GLASS SHADOWS

"Glass Shadows" is the eighth studio album of Mostly Autumn that was released in 2008. In my humble opinion, with "Glass Shadows", Mostly Autumn consciously tempered their more progressive-folk leanings to a more mainstream pop-rock sensibility, possibly in search of a more commercial acceptability. "Glass Shadows" was the first album to feature Anne-Marie Helder on flutes and the only Mostly Autumn's release to feature their drummer Henry Bourne who substituted Andrew Jennings. It was also the final studio album to feature their former lead vocalist Heather Findlay. Although, she can be heard on their live album "That Night In Leamington", released in 2011. "Glass Shadows" is the only Mostly Autumn album without a keyboardist. Was Brian Josh that made the keyboard duties all over the album.

So, the line up on "Glass Shadows" is Bryan Josh (lead and backing vocals, lead, rhythm, electric, acoustic and 12 string guitars, keyboards, piano, Hammond organ and programing), Heather Findlay (lead and backing vocals, piano, tambourine, Bodhran and percussion), Anne-Marie Helder (backing vocals and flute), Olivia Sparnenn (backing vocals), Andy Smith (bass guitars) and Henry Bourne (drums). The album had also the participation of Troy Donockley (low whistles, penney whistles, string arrangements and programming) as a guest, as happens on almost all their albums.

"Glass Shadows" has ten tracks. The first track "Fireside" written by Josh is a very catchy song to open the album. It's a song with a magnificent vocal performance by Findlay and Josh, a nice acoustic introduction and an excellent guitar work. It represents one of the heaviest musical moments on the album. The second track "The Second Hand" written by Josh is a very typical Mostly Autumn's song very Floydian and with only male vocals. It's a song written around Josh voice and with a fine acoustic guitar solo. It isn't certainly one of the best tracks on the album, but it's enough a nice and pleasant song to hear. The third track "Flowers For Guns" written by Josh and Findlay is in general considered by the reviewers as one of the best tracks on the album. I'm sorry but I can't agree with them. It's true that it's a very decent song with pretty and beautiful vocal harmonies. However, it seems to me more a pretty pop song in the style of The Corrs' brothers. The fourth track "Unoriginal Sin" written by Findlay is a nice and strong track with a very beautiful melodic line. It's a very harmonic song with some nice lyrics and is beautifully sung by Findlay. This is a song with a very simple melodic tune that reminds me Fleetwood Mac. The fifth track "Paper Angels" written by Josh and Findlay represents a truly bless for our souls because finally we have a great classic Mostly Autumn's track. It's a wonderful song with all that a Mostly Autumn's song should have, a nice melody, a beautiful voice and a great guitar work. This is simply the best track on the album. The sixth track "Tearing At The Faerytale" written by Josh is another wonderful song that progresses in a Floydian's vein. It's a song with great musical moments especially the acoustic moments and the guitar work. This is another song that reveals the heavier side of Mostly Autumn and that became as one of the best songs on the album. The seventh track "Above The Blue" written by Findlay is a nice and beautiful ballad practically composed for voice and piano, with a touch of Mellotron as a complement. Findlay's voice is simply beautiful, as is usual. But, we are in presence of a simple song with nothing else more to say. The eighth track is the title track "Glass Shadows" and was written by Josh. This is the epic track on the album and despite being, in my humble opinion, one of the best tracks on the album, I agree with The Pessimist when he says that "Glass Shadows" is probably the band's worst epic to date. Nevertheless, we are in presence of a great track with some nice musical moments. The ninth track "Until The Story Ends" written by Josh and Davison is the most Celtic track on the album. It's a very simple and beautiful song where the voices of Josh and Findlay interact perfectly well together. The acoustic treatment of the song is very nice and is always a pleasure to hear Troy Donockley's Uilleann pipes. The tenth and last track "A Different Sky" written by Josh is a song with a very simple pop tune which has clearly a more commercial feel. It's one more song where Josh and Findlay sing together, for the last time in studio, and represents a pleasant way to close this album.

Conclusion: Despite "Glass Shadows" be a good album, as usual, I confess that I was a bit disappointed with it, when I heard it for the first time. My first feelings was that "Glass Shadows" represented a step back in the direction of the musical career of the band, especially compared with their previous seventh studio album "Heart Full Of Sky". However and despite the essence of the band is still here with some nice harmonies and great musicianship, definitely it's less good and more commercial than their other studio albums are, including their previous fourth studio album "Music Inspired By The Lord Of The Rings", which is an album with a great collection of songs. It's a pity that the farewell album of the former band's member Heather Findlay be ironically and probably the worst of all Mostly Autumn's studio albums. However, it has some good moments, especially the two highlights, "Paper Angels" and "Glass Shadows".

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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