GENTLE GIANT

What an outstanding debut by one of my favorite bands of all time. GENTLE GIANT didn't waste anytime after their pop stint as SIMON DUPREE & THE BIG SOUND ramping up the creativity and creating some seriously addictive fusion that takes everything from the pop sensibilities of their previous musical incarnation to Renaissance music, jazz and classical infusion in their unique construction.

The thing that has always impressed me the most about this band is it was a total democracy of geniuses who took part in every part of the creative process whether it be the songwriting or even playing the instruments thus earning the notoriety of being considered complex even by progressive rock standards. The amount of musical instruments used on this album is also staggering. They manage to keep an extremely accessible sound despite the complexity.

Although this album is rated lower than the several following ones, I simply cannot see why this album deserves a lower rating. I love every single track on here as much as the other more popular ones. No, it isn't as musically developed as the apex of their later stuff but taken for what it is, it is a near masterpiece in its own right. 4.5 rounded way uP!