FREE HAND

Free Hand continues with simple and linear songs, very clean sound, driven by the keyboards of Minnear, which characterized the previous Power and Glory. Also in this album are missing major innovations in the arrangements, and Derek Shulman as already in Power and Glory tends to a sung too screamed in rock songs, however here are also important ethereal moments, slow, dominated by an atmosphere of silence that are missing in the his predecessor.

First side that starts with a very strong rock piece, with Minnear that makes the numbers in the instrumental parts; then in the second come the choirs and medieval music left to the angelic voice of Minnear, alternating with percussive moments. The third piece, Free Hand, which has a great start with the piano, soon becomes a rock screamed with continuous dissonant piano phrases reminiscent of the pieces of Glass House. 1) Just the same 8; 2) On Reflection 7,5/8; 3) Free Hand 7,5;

Second side with a first minor rock song, fast, a bit 'anonymous, with instrumental pieces that recall those just heard in Free Hand. It follows a beautiful composite piece (His Last Voyage), with Minnear singing the ethereal Renaissance part, which fades into a good instrumental interlude with the best guitar solo of the album, which finally brings back to the initial theme. The song is the best piece on the album. Talybont is the short medieval instrumental piece that, together with the others, creates this renaissance atmosphere on the album, diffused in the less rock pieces. Mobile ends with a pulsating rock, very strong, where there are also violins to create continuous rhythmic and timbral variations, which are more connected to the sound of Glass House than of Power and Glory. 4) Time To Kill 7; 5) His Last Voyage 8; 6) Talybont 7; 7) Mobile 7.

Overall, it is a good album, measured, very homogeneous, with no peaks or drops, which alternates, and partly melts, a rock soul, which combines Power and Glory and Glass House in good and bad moments, and is full of medieval atmosphere , which expresses the best of the album.

Medium quality of the songs: 7,46. Vote: 8+. Rating: Four Stars.