"The Tokyo Tapes" - Steve Hackett and Friends, live in Tokyo. Review by Phil Kershaw.

Steve Hackett has assembled a who's who of rock musicians for his "Genesis Revisited" concerts in Tokyo. Whilst the DVD is essentially the same as the video, it is worth actually watching the bonus rehearsal footage, filmed at Twickenham Film Studios before tuning in to the actual concert itself. The picture is presented in standard 4:3 aspect ratio with a basic stereo soundtrack, but who cares?! This is an absolute gem for any Steve Hackett or Genesis fan.

The opener is "Watcher Of The Skies" with the ethereal keyboards beautifully played by the excellent Julian Colbeck. Those opening chords still send a tingle down my spine after all these years - musical heaven! Anyway, back down to earth with "Riding The Colossus" where Steve displays his uncanny ear for a good tune.

Revisiting Genesis, and "Firth Of Fifth" is presented here in all its glory. Excellent vocals from John Wetton and finally, Steve's epic soaring guitar solo - this lad will go far! After "Battlelines" and "Camino Royale" we are into one of the original and brilliant forerunners of progressive rock, the impressive King Crimson's "In The Court Of The Crimson King".

No Steve Hackett concert would be complete without his perennial acoustic favourite "Horizons", and he doesn't disappoint us here. "Walking Away From Rainbows" is followed by a full acoustic version of John Wetton's huge Asia hit, "Heat Of The Moment".

More Genesis greats with "In That Quiet Earth" and "Los Endos" held together splendidly by Chester Thompson's top drawer drumming (you can tell he has played these before!). The beautiful "Black Light" acoustic piece is interspersed with riffs from "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" and "Wind & Wuthering" ["Cuckoo Cocoon" and "Blood On The Rooftops", respectively - TB.].

The classic "The Steppes" with all its raw power is captured brilliantly by the band and I have not heard Steve play better. Rounding off with the fans' favourite "I Know What I Like" (what else?) this is a concert full of tremendous musicianship. These boys can play and with a CV like theirs as confirmed in the biographies, you would expect nothing less.