THE COMPILATIONS, 1996 TO 2004

This CD compilation by USA progrock band Glass Hammer contains eight tracks from the era between 1996 and 2004. Their sound is melodic and accessible with an important role for the vintage keyboards, especially in the long and alternating composition In the Court Of Alkinoos in which we can enjoy the sound of the Hammond organ, the Minimoog synthesizer (flashy runs and a spectacular duel with a heavy guitar), Grand piano and of course the unsurpassed Mellotron, the use of the choir-section is awesome! The track The Narrow Way delivers wonderful church-organ along fluent runs on the Minimoog and sumptuous Hammond organ. A remarkable song is the cover Air Born (Camel), Glass Hammer does a decent job featuring sensitive electric guitar work, vocals like Andy Latimer and pleasant keyboards. Some songs evoke Seventies Kansas because of the organ and violin sound like A Is A, Heroes And Dragons (Symphonic Version) and Through The Glass Darkly (live with The Adonia String Trio). The guitarwork is as usual quite fiery and heavy like in the songs Time Marches On (Performed Live At ProgDay 1997), A Is A and In the Court Of Alkinoos but we also hear the distinctive sound of the steel- guitar like in the epic Heroes And Dragons (the second solo is wonderfully accompanied by lush choir- Mellotron). That great epic composition is almost a reason to buy this mid-priced compilation! My rating: 3,5 stars.