STAINED GLASS STORIES

Considering this was recorded in 1978, it sounds like it was recorded a few years earlier, mainly due to the murky production. To my ears, this is a mixture of Trespass- era Genesis, early Yes, Anglagard and the odd bit of Gentle Giant. It features some nice Squire-type bass playing and the wonderfully named Mercury Caronia IV is an excellent drummer/percussionist.

The guitarist and keyboard player contribute some typical prog flourishes and there are some excellent instrumental passages here.

However, a few things let this album down and prevent it being the prog masterpiece it could have been. Apart from the production, the somewhat mannered vocals of Paul Seal are annoying at times, the keyboards wobble occasionally and there is a general lack of memorable melodies.

Overall, this is an interesting example of 1970s US prog but I don't see it as the lost classic that some do.