1973’s In A Glass House was the fifth studio album that the British Progressive Rock band Gentle Giant released overall and the second of their albums to feature John Weathers on the drums. As usual Gentle Giant fail to disappoint; this is a brilliant album hands down, just like every other Gentle Giant album before it, and even a few after it too.

Gentle Giant were consistent as well as talented, creative and eclectic. If you like one of their songs you won’t hear another that sounds like it, but you will likely love most of the assorted songs they made. As a rule, the band cover a whole lot of musical ground in each song, more on each album and a great deal across their whole career. You never know where a song will go and how many moods and tones it will cover, but you can be fairly certain that it will be entertaining.

Compared to the album which preceded it In A Glass House is different different, a bit more out there, a little more progressive but still innately Gentle Giant. The level of creativity and musicianship on the album is utterly exceptional. Gary Green is in fine form in particular here delivering a great performance and as always Kerry hits it out of the park with ace keyboard and moog throughout. In fact, each member is a simply superb musician and usually all deserve immense praise.

One thing that makes In A Glass House stand out in the catalogue is that the album arguably has a much simpler approach to vocals than other Gentle Giant records, but then it also has as complicated if not more complicated music. Luckily that complex music is held tightly together by John Weathers’ funky and brilliant drumming, which melts away any apparent chaos or pretensions with a flick of the drumstick, leaving the listener receptive and probably even wanting more.

All six of the albums tracks are worth exploring, but highlights include the rocking title track ‘In A Glass House’ and the jaunty ‘Experience.’

For the most part this is a pretty difficult album to criticise if you are into this sort of music in the first place. Admittedly, the DRT remaster lacks the punch and energy of the Vertigo editions of Octopus or Acquiring The Taste but after about twenty seconds you’ll be lost in the performance anyway. It may not be bombastic but at least it is clear, if a little quiet.

Overall, this is a very good album from a very good band. If you like prog you should at least try out the band, and if you like the band then this album is pretty essential listening. I highly recommend it, along with most of the band’s entire discography.