Shadowlands by Glass Hammer
The follow-up album to Lex Rex! Featuring the 20 minute epic, Behind The Great Beyond.
The Phantom Tollbooth Review (expert) Glass Hammer is a treasure! Since rediscovering my love for progressive (melodic, lush, epic and extended keyboard driven music with many instrumental sections) one of the biggest pleasures has been unearthing aural treasures like 2002’s classic must-buy Lex Rex CD-a concept album about a Roman Centurion on a quest for glory that finds himself meeting Glory Incarnate as he pierces Christ’s side with a spear. I read of Glass Hammer on National Review’s web site in a very favorable review by S.T. Karnick, downloaded a free mp3 from Amazon and quickly found myself enchanted. I liked the music so much I purchased the entire catalog directly from the band at their website. I am still pleasantly surprised that one of my favorites CDs of 2002 was this classic progressive rock concept CD from an Indy group from Chattanooga Tennessee led by multi-instrumentalists/vocalists/producers/record company owners Steve Babb and Fred Schendel.
Shadowlands (title inspired by C.S. Lewis), the latest from Glass Hammer is five tracks of wonderfully melodic classic-style (ala’ Yes, Genesis, Kansas, Gentle Giant, Emerson, Lake and Palmer) progressive rock steeped in memorable keyboard sections, lush Mellotron beds and multiple vocalists with interesting layered harmonies. The album kicks off with “So Close, So Far” featuring a spiffy mellow break, hooks-a-plenty, a guitar/keyboard break that will draw the listener in and that rich, booming bass sound that is featured on many classic prog-rock releases. “Run Lisette” is built on a majestic pipe organ foundation and features lyrics (sung by Walter Moore and Susan Bogdanowicz) from a true story about a murderous horse and the master she runs to save-a French Lieutenant fighting in a bloody battle in France. “Lisette” is notable for Glass Hammer’s trademark layered vox-up to 3 different lyric lines sung by different vocalists. “Farewell to Shadowlands” showcases a lyrical meditation on faith with female vocals from Susan Bogdanowicz.
Shadowlands closes with two standout tracks. The incredible near ten-minute rendition of the 70’s light rock classic “Longer” from Dan Fogelberg (described in an interview with Steve Babb and Fred Schendel as “America via Yes”). Steve and Fred take the song by Fogelberg and wrap it in playful keyboard parts and hook-laden vocal harmonies. The final cut is a progressive rock epic spanning 20 plus minutes called “Behind the Great Beyond” with a classical piano intro, stunning string sections and lyrics focusing on finding the Answer (with a capital “A”) to life.
Tracklist
| 1. | So Close, So Far | 9:52 |
| 2. | Run Lisette | 10:31 |
| 3. | Farewell To Shadowlands | 7:32 |
| 4. | Longer | 9:54 |
| 5. | Behind The Great Beyond | 20:29 |
