Ruins of a Glass Fortress

ruins of a glass fortress

Track Listings

1. Labyrinth [Muséa Version]

2. Edge of Darkness

3. Time Paradox

4. Awake [Muséa Version]

5. Fall into a Doze

6. Ruins of a Glass Fortress, Pt. 1

7. Runis of a Glass Fortress, Pt. 2

The Ruins of a Glass Fortress,Gerard,Musea Records,Hip-Hop,New Jack Swing,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Urban

Ruins of a Glass Fortress

Average customer rating:

Progressive, symphonic, heavy, but does not capture the list

The Ruins Of A Glass Fortress

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005B6VB
Release Date: 2001-03-21

Tracks:

Labyrinth (MusVersion)
The Edge Of Darkness
Time Paradox
Awake (MusVersion)
Fall Into A Doze
The Ruins Of A Glass-Fortress (Part One)
The Ruins Of A Glass-Fortress (Part Two)

Album Description

Gerard is the oldest japanese prog' band among the present ones. This trio (keyboards/bass/drums), created in the early eighties, has recently released four albums with Musea, "The pendulum", "Pandora's box" , "Meridian", and a "live in Marseille" was recorded during its european tour in 1998. Gerard's leader is the keyboardist Toshio EGAWA, ex-Novela, Scheherazade, Earthshaker…The album: To describe the preceding albums by the band, we often said: "Imagine E.L.P. playing hard-rock". These three professional musicians, astounding virtuosos, combine bombastic keyboards, a bass sometimes used for solis, like keyboards, with a guitar sound, and an incredible drummer. But this time Gerard's fury is more contrasted and subtle, as the band allows itself some peaceful, symphonic and nostalgic moments that underline the music's power. Well balanced and structured, these seven pieces, mostly instrumental ( except two songs, by a new singer), are the most mature the band ever composed: just brilliant.

Customer Reviews:

Progressive, symphonic, heavy, but does not capture the list.......2001-08-23

This was the first recording of Gerard that i listened to. Gerard is a Japanese prog-rock band consisting of three members having keyboard, bass and drums. The album has a total of 7 pieces, 5 of them instrumental, and the other 2 with a guest vocal. The music of Gerard has its roots in the music of ELP, however it is fused with many other contemporary, post 80's and 90's prog-rock elements such as; usage of odd-time and changing rhythms, distinctive melodies (rather edgy in this album), virtuoso use of instruments, heavy-sounds, and the keyboard acting like a symphony in the background. Despite all these positive factors, however, lame compositional factors stand out in this album and makes the listener weary. The weak thematic developments, too many repeating phrases and unnecessarily long keyboard solos (which remind the listener of C64 games from time to time) make the pieces tiresome. The orchestrational usage is also very low, there is nearly no usage of counterpoint, just some doublings with different instruments, all of which would not satisfy symphonic-rock listeners. The album would have been much more better if these things were to be considered. Anyway, with all these problems I can say that Gerard has a unique taste among its contemporaries, i would recommend the album if you are really into this prog-rock mess - as i am- , for others i can say that it might take some time to swallow it.