PERELANDRA

I really don't understand the negative view many people have of this, and other albums early on in Glass Hammer's career. Sure, there is a strong and obvious Yes influence to some of the tracks, but that is mixed with a Genesis influence, mostly in the keyboard parts. One most certainly wouldn't mistake any of these tracks to be an actual long lost Yes performance, as one might confuse early Marillion with Genesis. Yet Marillion seems to be a favorite among many here.

In fact, the Yes-inspired tracks are the best ones on the album. Time Marches On, Illusion and Heaven are all excellent works of symphonic prog. In between there are shorter songs, that seem to vary in styles and influences.

The only piece that fails completely is The Way to Her Heart, that has some extremely clumsy lyrics.

So this album scores a high 3.5 stars in my book.