In a Glass House, Gentle Giant's fifth studio album, from 1973.
Gentle Giant were one of the most representative groups of British progressive rock in the 1970s, releasing at least five "Essential" albums, which are among the top 100 albums of this genre, particularly the subgenre of Eclectic Prog. This subgenre, derived from progressive rock, focuses on artists who pushed the boundaries of prog by blending influences in a broad, less "traditional" way than symphonic prog or the sound of the Canterbury scene. They are its finest representatives, along with King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator, and are therefore in excellent company.
You can read their full biographies in their dedicated profile.
This album for me is the pinnacle of their discography, In a Glass House, (not surprisingly my copy is literally worn out) a fundamental masterpiece of progressive rock.
The album, which, as mentioned, was initially rejected for release in the United States by the record company because it was deemed "not commercially viable," became an import success, selling over 150,000 copies.
Complexity and virtuosity come together at extreme levels, a continuous explosion of technical inlays, vocal counterpoints, and sudden tempo changes—a reference point for prog that continues the band's experimentation with the inclusion of medieval, baroque, jazz, and hard rock.
The album's concept revolves around the English proverb: "Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones", a metaphor for vulnerability through the image of the "glass house," a structure that protects but, being transparent and fragile, exposes the individual to judgment and hypocrisy: those who criticize others (throw stones) often forget that they are equally vulnerable and imperfect.
The album begins and ends with the rhythmic sound of breaking glass, a "frame" that encloses the listener within the glass house for the duration of the album.
Just over 38 minutes, 6 fantastic tracks
- The Runaway opens with the sound of rhythmic breaking glass, which transforms into a crazy, angular guitar riff, with spectacular xylophone and guitar, and a jazzy middle section featuring Kerry Minnear's magnificent vibraphone.
- An Inmate's Lullaby is the most experimental and haunting track of their entire discography, a completely percussive and vocal piece with xylophone, vibraphone, timpani, and whispered vocals without bass or guitar, creating a suspended, claustrophobic atmosphere.
- Way of Life is pure technical complexity, aggressive hard rock, church organ, and dizzying tempo changes by John Weathers, one of prog's most underrated drummers, at "gigantic" levels.
- "Experience" is the band's most "medieval" song, with a baroque section sung by Minnear with an angelic tone, and an explosion of distorted bass riffs by Ray Shulman and Derek's vocals.
- "A Reunion" is a brief, melancholic interlude for violin and cello, a moving, wonderful orchestral ballad, a tribute to brother Phil, before the album's immense finale.
- "In a Glass House," the title track, is a captivating piece that has it all: prog-funk-rock, Gary Green with one of his most beautiful solos. The song ends with the same bang of broken glass that opened the album, one of the band's best songs, powerful and sophisticated.
The unique artwork was designed to visually reflect the fragility and complexity of the album's theme with a three-dimensional effect. The cover uses an overlay effect: the central section of the cardboard sleeve is die-cut and covered with a transparent plastic film with a black print. Beneath the transparent film is a removable cardboard insert, a black-and-white lithograph of the band members playing their instruments. The back of the cardboard insert features an illustration of the band's trademark "Gigante" (green gnome). Interestingly, on the original UK (WWA label, like mine) and German (Vertigo label) pressings, the images are mirror images. The main image was taken by photographer Martyn Dean.
An album can sometimes feel cold, overly intellectual, too technical to the detriment of emotion: all characteristics that lead me to say that this is, in my opinion, their best album.
An absolute, essential masterpiece.
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.
Tracklist
1. The Runaway (7:15)
2. An Inmate's Lullaby (4:40)
3. Way of Life (7:52)
4. Experience (7:50)
5. A Reunion (2:11)
6. In a Glass House (8:26)
Total Duration 38:14
LineUp
- Gary Green - 12-string (1,5,6), steel (6) & electric guitars, mandolin & tambourine (6), recorder (3)
- Kerry Minnear - piano, electric piano, Moog (1,3,6), Hammond (1,3,4,6), clavinet (1,4,6), thomas organ (3,4), clavichord (4), celesta (2), glockenspiel (1,2,4), marimba (1,2), vibes & timpani (2), cello (5), descant recorder (1,3), lead (1,3-6) & backing vocals
- Derek Shulman - alto & soprano saxophones (6), descant recorder (1), lead (1-4,6) & backing vocals
- Ray Shulman - bass, acoustic & electric violins, tambourine (4), acoustic guitar & backing vocals (1,6)
- John Weathers - drums, bass drum (5), cowbell (6)
