Genre: psych
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Glass Top Coffin
Company: Vertigo
Catalog: 6360 115
Year: 1975
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: diecut, gatefold sleeve
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4214
Price: $50.00
Cost: $27.00
Co-produced by
Ramases and keyboardist Barry Kirsch, 1975's "Glass
Top Coffin" was equally eclectic, but sported a sound
that was quite different from the debut. Exemplified by material such
as the lead off track "Golden Landing", "Children
Of The Green Earth" and "Sweet
Reason" (where Ramases sounds like Marianne Faithful), the overall feel
was far more polished; no doubt reflecting elaborate orchestral arrangements
(courtesy of Rob Young) and support from members of the Royal Philharmonic
and London Symphony Orchestra. Like the debut, there's clearly a
concept buried in here, though the apparent references to aliens ("Golden
Landing") and religion ("God
Voice") are again largely lost on us. Not that it matters since
the set's full of seductive melodies and some wonderful vocal performances,
including the intriguing Ramases-Sel duet "Now Mona Lisa".
As much as we like the debut (see our review), this one's even better and
while musical comparisons are always frought with danger, this time around
tracks such as the pretty "Long,
Long Time" and "Saler Man" found
Ramases and Sel pulling off a credible, low-budget take on The Moody Blues
(had they been middle aged central heating salesmen). Perhaps we're
being colored by Ramases' susbequent 1990's suicide, but tracks such as
"Mind Island"
and the spare "Only The Loneliest
Feeling" seem to give the whole
album an air of sad and dignified resignation which only makes the album all
the more fascinating. Easily one of our top-50 personal favorites and
a crime that it hasn't been heard by more people ... Designed
by Ramases and artist Dave Field, the album also sports one of our favorite
covers.
"Glass Top Coffin" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Golden Landing (Ramases
- Sel) - 6:05
2.) Long, Long Time (Ramases - Sel) - 5:13
3.) Now Mona Lisa (Ramases - Sel) - 2:54
4.) God Voice (Ramases - Sel) - 3:21
5.) Mind Island (Ramases - Sel) - 4:38
6.) Only The Loneliest Feeling (Ramases - Sel) - 2:54
(side
2)
1.) Sweet Reason (Ramases
- Sel) - 5:41
2.) Stepping Stones (Ramases - Sel) - 4:28
3.) Saler Man (Ramases - Sel) - 4:59
4.) Children Of The Green Earth (Ramases - Sel) - 3:27
5.) Glass Top Coffin (Ramases - Sel) - 4:07
6.) Golden Landing (Ramases - Sel) - 1:58
Sadly the album failed to sell, marking the end of Ramses recording career. Ramases and Sel appear to have slipped back into day-to-day obscurity. Ramses apparently committed suicide in the late-1970s.