orchestral sweeps that characterise the more recent Hackett sound palettes, together with a hefty riff and sections of controlled chaos and a bass run to remind us who’s in the house. Perhaps the pick of the album.

The tumble of pastoral guitar and harmonies, plus possibly some twelve string on The Summer Backwards really sparkles and the melodic lines in Divided Self are classic Hackett. The latter also shifts into a sadly all too brief Yes-esque vocal part before Mr H is back with a fine solo. Stormchaser broods with a dark atmosphere and funky Squire bass contributions (as well as the earworm of the return to a brief riff that must be somewhere in the Hackett legacy)to contrast with the lighter moments and the passages where there’s the the opportunity to let loose.

Can’t Stop The Rain is where Amanda Lehmann makes a significant contribution and we get to hear the Squire vocal getting more of a feature. He takes a rare lead vocal on a lighter interlude thah’s in marked contrast to the immense weight of the title track.

Despite the presence of Chris Squire, there are many wonderful Hackett moments on A Life Within A Day to be celebrated. An album that sits favourably within the context of his solo work (notwithstanding the Genesis revisited/extended excursions) of the following decade. Listening in 5.1 is a nice experience without any preconceptions and although there seem to have been those whose informed view is that the duo don;t really stretch themselves, A Life Within A Day offers the chance to hear what two Prog icons get up to when they have a blast together and how a set of pieces becomes formed.

The two prog giants on a withering showcase track:

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