| The
Review |
A long, long time ago, C.S.Lewis wrote, "All joy (as distinct
from mere pleasure, still more amusement) emphasizes our pilgrim
status; always reminds, beckons, awakens desire. Our best
havings are wantings." What is our hearts longing? What is
that inconsolable secret that so binds us and yet is so sweet
that we have but to call it nostalgia, and romanticism?***
Glass Hammer asks, and for some, will provide the answer
to these ponderings in the magnificent and long awaited The
Inconsolable Secret. This new release is a veritable feast
of progressive joy, with two, count em, two full discs of
the finest progressive rock since the seventies. There is
so much brilliant music presented here, and so much depth
to that music, that it truly staggering to comprehend.***
Lyrically inspired from the writings of Lewis and inspired
musically by Yes, ELP, Kansas and Genesis, with this double
disc set, Glass Hammer ascends into the pantheon of heroes,
nearly single handedly holding the world of symphonic progressive
rock on their broad shoulders. Epic scope and scale are the
watchwords of the day as the band (and, yes, this was recorded
by a "band" this time) presents a nearly one hundred minute
tale of knights and ladies. Disc one, "Knights" contains only
two songs, one about fifteen minutes, the other twenty four
plus minutes. Disc one is all boldness and strength, and an
almost athletic musical virtuosity permeates every moment
of the music. These behemoth songs are vocally sparse, devoid
of the layers of voices that marked Lex Rex and Shadowlands,
yet instrumentally challenging and thrilling as never before.
Fred Schendel is the musical hero of these two epic journeys,
spewing out endlessly twisting and ascending layers of B-3,
piano and synths in Herculean fashion. This disc contains
the most impressive displays of keyboard prowess to be heard
in the last thirty years. Yes, it is that good.***
The first of these masterpieces, "A Maker Of Crowns"
begins with piano and synths, and will instantly remind the
listener of the beginnings of both "Close To The Edge" and
"The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway at the same time. The second,
"The Knight Of The North" gives brief tastes of the amazing
vocals and strings that will flow throughout the second disc.
Another brilliant, and I do mean brilliant, element to this
mammoth work is an amazing little aside that occurs about
fourteen and a half minutes into it. There is a sudden shift
from the symphonic power battle going on to a herky-jerky
little Gentle Giant-ish interlude where Steve Babb asks the
musical questions that some listeners will doubtlessly have
by this point. Ok, I'm not giving anything away, but this
is a very bold touch. By the end of the first disc I am seriously
beginning to consider this as the best progressive release
of 2005, no……the best in many years, but there's still another
disc to hear.***
The second disc, "Ladies" is set with eleven jewels,
nine shortish songs embraced at the beginning and end by two
more epic efforts, the first over ten minutes in length, the
last over thirteen minutes long. This is the feminine disc,
beautiful and nuanced. Here, piano and strings rule and many
of these tunes feature Susie Bogdanowicz as the lead vocalist.
She is joined in this quest by Sarah Snyder, Bethany Warren
and Flo Paris, along with a choir, a symphony and a string
trio.***
The second disc takes us quickly through the rest of
the albums story and culminates in the brilliant "Having Caught
A Glimpse". This song will make you just weep with appreciation
at the sheer effort that has gone into all of this. Along
the way we can pick out the short "Lirazel", which will, in
just about four and a half minutes, break your heart with
its divine beauty, and "Mog Ruith", where Fred kicks in again
with his glorious bank of keys to shake things up just a bit.
By the end of the second disc I am starting to think this
is worthy of being considered one of the top twenty prog albums
ever made, maybe even one of the ten best. Wait, am I going
overboard here? I do feel a bit light headed. Is it possible?***
It's possible. This isn't some nostalgic trip down memory
lane with a bunch of Yes and ELP clichés strung together,
no, no, no. This is fresh and alive, inspired and inspirational.
This is leaps ahead of Lex Rex, Chronomatree, and Shadowlands,
by far the best work yet from Glass Hammer. How they'll ever,
ever top this, I can't imagine. To make this all an even bigger
deal than it already is, disc one is embedded with the full
lyrics plus Steve Babb's 20,000 word poem "The Lay Of Lirazel,
and a short session video, and Roger Deans album art for your
desktop. Oh yeah, I guess the music was so good that I forgot
all about the gorgeous packaging, with awesome new art and
band logo created by famed artist Roger Dean.*** So, let's
review then, shall we? Best release of the year. Best album
ever by Glass Hammer. Best keyboard playing you've ever heard.
Best album in, no….. I don't even want to think about how
many years.***
It hasn't rained in thirty years and now that sweet nectar
has begun to fall again. It's glorious, isn't it?***
RATING: 6/5
©Thomas Karr
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