BOOK OF HOURS

Outstanding stained glass -like and typical proggy artwork is the first obvious attraction before even hitting the start button. Willowglass' second contribution is even better than the debut, which was an eye and ear-opening revelation of how great music can still be made today and how amazing the new technology is with one man doing miracles from a home studio and a PC. This is a shimmering affair that breathes new life into a much cherished genre, an instrumental Genesisian adventure = loads of acoustic and electric guitars, tons of luscious keys featuring the emperor Mellotron in all its grandeur and some superb synthesizer work. How can one not be charmed into willing submission? Hey, we all have our own little tastes, quirky at times for sure, even rebellious but this is definitely my cup of tea, I can listen to this simply endlessly. One man multi instrumentalist and wunderkind Andrew Marshall takes us on an astonishing ride, a storybook expression of progressive pastoral magnificence in its most direct form. Gargantuan melodies with titanic waves of that magic choir-mellotron, inspiring the sincerest emotions, subterranean atmospheres and capricious moods. The massive and bouncy "Argamasilla" fires the opening salvo and the passion never relents from there on. "Willowglass" is a pristine shorter interlude espousing the exquisite fragility of flute, 12 string acoustic guitar and of course that "magical mello whirring tron monster", devastatingly effective. Spanning over 10 minutes, "The Maythorne Cross" is a more lugubrious affair, at times veering into more somber horizons, yet still flavored with heady swaths of shimmering splendor. Yes, old boy, it's very characteristically English to say the least, and we should be all very thankful, as this is no hooligan music at all. Very classy, elegant, ornate and ultimately glowing in sheer majesty, with never a dull moment or filler, every note has a meaning and a definition. Yes, there are nods at Camel, Anthony Phillips' acoustic revelry, weighty Hackett-era Genesis intonations, a dash of Canterbury, a hint of Barclay James Harvest (yeah the gushing mellotron parts) as well as some clearly defined Andrew Marshall touches, making this a successful and valid prog statement, with a bright future ahead (hopefully more releases!). The title track is another blissy voyage, with moody organ rolls, soft guitar caresses, waving synths, curtsying trons and redolent piano reflections. The final track, "The Labyrinth" is an epic, nearly 17 minute breeze that manages to symbiotically suggest the true essence of Willowglass' skillful craft, a musical roller coaster that bends from soft to wild while remaining very refined. As our latest PA reviewer wunderkind "AdamHearst "so correctly stated, "this is pure Prog Heaven"! To put it simply, this is shockingly good intense music that deserves to be heard and admired for evermore. After all both sinkadotentree and I couldn't be foolishly errant in our ways, now could we? 5 unquestionable wood tumblers.