Looking-Glass Lantern

Prog Head

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If a multi-talented musician has enough confidence in his songwriting, there should appear the self-performed, self-produced and even self-released masterwork. :) It’s time for Graham Dunnington to confirm this theory. So LOOKING-GLASS LANTERN takes the heritage of Victorian England into the 21-st century by means of wonderful CD ‘A Tapestry of Tales’. Arose from famous adventures of Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, this debut album is tour-de-force of symphonic progressive grandeur, filled with church organs and miraculous harpsichords, brass fanfares and tinkling bells, violin-like guitar passages and steady rhythm section. Classically oriented arrangements are on a top level. The vintage instruments (Korg, Roland, Yamaha) build up the atmosphere to recreate the feeling of that original era. The lead vocals complimented by neat harmonies add an essential part to sonic texture... Undoubtedly, Looking-Glass Lantern draws on the Genesis legacy (‘Wind and Wuthering’ period). A lot of Tony Banks-ish bliss strengthens such comparison. Being a real wizard with the keyboards, Graham Dunnington has mastery over the guitar. The soft-as-velvet tones display a resemblance to Steve Hackett. Fans of Phil Collins will find plenty of exquisite drumming. Melodic bass-lines evoke Mike Rutherford… Additionally to Genesis, there’re enchanting moments to recall Alan Parsons Project and Barclay James Harvest; plus allusion to Keith Emerson (in dizzying heights of title track). Thankfully, everything sounds natural and organic. The musical content doesn’t wear out its miraculous eloquence until the final note. Bravo! :cool:

http://www.lookingglasslantern.co.uk/About.html

‘A Tapestry of Tales’ by LGL is available from aurovine.com, iTunes, Amazon mp3, Spotify etc…

http://lookingglasslantern.aurovine.com/album/a-tapestry-of-tales


LGL.jpg
 
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Prog Head

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http://jonb52.wordpress.com/album-reviews/looking-glass-lantern-a-tapestry-of-tales/​
 
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Prog Head

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The new Looking Glass Lantern album is close to completion and contains nine tracks with a running time of nearly 70 minutes. Musically, the style on 'The Hound Of The Baskervilles' will feature some trademarks of classic progressive genre in vein of Genesis and ELP plus ambitious power a'la 'The Phantom of the Opera'.:cool: Tracklisting for the sophomore release by Graham Dunnington's project is as follows:

1. The Curse of the Baskervilles
2. Baskerville Hall
3. The Light Upon the Moor
4. The Man on the Tor-Part One
5. The Man on the Tor-Part Two
6. Death on the Moor
7. Fixing the Nets (Open Your Heart)
8. The Hound of the Baskervilles
9. Retrospection.

It should take place on October, 13th.
 
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LOOKING-GLASS LANTERN is the alter ego of Graham Dunnington. This Englishman shares a passion for classic progressive rock, while also being avid lover of literary characters that came from the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Both influences are reflected over the musical project LGL. The majestic debut CD 'A Tapestry of Tales' from 2013 was a very solid offering, but there were few hints that the follow-up can be even more refined and more diverse. Now we have 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', a collection of nine compositions for intriguing and dramatic venture. The main line that passes through the 70 minutes of its length is a hypnotic tension which finds a vent in the penult song (a title track, btw). Thereafter gentle instrumental ‘Retrospection’ helps you to come back home from the exciting travel... :cool: Once again Graham Dunnington has created a symphonic prog album to guide listeners across the interesting adaptation of mysterious crime and subsequent unraveling. Overall the sound is orchestral with rich arrangements. Musical entourage led by huge keyboards and soaring guitars prevail throughout. Tight drums establish tempos, bass lines produce a strong foundation. The nice vocals fit perfectly with mysterious atmosphere and peculiar landscape. Each track interprets the basic concept in a highly theatrical style. All the necessary components that should characterize this ambitious work like a musical gem are here. Hats off… :tiphat:
 
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PG Records present a charity CD to raise money for "The World Hospice & Palliative Care Alliance" in order to help them in under-resourced countries around the world. The tracks include newly written material recorded especially for this release, as well as contributions of rare unreleased songs from Looking-Glass Lantern, Steve Hackett, Maze Of Sound, Crystal Palace, Greylevel, Edison's Children, etc.

 https://progressivegears.bandcamp.com/releases
 
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John Watt

John Watt

Member
Wow! Reading the introductory first posting, I was reminded of the Beatles and Cream,
when John Lennon was saying the Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ,
and Cream were saying they sold more albums than the number of Bibles sold.

I'm seeing a Victorian era reference, and for my Scottish self, I know that history.
The Victorian era is the opium era, also when English people drank theirs and others urine,
seeing it as medicinal. Trading Indian opium for Chinese tea was a battle cry for that war,
that the Chinese won.
Sherlock Holmes and his 7% solution is a reference to heroin use, after the opium era.
You saying church organs and miraculous harpsichords continues that.
Using "Genesis" as a progressive rock band reference, also continues that,
considering that there are few survivors from that band, and Phil went r'n'b.

Looking-Glass Lantern is an interesting name.
It could be symbolic of carrying the light of the lord, as in certain Scottish clans,
or just a reference to seeing yourself reflected in the dark.
A major theme in traditional Scottish folk songs is accidentally kissing your girlfriend's mother in the dark,
always a dramatic, if not a good thing.
Maybe that's what's happening here. I'm seeing too much of myself,
in The Looking-Glass Lantern.
 
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Prog Head

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John Watt said:
Wow! Reading the introductory first posting, I was reminded of the Beatles and Cream,
when John Lennon was saying the Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ,
and Cream were saying they sold more albums than the number of Bibles sold.

I'm seeing a Victorian era reference, and for my Scottish self, I know that history.
The Victorian era is the opium era, also when English people drank theirs and others urine,
seeing it as medicinal. Trading Indian opium for Chinese tea was a battle cry for that war,
that the Chinese won.
Sherlock Holmes and his 7% solution is a reference to heroin use, after the opium era.
You saying church organs and miraculous harpsichords continues that.
Using "Genesis" as a progressive rock band reference, also continues that,
considering that there are few survivors from that band, and Phil went r'n'b.

Looking-Glass Lantern is an interesting name.
It could be symbolic of carrying the light of the lord, as in certain Scottish clans,
or just a reference to seeing yourself reflected in the dark.
A major theme in traditional Scottish folk songs is accidentally kissing your girlfriend's mother in the dark,
always a dramatic, if not a good thing.
Maybe that's what's happening here. I'm seeing too much of myself,
in The Looking-Glass Lantern.
Click to expand...

Well said, John Watt. I really appreciate your good comment. :cool:
 
John Watt

John Watt

Member
Hey Prog Head, you started it!

Jimi Hendrix sang,
"I used to live in a room full of mirrors, and all I could see was me,
until I took my spirit and smashed all those mirrors,
and now the whole world is there for me to see,
I said the whole world is waiting for my love to be."

He knew where it was at too.
 

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Work is progressing well on the next LGL's "concept" album, with an intended release date sometime in the early of 2016. :cool:
 
John Watt

John Watt

Member
Are these musicians personal friends of yours,
or should I be a little jealous they have such an enthusiastic listener?

If I'm catching your attitude through your descriptions of their music,
how would it compare to one of my favorite albums of the seventies?
Relayer, by Yes, with my favorite "Gates of Delirium".
Too bad you weren't around to hear "Lighthouse",
an 11 piece rock band from Toronto that played our high school twice.
 

Prog Head

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John Watt said:
Are these musicians personal friends of yours,
or should I be a little jealous they have such an enthusiastic listener?
Click to expand...

I'm just striving to support all those great bands and musicians who produce high-quality material - but are unheard (unknown) by the majority of prog-community..
 
John Watt

John Watt

Member
It's nice that you're still getting turned on by new bands.
I'ts difficult listening to radio here, I don't, not at all.
Everything is more about using old stuff with new formats and tech.
I've been saying music hasn't changed since the nineties,
just all the devices to capture and listen.
I call people around here plug-heads, instead of nerds or couch potatoes.
You can live your life just plugging and unplugging,
and that includes inserting cards and chips.

You didn't answer my Gates of Delirium question, but that's okay.
I've got my TINKICKER CD to play again.

I came back to add this.
JHC complimented me after seeing some photos and narration,
saying I must be a very smart man. I had to think about that.
I owned my first CD player five years ago,
started using a computer myself five years ago, at a friend's,
and just watch DVD movies with a big screen TV, this last three years.
Those are all first uses and ownerships for me, but...

The Niagara Peninsula has the first use of commercial hydro electricity,
for the entire world,
and everything electrical that can be electrical is sourcing out here.
Being so close to Niagara Falls and New York only congests things even more.
JHC must be saying I'm a smart man because he likes my tech use,
but I've been seeing so much all my life it was casual right from the start,
and I know I'm not doing any of the old and new high tech that's all around.

It's the online that's doing it, making me look better than I ever could.
 
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