FREE HAND

A quirky and extremely pleasing piece of art. That would best describe Gentle Giant's Free Hand album. While at some times complex or weird, Free Hand also contains upbeat, exciting melodies that sometimes become wonderfully catchy, while never losing an inch of the band's artistic edge.

Gentle Giant in general creates a wonderful sound in their music by putting together varied amounts of rock, medieval, folk, prog, and pop music to create albums filled with several unique songs with strange sounds and wonderful melodies. Free Hand is no exception. From the opening syncopated finger snaps and catchy odd-time keyboard riffs of "Just the Same" to the closing celtic violin bounces of "Mobile" the listener will be thrown through a wonderful ride of polyphonic eclectic prog, never subjected to 'more of the same' type prog. Instead, Gentle Giant prefers to go above and beyond and provide masterful compositions that will certainly please the prog listener.

All the tracks are wonderful and varied, each with its own unique personality and overall sound, so really there are no standouts. Either that or all the tracks stand out. Such is one of the effects of having such a well put together album by masters like Gentle Giant. Free Hand is an incredible album that everyone should listen to.