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Gentle Giant - Three Friends CD (album) cover

THREE FRIENDS

Gentle Giant

 

Eclectic Prog

4.13 | 1479 ratings

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UMUR
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars "Three Friends" is the 3rd full-length studio album by UK progressive rock act Gentle Giant. The album was released through Vertigo Records in the UK in April 1972. The Columbia Records US version features a different cover artwork to the UK version. Itīs the successor to "Acquiring the Taste" from 1971 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as drummer Martin Smith has been replaced by Malcolm Mortimore. "Three Friends" is a concept album release, featuring a story about three school friends, who end up doing very different things with their lives. Itīs a fairly simple story, which at itīs core is about the loss of innocence (and the adult melancholic longing for childhood friendships), and the fact that adulthood isnīt always what children perceive it to be.

Stylistically Gentle Giant continue to experiment heavily and the material on "Three Friends" is about as progressive as it comes. Somewhere at itīs core there is a heavy blues based basic formula (guitar, bass, drums, and vocals), but it is twisted and tons of unconventional instrumental and stylistic elements are added (for example a host of instruments which are unconventional in rock music like harpsichord, xylophone/vibraphone, mandolin, violin, viola, trumpet, saxophone) which ultimately means that a completely different and quite unique beast is spawned. Complex counterpoint vocal harmonies and choirs, medieval and ethnic folk influences, classical music influences, and a generally very adventurous songwriting approach, are some of the ingredients which make up the sound on "Three Friends". The six tracks on the 35:08 minutes long album are all high quality compositions, and each stand out as individual compositions as well as parts of the overall concept. They arenīt necessarily connected in terms of musical themes, but the lyrics and the atmosphere of the tracks work together well.

The musicianship is through the roof. Most of the members of the band are multi-instrumentalists and their understanding of musical structure and composition is phenomenal and their playing skills are exceptional. While "Three Friends" features highly technical playing and singing, the great strength of the album is that Gentle Giant are also able to write memorable songs. The tracks may feature progressive structures, multible instruments, different playing styles, and adventurous rhythmic ideas, but most tracks still feature melodic hooks. Either instrumental or vocal hooks, which are usually changed and used again in other contexts on the tracks (the classical music influences shines through here). So there is a red thread in the songwriting, which means this is much more than just a vehicle to show how skilled the musicians are.

Upon conclusion "Three Friends" is a natural successor to "Acquiring the Taste" (1971) and shows development in all departments. The musicianship is further developed, the songwriting even more intriguing and complex, and the album features a well sounding sound production, which suits the material perfectly. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

UMUR | 4/5 |

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