Glass Rock - Talls Firs Meets Soft Location
by Jon Rogers
published: 11 / 11 / 2009
Label:
Ecstatic Peace
Format: CD
intro
Lacklustre debut album from Glass Rock, the side project of Brookyln-based avant-garde bands Talls Firs and Soft Location
At first glance the album title might appear to be rather surreal or abstract but it actually makes sense when you know that it refers to the two bands – Tall Firs and Soft Location – that make up Brooklyn’s Glass Rock. According to the press release the two bands met up in a “hummus hut” (not quite sure what one of those is) and this album is the result of that meeting with the whole thing done and dusted in two three-day sessions which were “fuelled by laughter and sandwich delirium”. Unfortunately though Glass Rock manages to sparkle without shining. There’s some fine, gentle, jazz-light, folk-ish playing but it’s all well, just a little dull and uninspiring. It’s just pedestrian and just ends up going nowhere. Like going for a walk round the block. You’ve seen it all before with the same sights and smells and ultimately you end up back where you started from. You wander around but go nowhere. Ultimately Glass Rock seems to be just a front to highlight the talents of Soft Location’s singer Kathy Leisen. Her voice is way up in the mix – to the detriment of everything else. And while she can hold a tune and has great timing she’s splashed liberally over everything. Musically, it’s like some inoffensive dinner jazz waffle. Nicely executed but is rather uninspiring. It floats by but doesn’t amount to much.
Track Listing:-
1 Glass Rock2 Ghost of a Dream
3 Possession
4 Blue Spider
5 Beach and Swimming Pool
6 Golddigger
7 Lion Dance
8 U R Not Lonely
9 Open Air
10 Take It Back
reviews |
Baby, Baby, Baby (2011) |
Spellbinding and evocative second album from Brooklyn and Detroit super group Glass Rock, which consists of members of both Tall Firs and Soft Location |
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart