'Wolflight' - the title track - March 2015

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Steve with the wolves

The title track of my new album "Wolflight" celebrates the early nomadic tribes that roamed on horseback across Siberia, Mongolia, the Russian Steppes and beyond... They strove for their freedom and way of life. Wild and unpredictable, sometimes they pillaged and other times they were caught and trapped into slavery. In the midst of battle they would suddenly turn away to hunt a hare! But they were not to be underestimated. They fought against huge civilisations and they brought down the Roman Empire. The Great Wall of China was built to keep them out.

They date back over four thousand years into the mists of time. They're the ancestors of many of us and their blood runs through our veins. They are our primal selves. Shamanic, some of these tribes believed they were descended from the wolf which became their totem. A real wolf cry both begins the whole album and is used in frozen reverb on this song.

The track begins with the haunting strains of Malik Mansurov's tar, an early stringed instrument from Azerbaijan, where those nomadic tribes brought their music and way of life. For me that exotic sound conjures both the campfire and their shamanic inner journeys. My nylon guitar takes over, giving a more personal vibe to introduce the song.

The track goes through several changes, from personal to epic as electric guitar takes over, taking us on both their literal and metaphorical journey. Their nomadic way of life, sweeping across the wastes with their wild and determined fight to maintain their freedom runs through the track, invoking their spirits and drumming with the bones...

Steve Hackett discusses the title track 'Wolflight'