Culture of Ascent explained

Culture of Ascent
Type:	Studio album
Artist:	Glass Hammer
Cover:	File:Glass Hammer - Culture of Ascent.jpg
Released:	October 23rd, 2007
Genre:	Progressive rock, art rock
Length:	69:05
Label:	Arion Records/Sound Resources
Producer:	Fred Schendel Fred Babb
Prev Title:	The Inconsolable Secret
Prev Year:	2005
Next Title:	Three Cheers for the Broken-Hearted
Next Year:	2009

Culture of Ascent is the ninth studio album by American progressive rock band Glass Hammer, released on October 23, 2007. It is a concept album based on Jon Krakauer's novel Into Thin Air.

It was the last album with singer Carl Groves before his departure from the band; he later returned for 2014's Ode to Echo. The album also features Jon Anderson of Yes as a guest vocalist.

Personnel

Glass Hammer

• Carl Groves – lead and backing vocals^[1]
• Susie Bogdanowicz – lead and backing vocals
• Fred Schendel – keyboards, organs, piano, Mellotron, loops, programming, acoustic guitar, string arrangement, backing vocals
• Steve Babb – bass, pipe organ, percussion, Mellotron, piano, harp, loops, programming, Minimoog and backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Matt Mendians – drums
• David Walliman – electric guitars
• The Adonia String Trio – string trio
  • Rebecca James – violin
  • Susan Whitacre – viola
  • Rachel Beckmann – cello
• Sarah Snyder – backing vocals
• Eric Parker – acoustic guitar
• Robert Streets – backing vocals
• Haley McGuire – backing vocals
• Jon Anderson – vocalizations
• Fred Schendel and Steve Babb – production
• Bob Katz – mastering
• Michal Karcz – artwork, cover

Notes and References

1. News: official page for the album. Glass Hammer website. 5 August 2014.