Glass Hammer’s Inconsolable Secret
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8612
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Topic: Glass Hammer’s Inconsolable Secret
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Subject: Glass Hammer’s Inconsolable Secret
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 14:20
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Has anyone bought GH's The Inconsolable Secret yet?I just got it and have given each of the discs one spin and think it is one of the best prog albums I have heard in awhile.The epic The Knight of the North is my favorite track so far.Great artwork by Roger Dean,good packaging and layout.I haven't checked out the bonus stuff on the enhanced disc yet,but will get to that soon.So,for anyone that bought it,what do you all think about it? -------------  |
Replies:
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 14:33
Glass Hammer albums are not available in Germany, not even through Caiman and other import specialists. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to: 
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Posted By: Paulieg
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 14:36
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I've been waiting for the retailer I buy from to get this in and he did today, so I'm going to order it later on tonight. Let us know what you like aboout it. I have their last two albums and think they are pretty good. I haven't heard anything about this album except for the 1 review on the site here. I'm sure there will be many more reviews now that its available to everyone. Either way, I'll be ordering it tonight. So what do you like about it? |
Posted By: Scrambled_Eggs
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 14:49
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I purchased a copy at NEARfest and got two of the band members to autograph it (hooray for me!). The first disc is excellent, but I 'ave mixed feelings about the second disc. I still need to give it a few more listens before I make my final judgement. ------------- And I am not frightened of dying, any time will do, I don't mind. Why should I be frightened of dying? There's no reason for it, you've gotta go sometime. I never said I was frightened of dying. |
Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 16:53
I have the new GH album. I agree with all your points: it's a fantastic double album set with gorgeous music that's expertly performed. Moreover, each disc has distinctly different styles and moods, but both are equally and immensely satisfying. And, or course, the Roger Dean artwork is beautiful as always. The bonus materials are great: Roger Dean artwork for your computer's desktop, a poem by Steve Babb called The Lay of Lirazel, complete lyrics in a really nicely done PDF, and a video of the band in the studio recording bits of the new album. Glass Hammer did a great job with this release. Great music, fantastic packaging, and top notch presentation. |
TheProgtologist wrote:Posted By: Moonlit Knight
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 17:30
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I would have to agree totally! After a first listen I would definitely say not only is it the best thing they have done but probably one of the best prog records of this decade to date! A story of epic proportions and music to match.Definitely a modern day prog classic. Pick it up if you haven't already! ------------- Moonlit Knight |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 17:56
| Well I gave it a 2 star review.Shadowlands is way better,full of tighter peices with more thoughtfull writing IMO.This meanders all over the place,and stretches way beyonds its grasp.They are no Yes although they seem to be trying to imitate their heroes who also went down a similar misguided route with Tales From Topographic Oceans.Too few ideas spread over too many minutes. |
Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 19:27
That's cool, Rich. Different strokes for different folks, as the saying goes. I checked out your review ... and neatly tucked away at the very end was: "(in 2 years I'll be proclaiming this to be the greatest prog masterpeice ever and deeply embarassed at my feeble attempt of a review!)" Very interesting. 
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Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 19:29
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[QUOTE=MikeEnRegalia] Glass Hammer albums are not available in
Germany, not even through Caiman and other import specialists. [/
QUOTE] Sure you can get Glass Hammer's recordings in Germany. Check out: http://www.justforkicks.de/ They carry the complete GH catalog, including the brand new album. |
Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 20:10
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You can also purchase their albums on-line from their official site at http://www.glasshammer.com - www.glasshammer.com . I have just received their Live Lex DVD from the official site and am waiting on Inconsolable Secret. Otherwise they are not available normally at any retailer (that I know of) here in New Zealand ------------- 
"Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 21:09
I have always liked Glass Hammers lush,symphonic,keyboard laden sound.Schendel and Babb's mix of moog,mellotron,hammond organ,pipe organ and piano is pretty cool sounding.The first disc containing the two epic tracks A Maker of Crowns And The Knight of the North is my favorite of the 2 so far.If you like GH you will NOT be disappointed with this,no matter what RichardH says ------------- |
Posted By: Lliusion
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 21:17
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Just curious Richard, did the group send you a review copy? Or how did you get a copy before the release date - since that is today? Just curious... |
Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: July 12 2005 at 21:55
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^^^ THE INCONSOLABLE SECRET HAS ARRIVED!!!!! Can't wait to listen to it -------------
"Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 02:34
I got The Inconsolable Secret last week from my normal place , and paid for!( http://www.cd-services.com/ - http://www.cd-services.com/ -they are one of the leading suppliers of prog rock CD's in the UK and so may have got a few in advance of the official release date I guess)
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Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 11:14
Bad, BAD, CD-Services, jumping the gun like that. 
On a separate note, I spent most of yesterday evening listening over and over again to The Inconsolable Secret ... there is so much going on within the music, that with each new discovery I find additional reasons to fall in love with this masterwork. Babb and Schendel are to be congratulated on such a fine body of work. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 12:34
It's ambitious which is always a good thing.My 2 star review would rival Scrooge for being miserly
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Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 13:20
YOU CONSIDER THE INCONSOLABLE SECRET TO BE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS LOVE BEACH???? Now, that's just a travesty. Moreover, YOU GAVE
LOVE BEACH--THAT PIECE OF JUNK--2 STARS???? One star would have been one too many. 
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Posted By: Dan Bobrowski
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 13:33
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How about the vocals? I have Shadowlands and Chronometree and the vocals are the weakest link. |
Posted By: spock84
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 15:24
| Do the drums still sound like a drum machine, like they did on Shadowlands? |
Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 16:54
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danbo, the vocals on TIS are, in my opinion, fantastic. I really like the lead
vocals of Walter Moore and Susie Bogdanowicz, as well as Steve Babb and Fred Schendel. I don't think you'll be at all disappointed. spock84, there are no electronic kits on this album. Matt Mendians is the newest full-time member of Glass Hammer, and he plays a very mean ACOUSTIC drum kit. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 18:00
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Fred Schendel use to play a small electronic kit on the albums so I understand where you are coming from.That said I actually like his drumming.He plays nice and naturally and is anything but mechanical in style. |
Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 19:52
I completely agree ... I've always enjoyed Fred Schendel's drumming capabilities; to say he's "very good" is definitely an understatement. That said, I really like the acoustic drumming of Matt Mendians ... he's a great fit into Glass Hammer's style of musicianship. |
Posted By: kirklott
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 20:21
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Dude, have you heard of a new thing called postal service? All major nations have services in which they carry letters, packages, etc. back and forth, at a surprisingly reasonable cost. For transatlantic commerce, they use mostly so-called airplanes but sometimes water-borne vessels called ships. Believe it or not, this will enable you to actually receive a product from the USA to Europe. This is a little known but useful fact. ------------- "Progressive rock is the key to the continuance of human evolution." - Charles Darwin |
Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 21:36
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Well... It is a fantastic musical experience as I had hoped. There is so much going on in it, that I am going to have to listen to it at least another couple of times before I committ myself to a review. Most notably though it is very keyboard laiden not quite as much guitar work as in Chronometree and Lex Rex. I do not think Glass Hammer fans will be disappointed with the whole package -------------
"Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 21:55
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I want this sooooo bad...
------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: July 14 2005 at 00:04
Pick up a copy quick ... you're gonna love it. 
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 14 2005 at 02:36
It's actually quite expensive for that particular album, I don't know why. Yesterday I received two Keneally albums through Caiman, with only €3 added for international shipping. Cinema: Thanks for the hint to http://www.justforkicks.de - www.justforkicks.de , I didn't know that website ... they offer a lot of albums that aren't available on amazon.de and ebay.de. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: July 15 2005 at 00:16
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Check out my computer's desktop made with the nifty Roger Dean artwork
that came as an added goodie on Disc One of The Inconsolable Secret: 
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Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: July 15 2005 at 01:08
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Great isn't it? -------------
"Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
I downloaded the wallpaper off the groups site, a couple of months ago. It has been my wallpaper ever since. I never tire of looking at it 
Posted By: sstarless
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 16:41
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What about lyrics? Basically what I'd like to know is if there is explicit Christian content as in Lex Rex? ------------- Io sono nato libero |
Posted By: kirklott
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 17:08
Do you have a problem with Christian lyrics? Just curious. I'm mean, the Hindu leanings of Topographic and the Satanic leanings of Zep never stopped me from listening to that music, in the same way that the Christian lyrics of the band Akacia I actually find enjoyable. The thing that bugs me about Glass Hammer is that the word glory is practically in every line of every song. ------------- "Progressive rock is the key to the continuance of human evolution." - Charles Darwin |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 17:09
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Apart from the occasional heathen symbolism and the mysterious cover art of "Presence", I don't see where Led Zeppelin ever had "satanic leanings"? ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: sstarless
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 17:34
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Yes. I am perhaps what can be called antitheist and especially antichristian (although peaceful :) ). So mentioning of god is always bothers me. Of course I can stand it to some extent, but worshiping like "Holy savior God ... walked among mankind" and "angels descend in light... shout love of their king" is a bit too much. don't see anything satanic in Zeppelin as well. ------------- Io sono nato libero |
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 20:38
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When the hell were there ever Satanic leanings in Zep's music?Jimmy Page had an intense interest in the occult but never really conveyed it in the music he wrote.And the occult and Satanism are 2 totally different things. ------------- |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 02:54
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I think that this was the cover art that caused those rumors about Led Zeppelin:
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: sstarless
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 02:56
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whats that black thing in the middle? ------------- Io sono nato libero |
Posted By: Snow
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 07:01
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I'm now warming to this album after four of five complete listens. It's not like Lex Rex or Shadowlands that grabbed me from the first listen. It's a grower. And I like it more each time.
Although I'd really like to hear more guitar. Apart from the odd bit of solo work, I'd really like the odd power chord here and there. It gets a little too keyboardy for me.
Snow
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Posted By: elpprogster
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 11:17
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Hi Anybody knows if there is a fair amount of (REAL) MELLOTRON and Hammond on this album? I´m afraid they just play samples of them.. Also; do you think this is a keyboard driven album? |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 16:27
Fred Schendel normally uses samples.I doubt that anyone uses real Hammond organs in prog anymore..which is a great shame. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 16:30
Not as much as their other albums.They uise a lot of medeaval style instrumental peices on 'The LAdy' which breaks it up too much for my liing.'The Knights' is very impressive though and is more 'keyboard driven' i would say. |
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 17:17
John Novello of Niacin does,but that is fusion.I don't care,I love them!!!!! ------------- |