THREE FRIENDS

The opening Prologue marks a change in style towards more Yes-alike riffs and instrumentation. Lots of quirky synthesizers are added and the short and snappy staccato-type riffs and melodies engage the same frantic effect as Yes does. But the next track sounds like only Gentle Giant can sound, eerie harmonies, dreamy mellotrons and a song development with a very narrative structure, jumping back and forth between different scenes and moods. Truly mesmerizing. The similarities with Maudlin Of The Well's latest album only further diminish my satisfaction with that album.

Working All Day is slightly more rocking, not in the least because of the Hammond organ solo at the end. Also Peel The Paint continues the rocking bite. It's an important part of my enjoyment of this album as it compensates for the dominant intellectual approach that Gentle Giant takes to their music. The jazzy jam at the end provides for a more spontaneous moment and breathes a looser air into this tightly composed music.

The album continues without flaws on Mister Class and ends with the grand Three Friends, a song that strikes me as very Yes'y again, with that off-beat guitar riff and huge harmonizing mellotrons. It evokes the same majestic atmosphere as And You and I, which was released one year after this album if I have my Prog chronology right.

So far my favourite Gentle Giant album. 4.5 stars

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