If ever there was a perfect dream team then it would have to be the bassist with one of the legendary bands joining forces with the guitarist from another of the bands in the prog pantheon, namely Yes and Genesis. Whether either of the bands ever saw themselves as rivals back in the 70s when they were both in their pomp still remains to be seen.  However, more than 30 years later, the coming together of Chris Squire and Steve Hackett has been one of prog’s worst kept secrets through countless hints being dropped over the past two years about this joint project, only adding to the palpable sense of expectation.

The two first came together when Squire invited Hackett to play on his Christmas Swiss Choir album five years ago. Following that, Hackett asked Squire to put down some bass lines for his two most recent albums and Squackett emerged as the side project which they worked on at their leisure. And the result is, well, it is definitely not a hybrid of Yes or Genesis. It is no Tales from the Foxtrot but their individual musical styles which defined the sound of their respective bands are there for all to hear. Coupled with that, all the songs are less than seven minutes long though at least two of them are mini-epics in their own right with the whole album lasting just over 46 minutes, which would be the length of two of their earlier masterpieces played back to back.

However, A Life Within A Day has a special life of its own as a superb demonstration of two superlative musicians playing together for the sheer joy of it all. There were no deadlines so they simply created songs together that capture the pleasure they obviously felt during their recording.  On first listening, most of them may sound pretty straightforward but on closer inspection, you can hear the terrific depth in the way they have been developed which will be most apparent for those with a 5.1 system. Much of this is due to the thoughtful production by Roger King, Hackett’s regular musical collaborator, who brings a freshness and clarity to the mix so that every note sounds sharp and each vocal harmony lush and lovely.  King is also credited as a co-writer on all nine songs, with the musical line-up completed by Jeremy Stacey on drums and Amanda Lehmann, another member of Hackett’s excellent band (and his sister-in-law) on backing vocals. What hits you most of all is how the songs seem to incorporate a variety of styles including Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young harmonies, AOR, metal and West Coast- inspired melodies that melt in your mind. If ever there was an album with which to celebrate summer then look no further than A Life Within A Day. Some purists might find it too lightweight and far removed from their more traditional bodies of work. But that is to totally miss the point. This album comes as a complete breath of fresh air and a more uplifting, life-affirming album to enjoy will be very hard to find this year.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012  Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.

The title track, “A Life Within A Day” just grabs you the moment it starts as a shimmering waterfall keyboard intro gives way to a mighty guitar motif and then it is a full-on Led Zeppelin “Kashmir” riff which drives the motor of this kaleidoscopic juggernaut, twisting and turning as it does through jazzy passes and orchestral flurries. Squire’s bass rumbles and Hackett’s guitar blazes to wondrous effect. With its dazzling lyrical imagery and panoply of prog sonics, the song lives up its name and sets the bar incredibly high for the rest of the album.