THE INCONSOLABLE SECRET

Another night, and while the other half watches Emmerdale, I lend an ear to the last of my four Glass Hammer purchases. CD1 is waht you expect from GH, ELP hammond interspersed with Wakeman like synth bursts and Howe like slide guitar. Very accomplished and VERY much in the arena of 70's epic prog rock, If you like ELP/Genesis/Yes then how can you fail with GH?? Don't be one of those people who detests derivative or maybe they would say copyists of plagierists, just accept that GH are giving those of us (who have listened to the classic prog of the mid 70's hundreds of times) more of WHAT WE WANT. hats off to IQ and GH for keeping faith in technical, long and satisfyingly traditional symphonic prog rock. CD2, h'mmm, starts well, but then loses a bit of cohesion, but is redeemed by a masterful last track which is arguably the best on this Double CD. The middle bit is, (like someone has said), attempting a bit of The Enid, and unfortunately, however good GH are at merging the ELP/YES/GENESIS sounds, this attempt falls woefully short of Robert John Godfreys efforts. The middle 20 minutes is the weakest GH that I have listened to to-date, but is saved by a truly marvellous last lengthy and epic track (Having Caught A Glimpse (13:23)). All in all a VERY good CD, I would give it 4.25, but again rounded down to a FOUR.