Djabe & Steve Hackett – Freya – Arctic Jam Review by Gary Hill
This new album from Djabe and Steve Hackett delivers on the promise of their previous stuff. It combines fusion, melodic prog and world music into something that is both dramatic and stunning. It’s also uniquely their own sound. We get the CD along with a DVD that includes 5.1 mixes of the songs on the album, audio bonuses and some live videos. As stunning as that DVD is, and it’s great, it’s a bonus by definition and the main album is the reason for buying this. It’s well worth it. I’d say that it’s likely to make my “best of 2025” list by the time the year is over.
This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025 Volume 3. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.
Track by Track Review
In The Silence
Ambient vibes get things underway here. There is a real mellow fusion sound on the introduction. Once the bass joins and we get into a groove, that remains, but with a little more intensity. The vocals bring more of a melodic progressive rock vibe, but the music is pure jazz fusion. While this does have vocal sections, it’s largely an instrumental number. The horn and more intensity both contribute to a real soaring jazz jam later.
Freya
This lands much more in the realm of melodic, proggy rock. That said, there are still fusion elements at play at times. The piano is purely on fire when it solos, too. I love the horn soloing, as well. The vocal portions seem to occupy a larger portion of this song than what they did on its predecessor.
Stone Age Tea
This instrumental is so cool. The bass work is packed full of rubbery goodness. The gujtar soloing is magical. The horn solo is top-notch, too.
Whispers Of The Woods
More instrumental fusion is at the heart of this killer track. The number includes great performances from all the musicians and different instruments shone at different points along the road. There are some intriguing mood changes, and the cut has some scorching hot guitar soloing later.
Sliding Trees
Slower moving and perhaps a little introspective, this has some bluesy angles, but delieversd with the same kind of melodic fusion we’ve heard throughout. There is some harmonica here. It really gets pretty intense further down the road.
The Lost Ship
Fast-paced and funky, I love the bass work on this track. The whole cut just shows off some killer grooves and textures.
A Storm Is Brewing
This comes in on the mellower, more sedate side of the things. It still has some powerhouse moments. It also has a lot of magic and charm. It does intensify later for a time before dropping back down to end.
