Tad: Hello Brad! It’s been awhile since we’ve had the time to collaborate. We’re both educators, and summer is supposed to be a time to catch our breath, but it wasn’t for either of us this year, was it? Anyway, there’s a very good reason for us to get together, and that’s the announcement from Glass Hammer that they are releasing a new album! You and I both love this band, which is pretty much founder Steve Babb’s project now. We’ve been avid fans for many years, and they have never made a dud of an album in my opinion, even though they have recorded in an amazingly wide variety of styles. But that’s what I like about them: they aren’t afraid to try new things, and they never get stuck in a musical rut.

Their new album is Black Light, and I’ve listened to it four times back to back now. Musically and lyrically, it’s another big change from Rogue, Arise, and the Skallagrim Trilogy. My first impression is how lively and playful these songs sound. What do you think, my friend?

Brad: Hello, Tad.  Man, I’ve missed you, and I’ve missed our dialogues.  Admittedly, the summer got in the way–a daughter’s wedding, some writing, a vacation, a number of talks. . . but, still!  I missed you.  Glad to be connecting again, as always, my great friend.

Yes, I’m totally with you.  I’ve listened to Black Light twice now, and I’m very much in love with it.  Babb has always been a brilliant bassist, lyricist, poet, novelist, and song writer (there are no limits to the guy’s creativity and drive), but, with this album, he’s become something much greater than all of these things: he’s become a composer.  Truly, the composition of this album is just staggering.  The flow is immaculate, the intensity is everything a prog fan would want, and yet, somewhat like Frost*There is a bit of witty whimsy here, too.

Tad: Brad, I think your comparison to Frost* is quite apt; these guys sound like they’re having fun, and the concept itself is even a tongue-in-cheek wink at some of progressive rock’s pretentiousness: a young rock musician in 1979 sees an intriguing black light poster in his band’s rehearsal space, and suddenly he’s inside the poster! In this trippy, dayglo world, he meets up with characters from throughout the career of Glass Hammer, which makes for a delightful experience for us longtime GH fans. I read through the liner notes, and they are hilarious! For example: Part 1. Concept-Album Excess – It Begins (In which I find myself stuck in a psychedelic dreamworld, a fluorescent paradise. For reasons unexplained, I begin singing, and stuff happens!)

I think my favorite track is the second one, Lost Horizons, which is a twelve-minute minisuite containing several beautiful passages. I think the three vocalists, Christopher Galen, Trevor Laake, and Olivia Tharpe, are all outstanding throughout. 

There’s a definite ‘70s vibe to the melodies and instrumentation, and there are quite a few sections where the band just jams. If I had to describe it, it’s as if Jethro Tull, Boston, and Kansas all got together and created a hybrid band. Every song has a delicious hook, especially on Return to The Shadowlands, which is a funky Celtic rocker, if that makes sense. Ferran Ligero’s guitar work is outstanding here.

Also in his notes, Steve Babb tells of his recent surgery to remove a (thankfully) benign brain tumor. I think that experience must have liberated him in many ways. He’s even said that he believes the surgery has altered the way he approaches composing now. All I can say is how much fun and enjoyable this album is, and how thankful I am that Babb is creating such great art. Speaking of which, I am a sucker for good bass (Chris Squire was my favorite member of Yes), and Babb really cuts loose on the closing track, Kaleidoscope Skies. 

Brad: Tad, thanks so much for this.  An excellent synopsis.  As you and I have said many, many times–so many times it should be an iron rule of prog–a band is only as good as its bassist.  And, man, is Babb a brilliant bassist.  I love his bass lines.  So thrilling and so captivating.

Tad, if you don’t mind, I have to recount my history with the band.  I was at a conference many, many years ago now, and one of my favorite colleagues in the history field, Amy Sturgis, knew how into music and especially prog I was.  She mentioned knowing two guys from Tennessee in the prog band, Glass Hammer, who had just released an album called LEX REX.  I had never heard of them or the album, but, of course, true to form, I immediately bought LEX REX, and I fell instantly in love with it.  I couldn’t believe the mixing of music with the profundity of the lyrics.  And, they weren’t afraid to be counter-cultural, especially in their embrace of tradition and Christianity.  But, it was an intelligent and artful Christianity, not an over the top in your face evangelicalistic propaganda which I find so deeply troubling.  If we really love Christ, our music doesn’t need to be about Christ, but we very much need to use the gifts Christ has given us in the music.  Glass Hammer did exactly this.

As I had done with my hero worship of Greg Spawton, I decided to take a chance and email Steve Babb to strike up a friendship.  Amazingly enough, he reciprocated.  When chance had it that I was to lecture in Tennessee, Steve and I met for dinner–the first time we had met in person.  I liked him instantly, and I think he felt the same.  Even though I’m a historian and he’s a musician, there was a definite kinship right away.  I thank God for that meeting and his friendship.

Being totally and unabashedly OCD, I immediately ordered all of Glass Hammer’s back catalogue, including a live concert DVD–which made me love the band even more–after I first heard LEX REX.  And, on one of those DVDs, Steve’s amazing and beautiful wife, Julie, showed up.  I was blown away by how extremely cool and normal Steve and his family were.

Admittedly, it doesn’t hurt that Steve and I view much of the world in exactly the same way–which, of course, make me love his music all the more.  Plus, the guy is an entrepreneur, a dad, a husband, a poet, and a novelist.  Is there anything he can’t do?

All of this leads me to Black Light.  As I mentioned previously, there’s something immensely special about Black Light.  This is not just another prog release, but a prog moment.  The album is equally parts intense, whimsical, creative, and brilliant.  Steve is so clearly having the time of his life.  As you mentioned, Tad, he’s just come out of major brain surgery.  You’d never know it except to say that Steve is so very, very happy to be alive.  It comes through in every note of Black Light.

Tad: Brad, I love hearing the back stories of how you first encounter different groups. I got into Glass Hammer because of your recommendation. Perilous was the first CD of theirs I bought. I then picked up Cor Cordium, and I assumed Jon Davison was their consistent vocalist. As I acquired more and more of their albums, I soon realized that Glass Hammer is more of a collective, organized around Steve Babb and Fred Schendel – a lot like Steely Dan was centered on Donald Fagan and Walter Becker. 

Anyway, I think we both enthusiastically give Black Light our “thumbs up”. It is one of Babb’s best efforts, and I am really excited to see the direction he is taking his music.

You can order Black Light directly from their store at https://glasshammer.com/. Support independent music and buy physical media!