Steve Hughes is A One Man Band Extraordinaire!  Once We Were - Parts 1  and Part 11 were released as two separate albums in 2016.  Featured guests included Guitarist Keith Winter (Ex Shakatak fame) and Singer/Guitarist Dec Burke (Ex Frost*) as well as others.  You can find more info on his music at [www.stevehughesmusic.co.uk]( www.stevehughesmusic.co.uk)

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWNty21FZif7yRGR8Gj8WPcUxfZUp9EAeshKB1ZdDH1mP/image.png)

Here is what [theprogressiveaspect.net](http://theprogressiveaspect.net/blog/2016/08/08/steve-hughes-once-we-were-part-one/) had to say in their CD Review about steve-hughes-once-we-were-part-one CD:

Steve Hughes – Once We Were (Part One)

Article by: Leo Trimming

A year on from the enigmatic and sonically diverse tour de force that was Tales from the Silent Ocean, Steve Hughes’ debut solo release, the imaginative album Once We Were (Part One) has been released by the former drummer with the prog powerhouses Big Big Train and The Enid. This ambitious album has a theme described thus by Hughes himself:

“This album examines the relationship and tragedy of two star-crossed lovers as they flip through different time lines and how their lives are effected by the decisions of miss-guided political leaders and romantic circumstance… war, love, loss heartbreak and death.”

Hughes launches straight into epic prog rock territory with the massive piece The Summer Soldier, spanning more than 33-minutes. This opens with the now Hughes trademark cascading of pianos, keyboards and a percussive wall of sound. The scene of war, chaos and love is certainly set as Hughes sings:

“Another life in a different timeline, Her Smile and Face I cannot forget,
Is this a dream of another lifetime, I don’t have the answer yet…”

Hughes interweaves a variety of styles and sounds, ranging from sweeping progressive rock, jazz inflected fusion and a liberal sprinkling of sounds emanating from ’80s bands such as Tears for Fears. Hughes has clearly diversified from his drumming/percussion reputation and adeptly lays out an almost bewildering series of musical sections and styles including sinuous synth lines, jazzy pianos and rock out sections with J.C. Strand and Keith Winter alongside Hughes himself on guitars. They even engage in a fascinating and appropriately at times discordant ‘guitar battle’. How he’ll ever play this stuff live is a mystery! It’s symphonic sweep at times has echoes of the classically infused pieces Hughes would have played with The Enid in the ’90s. The album’s theme is also wonderfully illustrated by the striking, beautiful and sometimes chilling artwork of Jim Trainer, another connection to Steve’s days with Big Big Train, for whom Trainer also produced some impressive artwork.

Unlike his previous album in which his old Big Big Train band mate Sean Filkins handled and arranged much of the vocals, Hughes sings the great majority of this album. Hughes says of this change in vocal focus:

“I suppose I feel a lot more confident as a singer now and, dare I say, a ‘multi instrumentalist’ and I just found It easier and a lot less hassle to do the vocals parts myself as I knew what I wanted it to sound like…’

It has to be said that in this epic opening track, in this reviewer’s view, Hughes struggles a little with the more rock accented parts, although many vocalists would have found it difficult making their mark amidst the sonic barrage that crashes and rolls like thunder across much of this track. It is hardly surprising to hear from Hughes that the working title of The Summer Soldier was ‘Armageddon Conspiracies’ with an emphasis on political intrigue. This opening track may divide opinion – some will glory in the musical avalanche of complexity and the cascade of styles that wash over you on this musical journey, but others will find it to be very ambitious and possibly over extended to such an extent that it feels a little indigestible. I will admit to feeling torn in two by this track – impressed by the ambition but feeling like I may have eaten too much by the end!

If the listener has survived that run of the sonic gauntlet they move into quite a different world indeed, with much shorter songs and a much less prog rock inflected musical palette. This change in direction and tone is much more suited to Hughes lighter singing style, particularly on the diaphanous and sparkling A New Light, a simple palate cleanser after the possibly overwhelming experience of The Summer Soldier.

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZqKwvsd71gKFS6Lfnp82zEdKki1ivQXeAz5PFCgKyUaL/image.png)

ONCE WE WERE - PART 1 Trailer
Steve Hughes Music
Published on Apr 11, 2016


[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_IM7_Q2iN8]

Here are a few videos from ONCE WE WERE - PART 1 

The Summer Soldier (33:01)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drnqDaZ8a3w

Was I Wrong? (4:34)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ3UdAl5HnA

That Could’ve Been Us (8:13)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk0AuHveyqk

Second Chances (2:44)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE_Zee0CvX4

 Saigo Ni Moichido (5:55)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUPT6-qsAjs

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZvhMyhccnZ6Te6eus95CC3C9hnDUv4A7v74vcvSL2Lzq/image.png)

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTdCNbwGqEo6T3QP8b8ui1pH6wMUxPmjdyYMxwTCCaogy/image.png)

ONCE WE WERE - PART II - TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5Ccee3ocz8

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZvhMyhccnZ6Te6eus95CC3C9hnDUv4A7v74vcvSL2Lzq/image.png)

An interview with Steve Hughes 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll1fdD5rQ9E

https://steemitimages.com/DQmbRu1PXPkqgX6v8GD7ALZsYDozzF1NhTbFUctsqsdbqeV/20171229_213325.jpg

[What Is @familyprotection? What Are The Rules? How Do I Donate?](https://steemit.com/familyprotection/@markwhittam/what-is-familyprotection-what-are-the-rules-how-do-i-donate)


@familyprotection was started approximately 3 months ago. If you are concerned about where these funds are going, please take the time to read this post:

[We are Family Protection, Keeping Families Safe, Together](https://steemit.com/introducemyself/@familyprotection/we-are-family-protection-keeping-families-safe-together)

@markwhittam grew up in the care of CPS and then many years later he and his family had to flee their country under threats from the state to take their child because they home schooled.

Linda, @canadian-coconut, started @familyprotection because she has helped several families who have been torn apart at the hands of the legal kidnappers aka. Child Protection Services.

It is up to us as a Community to uncover the truth and spread this truth worldwide!

If you or someone you know have children that are now wards of the state and/or government, we encourage you to share your story. If you are an underage youth caught up in this insane cycle of abuse and control..Please share your story..If you have friends in abusive situations..Please have them share their story. We here at steemit.com have caring people that that are willing to help you in anyway we can.

If you wish to donate in support of this project, please do so by sending your donations in the form of Steem, Steem Power and or SBD to @familyprotection

Show your support for @familyprotection, @markwhittam, and @canadian-coconut by visiting their blogs, leaving comments revelent to this most worthy cause, upvoting and resteeming as many of these posts as you feel drawn to do. 

[Before-using-the-familyprotection-tag-please-read-this](https://steemit.com/familyprotection/@markwhittam/before-using-the-familyprotection-tag-please-read-this)

If you find this post helpful, please consider UPVOTING and RESTEEMING.

https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmTeobac74G6WkAow2DuTXvJyPHJbuJ8y7fDeriUUBTQU5/TTHban1.jpg

[Active Posts by The Three Hugs](https://steemit.com/trending/thethreehugs)

MAHALO FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!