Calling themselves "...experimental/post rock..." starts to paint a picture, but I need deeper colors, more expression, and some emotion to fill the pallet and the headphones so let's get right to it. The buffet opens with "Game of Tones" and the piano is absolutely splendid here as the music creates an image that burns brightly on the underside of my eyelids. The guitars bleed into a somber expression of sadness as they work with the drums to fill the canvas with ominous dark clouds attempting--albeit unsuccessfully--to blot out the light the piano shines on the entire piece. So much emotion, yet not a word was spoken.I pick up top notes of Far Behind The Sun and perhaps a touch of Byrne and Eno from their "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" days. Glaston made it rain on this first cut; you can smell it in the air...
Moving on to another slice of the album; "Mariana Trench Skyscrapers." Reminiscent once again of of Eno--but this time from his Moebius days with the mind massage you get from A Perfect Circle and Bent Knee. This is the type of music you want to wrap yourself in like a favorite blanket and let the world cruise on through. Once again the piano takes the lead while drums keep you focused on the subject matter. As the sky takes on the burnt orange of sunset the mood starts to intensify; just a friendly reminder the guitars are present and accounted for...
Liner Notes...Glaston is a four piece ensemble from Zurich, Switzerland. Formed in 2014 the band consists of Selina Maisch on piano, Jake Gutzwiller on guitar, Timo Beeler on bass, and David Preissel on drums. The band uses no vocals which in and of itself is no big deal; many an experimental rock band lets the music paint the picture. But Glaston takes the challenge of defying your senses a step further; Selina makes that piano sing, and every instrument joining in forms a beautiful choir.
"Inhale/Exhale is Glaston's first full length album, released October 2017. The band had released a few singles prior, two of which are on the album. You can purchase "Inhale/Exhale" and learn more about Glaston and all their music at
Glaston Bandcamp. Check out their website Glaston and their Facebook page Glaston Facebook to go even deeper; discovering everything Glaston.
The final cut for review this week is "Ritou." I am immediately taken to a smoke filled lounge on a rainy night in Chicago, the only light a blue spot on Selina's piano. The guitar and drums fold in gently at first as the band explores the inner workings of the mind, body, and soul. There are top notes of Jordan Rudess in a classical/jazz mood wafting through the headphones; I'm simply striving to not miss a note...
Have a listen to "Noir," the cut posted below. Once again Selina and her piano lead the rest of the band on a soothing stroll across the prog garden. The dark clouds hovering overhead start to rain down ever so gently as the canvas is filled with grey to black hues...then the drums add a bit of zeal to the journey. Glaston toys with you like the cute girl in math class who knows you like her...so go ahead and carry her books already...
Liner Notes...Glaston is a four piece ensemble from Zurich, Switzerland. Formed in 2014 the band consists of Selina Maisch on piano, Jake Gutzwiller on guitar, Timo Beeler on bass, and David Preissel on drums. The band uses no vocals which in and of itself is no big deal; many an experimental rock band lets the music paint the picture. But Glaston takes the challenge of defying your senses a step further; Selina makes that piano sing, and every instrument joining in forms a beautiful choir.
"Inhale/Exhale is Glaston's first full length album, released October 2017. The band had released a few singles prior, two of which are on the album. You can purchase "Inhale/Exhale" and learn more about Glaston and all their music atGlaston Bandcamp. Check out their website Glaston and their Facebook page Glaston Facebook to go even deeper; discovering everything Glaston.
The final cut for review this week is "Ritou." I am immediately taken to a smoke filled lounge on a rainy night in Chicago, the only light a blue spot on Selina's piano. The guitar and drums fold in gently at first as the band explores the inner workings of the mind, body, and soul. There are top notes of Jordan Rudess in a classical/jazz mood wafting through the headphones; I'm simply striving to not miss a note...
Have a listen to "Noir," the cut posted below. Once again Selina and her piano lead the rest of the band on a soothing stroll across the prog garden. The dark clouds hovering overhead start to rain down ever so gently as the canvas is filled with grey to black hues...then the drums add a bit of zeal to the journey. Glaston toys with you like the cute girl in math class who knows you like her...so go ahead and carry her books already...
And once again we are one week deeper into 2018 fellow progheads! Glaston was quite a heartfelt journey across the section of the prog garden where ambient meets jazz meets experimental; so much to decipher while relaxing and letting it wash over us. The sheer expanse of the prog garden is part of the lure and this section has its own siren song. Lyrics are not always necessary when expressing thought and emotion; bands like Glaston explain why in musical detail sans words...
Now of course the search for all things prog continues as the Concert Closet maps out the next leg of the journey...until next time...
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