ODE TO ECHO

I became curious to hear Glass Hammer when I read the newest review of their newest record earlier today. Glass hammer is an American prog band which has been around for more than twenty years and "Ode to Echo" from 2014 is their fifteenth studio album released two years after "Perilous". First it should be said that the cover is beautiful. It is an ancient looking motive with beautifuk peoples and colours so only that makes you wanna listen. The band is Carl Groves(vocals), Jon Davison(vocals), Susie Bogdanowicz(vocals), Alan Shikoh(guitars, sitar), Fred Schendel(keyboards, guitars), Steve Babb(bass,keyboards) and Aaron Raulston(drums).

The eight tracks are in different quality according to my taste. Glass hammer has a symphonic touch but not in particular. It is also quite straight rock but filled with progressive parts. It doesn't really fit my taste of music so I can't give it very much credit. I am more into the seventies' prog actually. This though contains a lot of high standard. The longest track "Misantrog" is also the most interesting, very progressive and not too explossive(7/10). I also like the instrumental parts of "Panegryic"(7/10) very much and the Beatles feeling of "Porpoise song"(6/10) aren't wrong at all as well as the "Garden of Hedon"(6/10) makes you feel quite satisfied. The other songs aren't so interesting and sometimes I thought it almost was hard to enjoy it at all. Especially "The grey hills"(4/10) was problematic.

Glass Hammar's "Ode to Echo" contains a lot in music, different instruments and prog aspects. But I had hard to get any interest for it. I will give it three weak stars.